If a technology is to become widespread, it is crucial that it be easy to use, so easy that an operating manual is not needed. A learning simulation, a conferencing tool, and a student record keeper should be as easy to use as a television, a telephone and a notebook. We must question whether our time and money spent teaching teachers to operate today's clumsy technology is time and money well spent. At best, we must view this period of transition as a temporary situation in which training is necessary to get us to a higher level of technological advancement. I argue that there are some easily identifiable features which separate good from bad.
Good technology is always available.
This distinction is what makes buses, in spite of all their other advantages, bad technology. Good technology does not require scheduling, relocation, or set-up. Imagine what life would be like if we had to schedule our use of the elevator. Or to make reservations to use the telephone. The availability requirement raises cost considerations.