288 - Geo-Location and Learning: Where You Are Determines Content You Access

TRENDS by Elliott Masie - July 16, 2004
#288 - Updates on Learning, eLearning and Training
47,793 Readers - The MASIE Center - www.masie.com

Geo-Location and Learning
Where You Are Determines Content You Access

Here is a phrase to add to your technology radar screen:

"Geo-Location"

This is the ability to use the location of a user as the key to determining what content they view through their browser. Open up Google and type the word “dentist”. Where you are might determine what results come up on your screen. You might get either a paid listing or a general preference sort for your locale.

Now, let's apply Geo-Location to learning. Let's say I am interested in learning about Compliance Issues. Once again, my request for information, even when hitting a link entitled "Learn About Compliance" might use my geographical location to give me a very different answer depending on the nation, state or even city where I am located.

Your IP number, the nature of your ISP and other technological factors can reveal to a webserver the location of the mouse driving the click. And, that can be used to sort, refine, profile or localize the web experience.

The user location could determine factors including:

- Language
- Local Culture
- Local Regulations
- Local Context
- Local Procedures

Customer based learning can also be greatly influenced by geo-location, where products can be taught and additional options marketed through localized content. For example, the product can be shown being used in a local photograph (eg. A car in front a popular local landmark).

Here are some other examples of Geo-Location from a recent article by
Wired:

A French court considered Geo-Locaion when it directed Yahoo in 2000 to prevent French Internet users from seeing Nazi paraphernalia on its auction pages. America Online sees Geo-Location as one way to comply with the French Nazi ban as well as a Pennsylvania child porn law.

But for the most part, any online restrictions appear to come from commercial companies, not governments. (China and other countries that censor the Internet use filtering technologies rather than geolocation.)

In the past few months, RealNetworks began offering soccer games and movies restricted to specific countries while Art.com coded its website so Americans automatically see prices in dollars, Germans in euros.

Here is how Geo-Location works:

*Each computer on the net has a unique ID that is like a phone number, called an IP address. It is linked to an internet service provider and also to a server at an organization. This links to a database that shows location of the server.

*Companies such as Akamai and Quova trace specific data packets as they go through the network routers to get an even better fix on the location of the requesting browser vs. the location of the corporate headquarters.

*Providers also overlay on Fortune 500 companies and their industries, so websites can target ads, say, to high-tech personnel. It also marries ZIP codes with census data to create demographic profiles.

Geo-Location also has a good number of challenges and skeptics, including false results and privacy/civil liberty issues.

The MASIE Center is tracking Geo-Location as a key technology, both in terms of browser improvement, content personalization and also enriched filtering capacities.

Upcoming MASIE Center Services & Events:
- Rapid e-Learning Development Seminar/Roundtable: Las Vegas Sept 8-9,
2004
- e-Learning Briefing: Baltimore Sept 2, 2004
- e-Learning Skills LAB: Saratoga Springs Oct 6-8, 2004 Information &
- MASIE Center e-Learning CONSORTIUM: 180 Companies Joined Together to Innovate in Learning
Information: http://www.masie.com

287 - Cycle Reductions in Learning Development

TRENDS by Elliott Masie - July 13, 2004
#287 - Updates on Learning, eLearning and Training
47,784 Readers - The MASIE Center - www.masie.com

Cycle Reductions in Learning Development

"How do we reduce the Cycle Time for each phase of learning development?"

The goal of many large organizations is to find ways to increase the speed of developing, designing and delivering learning to their employees and customers. This includes Rapid Development of e-Learning, classroom based instruction as well as blended and On-The-Job approaches to learning. The emerging best practices are focusing on implementing Rapid Development through the reduction of Cycle Time for each phase of learning
development:

1) Subject Matter Expert Engagement
2) Needs Assessment and Analysis Phase
3) Content Development: Deploying Existing Content
4) Media and Training Process Selection
5) Storyboarding and Design Models
6) Rapid Media Production & Outsourcing Options
7) Testing for Usability & Accuracy
8) Deployment and Invitation Phase
9) Learning Revision & Updating Process
10) Overall Approval, Signoff and Administrative Process

Each of these phases of the Learning Development process is a prime candidate for reducing “cycles”. In order to implement Rapid Learning Development organizations are making changes in:

a) Authoring Tools and Systems
b) Templates and Formats for Development
c) Content and Document Management
d) Agreements with Subject Matter Experts
e) Methodologies for Development
f) Calibrating Expectations of Management and Learners
g) Project Management and Budgeting for Development

For example, there is a high need to “re-calibrate” expectations appropriately for the world of e-Learning. Broadcast level video production standards can be adjusted for media that will only be streamed, since the bandwidth will only display a certain quality of image. Why not produce to that level, at a much lower cost and time to completion?

Likewise, the setting of expectations for developers and designers is
critical at the management level. As a designer, I love to take months to do a project. But, in the world of Rapid Development, I have to think in terms of days or even just hours.

Why the emphasis on Rapid Learning Development NOW? We are clearly at an inflection point in the growth of e-Learning deployment. Organizations have built their delivery infrastructures. Learners are getting more accustomed to the e-Learning model. Blended Learning is replacing pure Classroom Learning in many organizations. And, business level executives are turning to Learning as a frequent level to make continuous changes in the operations of their organizations. In a phrase, "Learning as to be Developed at the Speed of Business!"

TRENDS will be making Rapid Learning Development a key focus in the coming year. We have already heard from many tool and system companies as well as our colleagues in corporate learning offices about their innovations and challenges. Keep the emails coming to me about this at emasie@masie.com

Upcoming MASIE Center Events:
- Rapid e-Learning Development Seminar/Roundtable: Las Vegas Sept 8-9,
2004
- e-Learning Briefing: Baltimore Sept 2, 2004
- e-Learning Skills LAB: Saratoga Springs Oct 6-8, 2004 Information & Registration: http://www.masie.com

286 - Patent Claims Threat to eLearning; On-Line Photos for e-Learning Class

TRENDS by Elliott Masie - July 9, 2004
#286 - Updates on Learning, eLearning and Training
47,754 Readers - The MASIE Center - www.masie.com

1. Patent Claims Threat to eLearning
2. On-Line Photos for e-Learning Class
3. Rapid eLearning Development Seminar & Roundtable

1. Patent Claims Threat to eLearning: I would like to raise a VERY critical and possibly disruptive issue that is developing in the e-Learning world: Patent Claims on e-Learning Processes.

A number of small and large companies have been awarded patents that supposedly cover some of the core elements of e-Learning. For example, one company claims to have a patent on all forms of on-line testing for a fee. Another is claiming a patent on streaming of digital content over the web. Some companies have been formed just for the purpose of buying up a patent and then approaching vendors in the field to "settle" or license these very core and what we believe are public domain concepts.

Last week, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, issued a warning about several of these patent claims and the chilling effect that they can have on the innovation process in the "e" world. Many of these patents were not fully or adequately reviewed and should be revised or overturned.

The MASIE Center is quite concerned and supports the efforts of the Electronic Frontier Foundation on this effort. Here is a story from Wired Magazine about this effort:

http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,64038,00.html

While there are some technologies and innovations that are deserving of patents, we are quite concerned about many of these specific ones.
Imagine if someone had a claim on using a blackboard or flipchart to deliver learning or a yellow pad for taking notes in a class. Some of these claims are absurd and learning threatening. If you would like to join me in raising this issue in our industry, please send me a note to emasie@masie.com.

2. On-Line Photos for e-Learning Class: Here is a feature suggestion for the makers of eLearning Virtual Classrooms: Automatic Pictures of Learners! I want a feature where each learner can upload a picture and when they are speaking or text chatting, their picture pops into an Active box on the screen. It would be simple to do and could even support a learner having several pictures with different levels of attention or emotion. Likewise, the trainer/facilitator can have a few pictures that pop up to add a visual to their voice.

3. Rapid eLearning Development Seminar & Roundtable: The MASIE Center is offering a new event in Las Vegas in September:

Rapid eLearning Development
"Learning at the Speed of Business"
Sept 8 and 9 - Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

I will be teaching this seminar and roundtable on September 8 and 9th, focuing on how organizations can DRAMATICALLY speed up the development of learning programs. We will look at the use of templates, rapid development tools and new ways of using Subject Matter Experts. Space is limited and we have had a burst of registrations in the last 48 hours.
Complete info and registration is at: http://www.masie.com

Upcoming MASIE Center Events: Info at http://www.masie.com 1. eLearning Briefing: Baltimore - Sept 2, 2004 2. Skills for SKILLS LAB: Saratoga Springs - Oct 6 to 8, 2004 3. Rapid eLearning Development Seminar & Roundtable - Las Vegas - Sept 8 and 9, 2004 Soon to Be Announced MASIE Center Events:
- Asian eLearning Forum
- HR eLearning Lab: New Models for Orientation & Leadership Development If you would like to host an eLearning Briefing in your part of the world, please send a note to emasie@masie.com

285 - Expirable Content DVD's

TRENDS by Elliott Masie - July 2, 2004
#285 - Updates on Learning, eLearning and Training
47,712 Readers - The MASIE Center - www.masie.com

1. Expirable Content DVD's
2. 104 Pounds and 1 Year Later: Independence Day for Elliott
3. Baltimore/DC e-Learning Briefing Announced

1. Expirable Content DVD's: We have heard about reusable learning objects. What about Expirable Content Objects? I was in the Orlando airport on Wednesday and wanted to buy a DVD to watch on the flight home.
I encountered and purchased my first Expirable Content.

For six dollars, I purchased a DVD of a movie called "Under the Tuscan Sun." The catch is that this DVD will only work for 48 hours. Once you break the seal and expose the DVD to the air, it starts a chemical countdown that will make it unplayable 2 days later. So, for less money, I bought cool content that went away in a short time period.

Watching it on the flight home was great. Then, my wife rushed to view it the next evening. And, we are both observing it as the disk's inner ring turns to black to make it "expired". Actually, as a mission impossible fan, I would have loved to have it go up in smoke.

Let's think about how this applies to learning? It would be interesting to be able to buy some e-Learning disks at an airport, for a very reasonable cost. Expirable content could also be used for time released events. There are lots of possible downsides, including the recycle factor and the my desire to have most content linger for future use. But, pricing incentives would make me an avid buyer in the right circumstances.

To see how this technology works go to www.ez-d.com

2. 104 Pounds and 1 Year Later - Independence Day for Elliott: On a personal note, this has been quite a year for me. As we approach the American holiday of July 4th, I am celebrating my own sense of health independence.

One year ago, I underwent gastric bypass surgery, in order to deal with my obesity. Lot's of health risks threatened my well-being and I decided to have this new surgery. One year later, I have a real sense of independence. I have lost 104 pounds, have three times the energy and have improved my health dramatically. My doctor is delighted as it has resulted in me going off many medicines that are common for overweight 54 year olds. Thanks to TRENDS readers that send messages of support and care as I did this major change. Elliott has a sense of health independence this July 4th.

If you want to see the "difference":
Old Elliott:
http://www.train-net.co.uk/images/regular_columnists/Elliott%20Masie.jpg
New Elliott:
http://www.masie.com/stream/tl2003/elliott_medium-08-19-03.jpg

3. Baltimore/DC e-Learning Briefing Announced: The MASIE Center is pleased to announce our next one day e-Learning Briefing in the Washington, DC/Baltimore area. Each year, I offer this intense seminar in sites around the world. Our only Fall 2004 U.S. date will be in Baltimore, on September 2nd. Think of it as a "Back to School" focus on e-Learning and new models of organizational training. Space is limited and information/registration can be found at http://www.masie.com

e-LEARNING Consortium Spaces Available: Due to several corporate mergers, we have six openings in our e-Learning CONSORTIUM.
Join 180 other major corporations as we cooperate on inventing and implementing e-Learning. Details at http://www.masie.com