BUILDING BRIDGES

THROUGH TECHNOLOGY

by

WARREN H. GROFF
groffw@nova.edu
Nova Southeastern University

TOGETHER WE CAN
Milwaukee, WI
November 5-7, 2000


 


                                                          * * * * * * * * *

BUILDING BRIDGES THROUGH TECHNOLOGY

"Building Bridges Through Technology" has a focus on analysis of technologies that are the foundation for careers in the digital era. Application of biometric, card, voice, and wireless technologies will be discussed so that developmentally appropriate learning units can be created in order for the cybergeneration to realize a digital dividend. Mention will also be made about a Global Smart Partnership program by the U.N. that could be used within existing curriculum.

Biometric Continuous Voice Activated Wireless Powerbook.

Advances in Science and Technology Biometrics ? What should we know about body parts, including eye iris, recognition? Card Technology (Smart Cards) - What country leads in card technology in healthcare ? Graphic Arts and Printing - What country is a leader in e-book applications? Speech: Continuous Voice Activated Technology - ... recognition and verification? Wireless Technology - What country leads the world in cell phone applications?

Conversion from Paper-Based to Electronic Formats (Contracts and Grants - NSF)

Building Bridges 1: Emerging Career Opportunities for Diverse Learners
 Assistive Technology Applications and Development for Disabilities (ADA) in PK-16
 Electronic Commerce B2B, B2C, Customer Relations Management for B2B & B2C
 Healthcare (GE Medical Systems Internet Marketplace) and Health Informatics (HI)
 Chief Information Officers (CIO) - cognitive processes and redesign of info flow
 Knowledge Managers (KM) - cognitive processes, mission critical applications
 Chief Technology Officer (CTO) - proficiency in technology applications (13213 in HI)

Building Bridges 2: Forging Community-rich "Digital Dividend" Neighborhoods

Building Bridges 3: Global Smart Partnership: Asia Pacific and the U.S. (Then Africa?)

Frank Lloyd Wright Class Strategic Thinking: Envisioning and Action Plan Development

"Our vision is to provide universal access to 21st century technologies that will enhance teaching and learning - anywhere, anytime, for anyone."

Reference is made to (a) technology skills that must be learned, (b) opportunity for a child to explore tomorrow's high tech careers, and (c) parental involvement in learning about technologies that will shape children in the next century. GOAL: Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP).

Building Bridges 4: Human Resources Development and then Fiscal Resources Development Anytime Anywhere Learning (AAL) Program - NYC http://www.lightspan.com/Technology Challenge Program - 2 grants last year of $2 million per year for each of 5 years.

International Education Week, Nov. 13-17
 

BUILDING BRIDGES THROUGH TECHNOLOGY

Building Bridges 3: Global Smart Partnership: Asia Pacific and the U. S. (Then Africa?)

"...let us choose to unite the powers of markets with the authority of universal ideals. Let us choose to reconcile the creative forces of private entrepreneurship with the needs of the disadvantaged and the requirements of future generations ...."

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi A. Annan

August 2000 issue of STRATEGIC PLANNING (THINKING) FOR THE DIGITAL ERA

OUR VISION

"It is our vision to see ... brands on store shelves in every country." Kimberly Clark is a world leader in personal care products, consumer tissue products, and away from-home products. Kimberly Clark manufactures in 20 states in the U.S. plus 38 countries and territories and sells in over 150 countries.

In what Asia Pacific countries does Kimberly Clark manufacture?  What products?
In what Asia Pacific countries does Kimberly Clark sell and provide services?
What competencies and skills as well as career opportunities are available now?
What career opportunities will be available as KC expands markets and increases market share?

OUR VISION

"We aspire to be the world's premier provider of medical electronic equipment and systems used for clinical diagnosis, monitoring, and patient information integration. Our goal is to ...." GE Medical Systems is defining leadership for the digital millennium. GE Medical Systems is partnering with Abbott Laboratories, Baxter International, Johnson & Johnson International, and Medtronics, Inc. in forming an Internet-based marketplace that will allow hospitals and other health care facilities to link directly to suppliers.

Ask above-mentioned questions for GE Medical System and the Internet-based marketplace.

Asia Pacific (AP) encompasses 42 nations and island territories with more than 50% of the world's population. AP countries are listed in the August 2000 issue on page 3.

About 1 billion of the world's 6 billion people have access to the Internet, beneficiaries from the emerging global economy. A Global Smart Partnership (GSP) program by the U.N. hopes to begin to convert the digital divide into a "Digital Dividend" and improve Quality Of Life (QOL). Hewlett-Packard Co. has started a program to do the same thing (see the November newsletter).

How could strategy be developed for African countries? How can we prepare adults and youth to acquire competencies and skills to become entrepreneurs in a digital dividend global economy?.
 

BUILDING BRIDGES RESOURCES

STRATEGIC THINKING NEWSLETTERS and WEB PAGES FOR LINKING ELSEWHERE

October and November newsletters - in your packet

September - link directly to the Web sites

E-healthcare to reach $27B by 2004

Biometropolis at COMDEX - biometric systems such as face, eye, hand recognition applications

Building a multilingual Web site

Biometric and card Web sites - link directly to the Web sites

Electronic Newsletters (ENs) - Online Learning News, Virtual University, EDUCAUSE, + more

Research Companies - Yankee Group, Gartner Group, Forrester, Meta Group, IDC, + more

Electronic Commerce - EC World, Regional User Groups, associations, EC Product Center, +++

Middle Schools and High Schools Web sites in South Korea

August

The Global Compact by the U.N. on turning the "Digital Divide" into a "Digital Dividend"

Asia Pacific, Kimberly Clark, GE Medical Systems and the Internet-based marketplace partnership

Asia Pacific countries list to STRATEGICALLY THINK about Digital Dividend opportunities

Institute for the Future, Forrester Research, PricewaterhouseCoopers' Technology Center

Advanced Technology Program (ATP) - biometrics, e-books, and much more

July

Rethinking Community - communication and information technologies are shaping "community"

Community goal setting projects and leadership development projects should be synchronized

Globally competitive community research - assess the globally competitive community profile

June

Ananova and Family of Digitized Talking Heads

Web Weavers at Roosevelt Elementary School, Wauwatose School District

Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Knowledge Manager (KM) roles in educational settings.

Videoconferencing for Learning Web sites

About 150 to 175 electronic book publishers, many of whom don't bother with paper books

May

Bridging The Gap: Information Technology Skills For a New Millennium, an ITAA report.

Educator's Website for Information Technology - includes curriculum standards for states

Advanced Technology Education (ATE) of the National Science Foundation

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) model for 4+4+4 education in online and traditional formats

Milwaukee Public Schools and Washington High School in the Sherman Neighborhood Cluster

Access http://www,blackboard.com/courses/webcom/  and enter as a guest.

Click on "Announcements" and then on "Course Documents."
Then, click on "Warren Groff s Newsletters." Also, review dissertation work by students.
 
 

TOGETHER WE CAN BUILD BRIDGES FOR A DIGITAL DIVIDEND

Warren H. Groff, groffw@nova.edu

"Shareholders" who participated in the BUILDING BRIDGES THROUGH TECHNOLOGY session were asked to peer at the word "Biometrics" on the cover of paper model labeled "Biometric Continuous Voice Activated Wireless Powerbook" to access their computer system. Shareholders were then asked to use their native language to access a videoconferencing system. Participants were told the language conversion software would convert their native language instantaneously and simultaneously into the languages of participants from South Korea and Taiwan, countries whose leaders often use English in commerce and in diplomacy worldwide.

The following statement about vision set the stage for the Building Bridges presentation:

"Our vision is to provide universal access to 2 1st century technologies that will enhance teaching and learning - anywhere, anytime, for anyone."

The vision statement is in the "Calendar/Handbook," Milwaukee Public Schools, 2000-2001. Reference is also made on page 12 to technology skills that must be learned, opportunity for a child to explore tomorrow's high tech careers, and parental involvement in learning about technologies that will shape children in the next century. BBTT focused on these topics.

Participants in the session provided education and training services at all K-12 levels as teachers, supervisors, and administrators in private and public schools. Almost all browsed Web sites for possible purchase of items; many participants had ordered and paid for items over the Internet.

Advances in biometric, card, voice, and wireless technologies are being made at a fast pace in research and development centers in advanced countries throughout the world. More important, however, application of these technologies to conducting business is accelerating worldwide. Awareness of these advances in R and D and applications are essential to creating curriculum to narrow a digital divide as well as in preparedness of students for current workforce needs. How do we raise awareness of children and youth, parents, and teachers about advances in technology and their application to all aspects of life and work, especially in B2B and B2C?

Advances in science and technology and the conversion from paper based formats to electronic formats led to Building Bridges 1, "Emerging Career Opportunities for Diverse Learners." Assistive Technology Applications and Development for conditions in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) provides unique opportunities to improve the Quality Of Life (QOL) of people throughout the world. Both equality and quality can be improved through technology.

Building Bridges 2 had a focus on "Forging Community-rich `Digital Dividend' Neighborhoods." A "smart" home was created by members of Home Builders Association in Dallas for its annual convention in the mid 1980s. There have been many such modernized models since then. Forging community-rich Digital Dividend neighborhoods will require visions like "The Broadband Home," "The Broadband Office," and "The Broadband Neighborhood" co-created by a broad range of education and training providers plus shareholders. Browse http://www.connectwisconsin.org/

How can broadband homes be co-created throughout the Milwaukee area, especially in each cluster of the Neighborhood Schools Plan? How can smart libraries be co-created and e-book analysis, selection, and use complement curriculum of private and public schools? Broadband capacity refers to the width of the cyber highway; provision must be made for new technology. Thus, could smart vans be co-created that could house contemporary technology and move from neighborhood to neighborhood to raise awareness and understanding of next generation tools? Could insights gained from co-creation of smart homes, library renovations, and smart vans be included in renovations to existing schools and new schools to be built over the next six years?

Building  Bridges 3 focused on the Global Smart Partnership (GSP) program by the U.N. About one billion of the world's six billion people have access to the Internet. GSP is an effort to extend access to  more of the world's population to improve Quality Of Life (QOL). Global Crossing is engaged  in connecting continents with broadband and linking country services with technology.  Beneficiaries are the companies and countries with contracts and subcontracts in globalization.  Digital Dividends will accrue to regions with articulated education programs that prepare the critical mass of intellectual capital and trained technicians - Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP). International Education Week provides an opportunity to analyze the potential of 
Global Crossing projects  http://www.globalcrossing.com/
and
GSP  http://www.gspdesigngroup.com/

Building Bridges 4 focused initially on HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT, then fiscal resources development. People shape curriculum and set standards. People use, or do not use, technology, tools, to achieve high quality outcomes - improved health care, improved education. Anytime Anywhere Learning (AAL) is achieving high quality outcomes for selected learners and is relatively easy when not extended to "anyone" defined as everyone. But, there lies opportunity.

Americans with disabilities are disproportionately higher in low income groups. Early childhood screening provides diagnostic data for corrective active that could be provided by a broad variety of agencies with a mission and vision for improved QOL. A Ralph Waldo Emerson Elementary School team is in the early stages of interpreting diagnostic data into e-book and voice-enabled intervention strategies for improved QOL in the early years. Insights included in the educational specifications can guide the architectural specifications in a site-based format. Then, insights must be included in a broadband community vision for diverse learners in the Home/Hospital program. Conceptualization and actualization of an Anywhere, Anytime, Anyone vision mandates we do it.

A packet of resources was reviewed. A question session raised issues including curriculum development, balance between education and training, and interpersonal skills development.

BBTT was necessary, but insufficient in breadth and depth. Each of the five major areas could be a set of sessions, preferably hands-on workshops in computer labs. A browsing and "mining" session could focus on Kimberly-Clark alone or on GE Medical Systems and related partners that are creating an Internet marketplace to sell everything from latex gloves to diagnostic equipment. Administrators and supervisors, Parent Teacher Associations, and community groups should be provided an opportunity to participate in sessions on the above-mentioned topics. A copy of Speech Technology was provided for each participant. Many other publications are free and could be provided to raise awareness and understanding related to an AAA mission and vision.