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"For millions of years mankind lived just like the animals
Then something happened which unleashed the power of our imagination
We learned to talk"

Pink Floyd, "Keep Talking", Pulse - 1995

...and we learned to communicate.

Being the gadget guru and technophile I am, of course I could not wait to get my hands on the new Apple iPad - truly revolutionary. After it's delivery this weekend (yes I held out for the 3G version), and as I prepare this blog post laying down words with it's touch sensitive keyboard, I cannot help but think about how far our world has come.

I remember finishing optometry school in 1988 and being thrilled to experience "computing" for the first time. 8086, 8088, 286, 386, and then 486 processors paired with 10MB hard drives were a big deal! Remember DOS based 24K dial-up BBS systems? It was probably around that time or perhaps the introduction of Windows 3.1 with the early internet (Compuserve!) that I realized the true future power of the computer. This advancing technology will go on to change the world as primarily a communication and collaboration device - far beyond and further reaching than any mere software application. It is as obvious to me now as it has ever been. Our world is "shrinking" because of advancements in how we communicate - and the ability for us to educate one another. Think about how we primarily use our computers, cell phones, PDA's, and smart phones. We communicate.

As I continue to prepare for my "extended sabbatical" on Grenada, toting along my iPad, I realize this opportunity was made possible because of my usage of the Internet with respect to electronic research, communication, and collaboration. Without this level of effectivity, what many believed was just a "pipe dream" has now become my reality. I believe at this stage in my life and career, without these modern day tools, I would not have first found and then created this window of opportunity.

This time around, I'm so excited to experience the educational process from a technologic vantage point. Compared to my undergraduate and graduate time with a typewriter, card catalogs, and hours of library research, this should be a breeze! Right? I hope so! I plan to keep all of you posted...

To Your Circle!

- John