…As We Know It. For some people, that is what they are saying after the election. Actually, they are just saying, “it is the end of the world.” But, I would have written this if McCain had won the election as well. Because, it is the end of the world as we know it. Everyday, there is so much change happening. Sometimes we know about the change, and sometimes we don’t. The change may not even affect us right away, but it will at some point. The memristor being created this year - a change that many people don’t even know about - but it will affect them in a few years. The electronics world is changed everyday. Teaching methods and delivery systems are changing. Gordon Synder and Mike Qaissaunee had a session on E-books, Kindles, and iPhones. Soon, students will not be buying textbooks - but buying something like a Kindle. I know schools that are already using e-books with their laptops. Teaching in Second Life. Unheard of using an online game to teach a few years ago - but now it is becoming very popular (or better known as Immersive Learning). Gordon and Mike’s field of knowledge, telecommunications, just had a major change today - the FCC approved of devices in white spaces. What changes will this bring? Nanotechnology is all the rage, yet if you look, you will find it has been changing the world through products for the last few years and will be bringing even more change.

Change is coming, not just through a new president, but through everything. When you hear the doomsayers proclaim that the end is near, smile, and tell them they are right. The world is ending as we know it. And I feel fine.

Mark Viquesney