Emerging telecommunication technologies

The authors address the emerging telecommunications technologies that have been introduced into the marketplace and that are being used by businesses to gain a competitive edge by reducing costs and improving operating efficiency. It is noted that these technologies can be used by educators as well to strategically access information, to gain a competitive edge, to enhance teaching effectiveness, and to increase the technological literacy of today´s students. The effect these technologies may have on the educational process is examined. Each technology is described with a basic explanation, the current status, and a discussion of educational applications. The goal of the present work is to enhance educator´s awareness of this technology and to improve their ability to plan for its use in the classroom