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Where would any of us be without word processing? This software was launched in 1983 and has undergone many iterations. It allows us to create and edit documents. This is a program I use almost daily. -
Internet Explore was the first web browser I ever used and my introduction to the Internet. I personally first used this program in 1998 or 1999. I had no idea at the time of what I was doing or how it would impact not just me but the entire world. We use browsers every single day in our personal lives and in education. It is how we are able to track down almost all of our information. -
AOL instant messaging was texting before texting. I met people online and kept up with my friends when I could not see them over the summer. We could make plans or have conversations without the phone. I would go on to use Myspace messaging near constantly but AOL was my introduction. -
Myspace changed everything. It was the first time you could tailor who you were for other people to see. You did not have to show anything embarrassing. You could make yourself via your page the coolest version of who you wanted to be. Instant messaging was seamlessly integrated as was being able to post songs to your account. I met people through the music we liked. -
This is one that I feel like we take for granted a lot. We do almost everything with cloud technology now. We store data, communicate, and upload and download files all within the cloud. This concept was first put into use by Amazon in their web services division in 2006. As it has been developed over the years, our entire modern internet use relies on cloud data. I know personally without cloud computing, my school system would not be able to function. -
Facebook became available to the general public to use in 2006. This was right around when I entered high school age. Facebook was huge. We used it for absolutely everything. I remember updating it constantly. For the first time, you had this online community space that was not just for you and your friends; your mom could use it or your cousins. Suddenly, you could connect with everyone so much quicker than before. -
We still have to see just exactly how AI will impact us all, but it is already obvious it will change the world. AI gives us tremendous potential for knowledge and automation but also poses an existential threat to creativity and critical thinking. I can guarantee that we all use it everyday now thanks to google search becoming AI powered recently. We have already had to develop plans on how to deal with it in the classroom.