189 - What We Call Learning & Technology; Communities On-Line Case Study; e-Scents?

1. Instant RESULTS: What We Call Learning & Technology: More than 2,227
TRENDS readers responded to our instant poll on Monday regarding what to
call Learning and Technology. Is it e-Learning, Web Based Training,
Distance Learning or other. Here are the instant results):

Which Phrase do Organizations Use:
e-Learning (36%)
Web Based Training (11%)
On-Line Learning (10%)
Computer Based Training (9%)
Distance Learning (8%)

Which Phrase do Learners Use:
Computer Based Training (21%)
On-Line Learning (18%)
Web Based Training (16%)
e-Learning (13%)

Note the difference between in e-Learning's role in the profession and
marketplace vs. the language of learners. Come to think of it, when I order
a book on line, I don't say that I am doing e-commerce!

2. Communities On-Line Case Study: The role of intentional, on-line
communities will increase in the coming months and years. We are very
excited to announce a case study at TechLearn featuring senior executives of
two companies that have created and are running communities. Doug Volz,
Sara Lee Corporation and Laurie David, Transora, both senior HR executives,
will detail their experience in launching Communities this year and how they
play a key strategic role in how their employees work and learn. This is a
breaking news phenomena and this case study will be an under-the-hood look
at what "community" means within an organization. (Registration for
TechLearn - Nov 12 to 15th in Orlando - is online at http://www.techlearn.com)

3. Innovations Needed: Start the CONGRESS Dialogue Here
One of the themes that we will looking at during TechLearn's CONGRESS sessions is
INNOVATIONS NEEDED!
I wanted to open that dialogue to all TRENDS readers. Send me a message with a short
comment on the following question:

"What innovations, in technology and methodology, does the e-Learning field
REQUIRE in the next year or two, to move the industry forward?"
This can include any technologies that are not ripe yet, approaches to design or
development or other areas"

Send a note to innovations@masie.com and we will include this in our
TechLearn dialogue and a future issue of TRENDS.

4. A Collaboration Tool from a Technology Veteran: Check out a new digital
collaboration tool called Groove. It has been developed by Ray Ozzie, who
is best known for creating Lotus Notes. He has been working for the past 3
years to develop a peer-to-peer product for business collaboration that is
now called Groove. Check it out at www.groove.net

5. e-Scents? It had to happen. Got a press release from France about the
concept of network delivered scents. France Telecom and its partners,
Munich-based internet equipment maker Ruetz Technologies and Isipca - an
institute which trains specialists in perfume, cosmetics and food aromatics
- are looking at two operational prototypes.

The first is a computer bolt-on - a series of impregnated solid polymer
discs with a fan to propel up to a dozen fragrances into the atmosphere.
The second is a much smaller device designed to be worn round the neck of
the user, which can handle about 30 fragrances and is used in conjunction
with interactive television. France Telecom hopes that it will be able to
develop a second generation capable of generating up to 200 fragrances from
a device the size of a mobile phone. Special command software would trigger
the aromas.

One technical challenge is the length of time the smell will linger. Text
and images can change instantaneously and the aromas would have to match
their pace. Though the devices are only at the prototype stage, France
Telecom hopes to have a number of versions on the market next year which
are expected to retail for about 100 euros.