In the very near future we will have a keyboardless computer. Voice software is already proving to be effective in its implementation and it seems only a matter of years before the keyboard will be removed from many if not most computer environments. Computers are shrinking in size and are now wearable. For under $5,000 Xybernaut sells a powerful speech-activated computer (see Fig. 2). Taking this one step farther, although more difficult to implement than originally anticipated, voice translation technologies will allow for nearly instantaneous communication with people of different languages (Molitor, 1998). The business and educational implications are staggering. For example, what if American students could instantly communicate with Chinese students? Would this change education? 

Also possible are body-implant transceivers, all connected to the Global Digital Network, or medical breakthroughs such as video lens implants, which are already allowing individuals who were once blind to regain partial sight! For any Star Trek fans reading this paper, it might sound like we are slowly turning into the Borg (see Fig. 3). If this creature walked into your classroom, how would you react? The idea might seem ludicrous, but the idea of students walking into class with Sony Walkmans, pagers, and cell phones was recently considered ludicrous as well. The technology might someday make unbelievable things possible. It is therefore important for teachers to work closely with technology designers "to create a world that celebrates and promotes humanity through the judicious use of technology" (Graham, 1997, pg. 14).