Those of us interested in high tech in schools may find it useful to monitor ConsortiumInfo.org. Attorney Andrew Updegrove, focuses on the intersection between technology standards, business and society. The content at this site relates to interoperability – the way that technologies can be made to fit and work together in order to create new types of goods and services (bold added for those who skim blogs). Many of the hottest technology markets of the future, such as RFID, WiMax, 3G telephones, VoIP, Web services, every kind of network, and much more can, literally, not exist until the standards needed to enable them are in place. Understanding which standards will succeed and which will fail, knowing when they will arrive and being able to influence their final form, is crucial. Bet on the losing standard, and you will lose your business.
ISVs may also find it useful to brows through his guest commentary about technologists not seeing the big picture in Mass High Tech, The Journal of New England Technology.
And what entity do you think will have future control of the Internet on which so many educators rely? Andrew says most of the world says NO to the U.S. holding the keys. Today, November 2, you have the opportunity on-line to tell the U.S. representative to the United Nations sponsored “World Summit for the Information Society” (WSIS) process who you think should hold the keys.
Thanks, Andrew for sharing your insights. Although schools are not necessarily the same as businesses, your comments help close an important gap between ISVs developing education programs and school based IT staff.