Introduction

Well, I have found all the content from the start of this course to be very interesting! It's funny to look back upon the history of mobile devices, and realise how much has changed in such a short space of time. The fact that iPhones are now used so much and by so many people, but only came in to existence in 2007 really puts perspective on this change. I can still recall getting my first mobile phone and thinking how useful it would be - the doors it opened and the convenience it posed were amazing! (I had also been left at school a few times due to miscommunications.... and thought that a mobile phone would now stop that happening! What a great idea!)

The changes mobile phones presented are now following on through mobile devices, now that you can browse the internet on any smartphone, or do a range of things on tablets. It's really hard to look back now and see how it would have been 20 years ago, when we have the answers to almost any question at our fingertips, almost all of the time.

The shift in the business world to being "online" or having an "online presence" is also very different, especially with so many now catering to mobile device first, and then to PCs. When businesses shift in this direction, you can really see that they feel the future for them is in mobile devices, and that their business needs to use that mobility to survive.

I like the idea of the way we are learning now is changing. Rather than rely on our knowledge, or the knowledge of those we work or live with, we now have access to knowledge from people all around the globe. I had never thought of it that way before, but the way I learn has now changed too - if I want to find out information about anything at all, I will search for it. No more having to read magazines or books to keep up to date, I can search for it in a few seconds. The way we learn (if we can't remember, just look it up) has now changed to reflect that too. We can start out with some base level knowledge, pick up more as we go, and then if we forget, simply look it up again. It is particularly true for me, as I work in IT. If there is any answer I need to know on almost anything technical, I can search for it. I can't remember how to do an advanced function in Word? No worries, Google will tell me.

I also find it interesting that a lot of large companies didn't see the value in online shopping. When the internet became available, online shopping always seemed to be something of a risk. You could give your bank details, but there was a good chance of it getting ripped off. In the last few years, security for shopping online has really stepped up, and this, along with so many retailers offering good deals online, seems to have made a lot more people turn to online shopping. I was never a fan, I was always worried about having my details taken and my account misused. Over the last few years, however, that has completely changed for me. Now I buy so much online, getting access to products and prices I otherwise wouldn't be able to. A few years ago, it didn't seem so viable. Now companies that are now not selling online are missing out on a large market share. It's a very different way to do business, and in a short space of time.

I love online learning: being able to do courses at my own pace, when it is convenient for me, and at all hours is fantastic. I have done different (though usually shorter) courses online, and do enjoy them. I miss a bit of human interaction, and confirmation that I'm doing the right thing, which is the only thing I feel is currently lacking in a lot of online learning. Collaborative e-learning, or e-learning with feedback provided, is a very powerful tool. I can see this type of learning being very useful in all ages and all levels of teaching.