But eleven countries have now created large distance teaching universities which enrol nearly three million students between them. These mega-universities have slashed the cost of degree study by operating on a huge scale. Openness, convenience and economy are the qualities learning systems must have for the 21 st century. The mega-universities have developed these qualities and have already changed the lives of millions. They are the knowledge revolutionaries of the information age.
Technology means processes, systems and organisation as well as hardware, software and bandwidth.
Evolving technologies can raise quality in all four of these areas. The danger is that, as usually happened with new communications technologies in the past, today's new media will be used primarily as information-display systems for 'delivering' content. Such an impoverished concept of distance learning will not help the millions who seek education and training. They need supported open learning . The knowledge media , which blend computing, telecommunications and the learning sciences, have great potential for supporting open learning.