2007

June:	Revolutionary Consumer-Level Haptic Interface Device and Its Possibilities in Virtual-World–Based Training Accurate provision of touch and force sensations (haptics) can give users a more realistic representation of virtual environments than they now experience and enable more complex applications, such as specialized surgical training or accurate representation of activities in 3-D environments, in ways that would otherwise be impossible. Because of their inherent complexity and high cost, development of haptic interfaces has generally lagged behind work on visual and sound interfaces, but may now become more common given the reduction in price and high volume of controllers for computer games and could—with the proper software—make operating in virtual environments faster and more intuitive.
May:	The Potential and Risk of Three-Dimensional Virtual Collaboration and Learning Environments Developments in multiplayer virtual environments may enhance collaboration, exploration, and learning for corporate professionals and others by enabling them to test ideas and solutions in complex, open-ended virtual settings in ways that would be difficult or impossible in real life. Corporations are testing the value of multiplayer virtual environments to connect and communicate better with customers and potential customers, even though the value of these environments is not yet well defined for business, and these environments need to evolve further and become demonstrably reliable and practical.
April:	Recent Developments: Language Learning in Second Life Shows Potential Developments in multiplayer virtual environments, particularly the provision of high-quality voice communications, may enhance learning and collaboration for language students by enabling them to learn and practice in complex, open-ended, virtual settings in ways that would be difficult to replicate in real life. Language learning is a general-purpose application for virtual worlds that could become commonplace once interface issues find resolution. When interfaces improve, other applications that require virtual-face-to-face with voice communications will also follow. Recent Developments: U.S. National Science Foundation Funds Leading-Edge Research Project: "Towards Life-like Computer Interfaces that Learn" Combining several leading-edge technologies—including motion capture, natural-language understanding, speech recognition, and knowledge engineering—in addition to developing humanlike avatars that appear lifelike and respond intelligibly to questions could create remarkable results. Software agents that understand speech and can respond, through speech, to topic-specific questions could create a variety of new applications and services in learning, as well as in customer services, sales, and other people-facing roles.
March:	Multicore Chips and Parallel Processing for High-End Learning Environments Computing power is a key enabler for high-end learning environments such as three-dimensional simulations, games, and virtual worlds. The availability of inexpensive, multicore, parallel computers may revolutionize high-end learning environments if programmers can create and convert software for the new computer systems. This Viewpoints, which examines the field of multicore chips and parallel processing, is relevant to all learning-industry players interested in new hardware trends.
February:	Recent Developments: Wearable Learning for Aircraft Engineers Some workers, such as field-maintenance engineers, struggle to use today's eLearning systems that require desktop or laptop computers or at best handheld devices requiring two-handed operation. Wearable computing could provide "hands-free," on-demand learning to field workers—creating new opportunities for learning technology vendors and users. Recent Developments: Report from London's Learning Technologies 2007 Learning Technologies is one of Europe's leading eLearning events. This brief report captures key industry insights from our visit, providing implications and analysis for Learning-on-Demand clients. Recent Developments: Learning and the Long Tail John Seely Brown, a leading thinker in the business and learning fields, recently outlined a new vision for organizing corporate and university curriculums. His vision is for learning that covers core content but also allows individuals to foster their own interests and take advantage of new Web resources and communities. His thesis is relevant to all managers responsible for learning.

2006

December/ January:	2006: The Year in Review This special Viewpoints for December 2006 and January 2007 reviews key developments during 2006 and discusses upcoming developments for 2007. Mergers and acquisitions continued to reshape the eLearning industry in 2006, with content and service companies joining tools companies in consolidation activity. Organizations started to move a greater proportion of their content development in-house as both rapid eLearning and a growing number of Web 2.0 authoring and publishing tools put content creation in the hands of the subject-matter experts and end users. Open-source software saw increased support in higher education but failed to attract significant numbers of enterprise adopters, and interest in virtual worlds (particularly Second Life) grew steadily during 2006.
November:	SkillSoft Buys NETg Both SkillSoft and NETg are major suppliers of catalog content to businesses and government organizations. Both companies also have numerous partnerships with eLearning-tools companies, resellers, consultants, and system integrators. Skillsoft's acquisition of NETg will create a major eLearning player with few direct competitors. However, the increasing use of user-created content and pressure from Indian suppliers will create tough market conditions for this new company. This Viewpoints analyzes the proposed acquisition and discusses implications for Learning-on-Demand (LoD) clients.
October:	Learning to Go Wayne Hodgins, strategic futurist at Autodesk, has argued that the future of learning is about getting just the right content to just the right person, at just the right time, on just the right device, in just the right context, and in just the right way. eLearning via desktops and laptops is clearly more limited than learning via mobile devices—particularly because about 60% of the workforce do not sit behind a desk. This Viewpoints examines recent developments in mobile learning and the handheld-device industry and discusses the likely evolution of the field in the near future.
September:	Blackboard's Patent and Open-Source Learning Software Blackboard's recent course-management system patent has generated alarm across the eLearning industry and is at odds with the trend toward greater use of open-source software in learning. Oracle is dealing with open source in a quite different way—by contributing to open-source LMS Sakai. This Viewpoints reviews these developments and discusses implications for the eLearning industry.
August:	eLearning Mergers and Acquisitions Continue Consolidation is continuing to change the shape of the eLearning industry. Mergers and acquisitions affect the competitive landscape for vendors as well as the products and services that are available to buyers. Three significant acquisitions have occurred in recent months: Affiliated Computer Services (ACS) acquired Intellinex, NIIT Global acquired Element K, and Horizon Technologies acquired WBT Systems. This Viewpoints reviews the three deals and discusses implications for other industry players.
July:	Rapid eLearning Rapid eLearning is fast becoming a popular approach to developing eLearning content in short time frames. This Viewpoints defines the term, provides examples of early adopters, and goes on to discuss the concern that fast and cheap equates to low quality as well as the concern that rapid eLearning approaches are in conflict with learning objects. Finally, the Viewpoints addresses the future of rapid eLearning in the era of Web 2.0 and self-publishing.
June:	Wikis for Enterprise Learning Many people already use Wikipedia to research work-related issues as well as leisure activities. But the underlying wiki software that powers Wikipedia is also enabling a wide variety of specialist enterprise wikis—some specific to a project team, some accessible to an entire organization. Enterprise wikis provide new opportunities to enhance informal learning in the workplace. This Viewpoints reviews current practice and provides implications for learning-technology players.
May:	Do Custom Content Vendors Have a Future? Some learning-technology vendors rely on custom-content development for a large part (or all) of their revenue. For enterprise adopters, obtaining quality content that meets the specific needs of the organization is critical. This Viewpoints examines the future of the custom-content market, with a particular emphasis on the United Kingdom (traditionally strong for custom content) and discusses implications for vendors and enterprise adopters across Europe and the United States.
April:	Web 2.0, eLearning 2.0, and Beyond Leading learning-technology players are evaluating the impact of Web 2.0 for learning, and the concept eLearning 2.0 has been born. Understanding the implications of these changes is important for everyone wishing to stay ahead in the learning-technology market. This Viewpoints builds on the recent LoD Travel Report, Perspectives on eLearning 2.0, and provides additional opinions and analysis.
March:	Innovation and Learning in a "Flat World" In the past few years, one of the most common exhortations in the corporate learning literature has been to "align learning and business strategy." Yet most learning professionals are not well attuned to strategic business issues and developments. They would do well to focus their attention on innovation, because it has become a key element in the business strategy of growing numbers of companies. And we must now see innovation in the context of an increasingly global, and intensely competitive, business environment—that Thomas Friedman characterizes as a "flat world."
February:	The Emerging Role of Artificial Intelligence in Learning and Knowledge Work In recent years, Internet search engines have had major impact on formal and informal learning in organizations. Yet experts claim that we are just in the early days of search technology because advances in artificial intelligence (AI) will likely help produce more advanced tools and technologies that can improve search and in turn improve learning. Search is only one application area of AI, however, and we can expect to see many other areas, such as intelligent agents, where AI will change how we work and learn.

2005

Dec/Jan:	2005: The Year in Review; Look for These Developments in 2006 Consolidation was the most dramatic story of 2005, and the repercussions of the various mergers and acquisitions will continue to be evident throughout the industry in 2006. Simulation- and game-based learning increased in importance, with simulations approaching the mainstream of eLearning and games arriving among early adopters. Formal training budgets remained more or less steady (compared to the prior year), while interest in informal learning activities grew throughout the year.
November:	Informal Learning: Opportunities and Challenges Many organizations are increasingly recognizing that learning often extends far beyond traditional training or formal learning and are starting to take this recognition into account when designing and funding learning programs and activities. Training has more visibility than informal learning activities and also receives by far the largest share of learning budgets in most organizations. But growing numbers of organizations are now recognizing that informal or nonformal learning is a very important piece of the overall learning puzzle. This LoD Viewpoints examines informal learning in a little more depth than we have been able to do before.
October:	Merger Mania Saba's agreement to purchase Centra, Blackboard's agreement to purchase WebCT, and Huveaux's recent purchase of U.K. content leader Epic are yet more examples of the increasing consolidation changing the shape of the eLearning marketplace. But Oracle's plan to acquire Siebel Systems is also a reminder of the impact that larger players can have on an industry if and when they choose to move. Recent Developments: All Flash and No Sparkle Researchers create some of the best eLearning content on the market today using Macromedia's Flash. But around the time of the release of Flash 8, Microsoft announced a new development tool that some commentators are calling a "Flash Killer." Will Microsoft's Sparkle replace Flash as the multimedia tool of choice for eLearning designers?
September:	The Usability Question Usability can make or break a product—the iPod's runaway success is largely due to strong usability and design—and learning technology products are no different. However, the learning industry often overlooks usability, particularly in content, and investments are wasted as learners struggle with poor software. This Viewpoints discusses the distinction between learner and user, provides an overview of basic usability testing and design principles and discusses practical implications for vendors and enterprise practitioners.
August:	SumTotal and Pathlore: The LMS Consolidation Story Continues The July 2005 Viewpoints looked at Saba's survival in the learning-management–system (LMS) marketplace after completing the acquisition of THINQ and making progress on a variety of other fronts. Shortly after we published that Viewpoints, SumTotal announced an agreement to acquire Pathlore—and the consolidation and disruption in the LMS market continued. This Viewpoints reviews the SumTotal deal, examines recent LMS user research, and provides analysis relevant to all learning-industry players working with LMS.
July:	Saba's Survival Saba is one of the original and best-known providers of learning-management systems (LMS). But like most LMS providers, Saba faced a number of challenges as the market began to consolidate. After completing the acquisition of THINQ and making progress on a variety of other fronts, Saba seems to have assured survival—at least for now. This topic is relevant to all learning-industry players working with LMS. Macromedia's Strengthened Learning-Product Line Macromedia is an important company to watch for all learning-technology players. The company is integrating software simulations tool Captivate with Breeze and in turn creating a highly competitive learning-content authoring and delivery tool. Adobe's proposed acquisition of Macromedia creates a number of uncertainties but could also accelerate the company's progress in learning technologies.
June:	Report from the June 2005 LoD Meeting in Helsinki SRIC-BI's LoD program's meetings provide sponsors with an opportunity to hear from experts, discuss important issues, and network with the learning-technology community. Most sponsors find the meetings a very valuable part of the program, and we strongly encourage participation. This Viewpoints summarizes the latest European meeting.
May:	Learning Styles Learning theorists have long understood that different people learn in different ways: One size does not fit all. Technology has the potential to personalize learning experiences for different learning styles and maximize learning effectiveness for all. This Viewpoints explores learning styles and discusses how learning-technology practitioners can apply it to increase the impact of their implementations. This Viewpoints provides a brief overview of learning styles and discusses some potential implications for learning-technology practitioners.
April:	Search Technologies and Learning Search technologies already play a huge role in informal learning, and their importance is likely to grow as learning technologies evolve. Future search technologies are likely to integrate unstructured and structured information, as well as external and internal resources. New search technologies, including visualization, could also change the way that learners experience search. All learning-technology providers and adopters need to be aware of how search technologies are evolving and how they can apply new developments to learning.
March:	Learning Simulations: Current Issues and Future Trends Simulations create engaging learning experiences in which workers can practice business-critical skills and processes in safe environments—and they improve learning effectiveness by enabling learners to apply new information. Unlike conventional eLearning content, simulations harness the full possibilities of learning technology and move content beyond PowerPoint and textbook substitutes. As learning simulations proliferate, various opportunities will exist for vendors and enterprise adopters.
February:	eLearning Content: The Role of Offshore Outsourcing The results of the recent survey conducted by the LoD program in collaboration with ICWE of Germany revealed that learning content was the target of outsourcing among many of the more than 800 respondents from 46 countries, exceeded only by the outsourcing of learning/training technology. Other research results confirm that many organizations either outtask or outsource a significant, and growing, share of their custom eLearning-content development.

2004

Fourth Quarter:	Mobile Learning Revisited
Third Quarter:	Maximizing Use and Value of CRM through eLearning
Second Quarter:	A Learning Perspective on Customer-Focused Online Communities
First Quarter:	Learning Implications of Social-Networking Technology and Services

2003

Fourth Quarter:	Perspectives on Authoring Tools
Third Quarter:	Integration of eLearning, Knowledge, and Digital-Content Management in Next-Generation Learning
Second Quarter:	Open Source eLearning: Opportunities and Threats
First Quarter:	Mobile Learning: A Perspective on the Present and the Future

2002

Fourth Quarter:	The Future of University-Industry Collaboration in eLearning
Third Quarter:	eLearning and Enterprise Applications
Second Quarter:	European eLearning-Industry Update—and Focus on German eLearning-Content Issues
First Quarter:	Small to Midsize Businesses: The Next eLearning Frontier

2001

Fourth Quarter:	A Learning-Objects Primer for eLearning Practitioners
Third Quarter:	European Governments and eLearning
Second Quarter:	eLearning Industry Update: Weathering the Downturn
First Quarter:	Next-Generation Content Development

2000

Fourth Quarter:	eLearning for Strategic Capability / Peer-to-Peer eLearning
Third Quarter:	The Future Role of Academic and Corporate Universities in Corporate eLearning
Second Quarter:	eLearning in Nordic Countries: A Status Report
First Quarter:	A VALS™ Perspective on Knowledge Management and eLearning / Speech Recognition and eLearning

1999

Fourth Quarter:	eLearning and Knowledge Management
Third Quarter:	Not available.
Second Quarter:	Time, Motivation, and Underuse of LoD / Learning Portals: The Future Access Point for eLearning?
First Quarter:	The ATP Adaptive Learning Systems Awards / Learn-as-You-Work Systems / The Inherent Efficiency of Voice Interactions

1998

Fourth Quarter:	Not available.
Third Quarter:	E-Books: An Emerging Learning Platform   (free download)