Second Life is considered to be a disruptive technology based on several reasons. As Thornburg points out, disruptive technology is a wild card that comes out of nowhere and makes existing technology obsolete. Such was the case with the vacuum tube and the transistor, with the vacuum tube being replaced technology by the transistor that will eventually be replaced by newer technology such as the LED and LCD.
There is speculation that simulations could be the replacement for many different things such as education and training. Simulation technology has been used by the military to help train and develop necessary skills. Now simulations continue to grow especially in the educational field at the secondary level to help educate learners in techniques that are difficult to achieve with traditional means. Mark Smith for Public Technology in his article shows numerous uses of programs such as Second Life as an educational tool and how valuable this tool is for the educational system. According to the 2011 Horizon Report, a blended reality using programs such as Second Life creates new opportunities for learning. This augmented reality is going beyond the traditional use of gaming opening up a new market for consumers.
Second Life does not replace any existing technology as Thornburg describes as a disruptive technology but more as a wild card, coming out of nowhere. This technology has unlimited potential that has only been just tapped in the educational industry but will continue to grow and develop as needed. It will not replace existing educational material but enhance what is in place through the use of augmented reality.
The 2011 Horizon Report from
http://wp.nmc.org/horizon2011/sections/augmented-reality/
Smith, Mark. Augmented Reality
Its Future in Education. Public Technology. 15 November 2010 from
http://www.publictechnology.net/sector/augmented-reality-its-future-education
Thornburg, D. (n.d.). Disruptive technologies. Retrieved July 27, 2011 from http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=4930730&Survey=1&47=5513753&ClientNodeID=984645&coursenav=1&bhcp=1
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