The last session of the day at the Blandin Broadband Conference was a great look at the future. It started with a presentation from John O’Brien at Minnesota State Colleges and Universities. He provided a fun survey of what the Internet is, was and is becoming as well as how folks, especially students interact with the Internet and assume adequate broadband.

We heard about umbrellas that will change colors based on the weather forecast and tools that will help your plants remind you to water them. He also discussed the legitimate role of gaming in education. The observation I loved – students tend not to like classes that are too hard or games that are too easy. It’s seems like an opportunity to mashup some teachable moments. The session ended with a panel of students talking about how they use technology and what are their expectations for the future use – in the workplace especially.