Trinity! Help!

Matrix, the movie, is an all time favorite for me. And, it has been for quite a while. As for the fact, the fascination had reached a point where, I simply lost count of how many times I watched the movie, or while watching, I hardly need to look at the screen anymore to know what scene is playing. So, at some point, I have asked myself, what is so special about it? Is it the dystopian & post-apocalyptic, unusually monochromatic, yet resilient setting of the film? The super fast & bionic martial art moves? Or, the cool acts of the performers? Or, maybe a dozen other things that a good sci-fi movie can be good at? Well, all of those are true; but, as it turned out, for me, the attraction has always been the way characters interface with machines in that movie. All the more wondrous was how they could learn new things. Be it a new martial art move or flying an object. They simply had to ask for it! And, the knowledge or the skills would get “transferred” into their mind. Putting aside the fun & excitement, it must be the surest recipe to build super-humans. 

It has been 21 years since the Matrix has been released. And you are right; we are yet to reach a point where a human being can be connected to a machine and immediately ‘uploaded’ with a ‘knowledge-pack’. Nevertheless, the process of acquiring knowledge has moved through profound changes during this period. Things that have contributed most are the online learning portals. 

Proliferation of web-based learning (popular moniker, e-learning) has been phenomenal. Generally shared over the internet, their technology can be of multiple forms, from simple audio-visual recording to use of Virtual (VR) & Augmented Reality (AR) to utilization of machine learning algorithms for content curating. So, the experience can also vary to a large degree from platform to platform. Integration of social media has enabled inter-connectivity among the learners that would otherwise be largely absent in a virtual (non-class room) environment. But, the most beneficial aspect is the on-demand nature of this education. No need to wait in a long queue or to suffer from the ordained and perceived need for learning prerequisites. One only has to have a will for it. It is already like a great marketplace of e-learning out there. Contents are building up at dizzying pace. It will not be long, when standardized e-learning based curricula and qualifications will be the norm for career.

Socially speaking, this virtual learning phenomenon certainly has the potential to be the great equalizer of future. The inherent imperfect nature of resource distribution will always mean that some part of the human society will not have the means or access to the same education as the well-to do. But, virtual learning will mend that gap to a great extent. Because, one of the greatest strengths of virtual methods is their scalability and low incremental cost. Exciting times are ahead.  

Digital technology has come to the aid of mankind  to mend the digital divide.