Looking Ahead
At DeVry University, I took a Multimedia Design & Development course called Emerging Multimedia Technology. This eight-week course covered areas such as augmented realities, wearable computers, 3D printing, and social media. It was a very fun and interesting course to take because it allowed us to explore new advances in technology and also allowed us to analyze their implications in design and development. I was able to learn about technologies that I did not even know existed or had ever even thought would become a reality.
As the name of the course hints, I expected to be learning about new technology. When I first started the course, I honestly did not expect to be learning much new information because, being a 90s baby, I thought I was already pretty current with technology. I thought one of the main focuses would be the internet and social media, which I grew up with. However, once I got halfway through the course, I realized that there were so many more things than just the internet and social media that I did not know of.
One form of technology that I view differently because of this course is 3D printing. I did not realize that 3D had become so advanced and so small. The 3D printer we looked at on kickstarter.com is trying to make it so that 3D printers are a common thing in everyone's home. When I first saw 3D printers, they were so large and bulky and I wasn't really sure what people at home would need it for. When seeing this kickstarter project's commercial for their home 3D printer and how a lady was printing things like cookie cutters to cut and bake cookies or Lego-like pieces for her kids to play with, I started to see how having one at the house could be useful.
The main thing this course helped me learn is that even if you believe you are up-to-date and current with technology, you are always behind. I originally thought I was a tech savvy person and that I knew of a lot of technology out there, but I was wrong. This course opened my eyes to so many new things I had never heard of. Also, from viewing endless new projects on kickstarter.com, I learned that it is impossible to always stay current even if you try. The best thing you and I can do is try to immerse ourselves as much as possible so that we do not stay too far behind, and immersing ourselves will also help open our minds to new things and inspire us to create even better.
Overall, this course has been a great learning experience. It has introduced me to many new technologies that I would not have been able to find on my own. It has also helped me learn how to analyze current technology to determine its pros and cons, and predict how these technologies might change for the future. I will definitely continue to use the resources that it provided me with so that I can continue to immerse myself and try to stay as current with technology as possible.