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Notable
Internet Trends
Several
Internet trends indicate that the environment is ripe for
e-Learning. Among the trends (reflected in the following graphs) is
the increasing use of computers, both at home and at the office, to
access the Internet.
Both the
education levels and the ages of Internet surfers is fairly diverse,
indicating that a wide range of learning needs and dynamics are at,
or could be at, play in e-Learning.
International Markets to Propel Growth of the Web
The United States and other English-speaking countries dominate the
Internet; however, the trend will move more to an international
community. English will still maintain its dominance as the
preferred language, but the other international web trends indicate
that the international market will eventually overshadow the United
States.
In addition to the
Web's dramatic growth in the United States, international markets
hold promise for further, rapid growth of the Internet. According to
IDC, the percentage of non-U.S. Web users will grow from 56% in 1998
to 65% in 2003. Europe, in particular, has the potential to become a
larger Internet market than the United States.
SunTrust
Equitable also refers to IDC in the following graph to indicate the
number and growth of PC shipments worldwide.
Increased Internet Usage
In the Dain Rauscher report titled eServices – When Every
Minute Counts, Theresa A. Matacia presents the case that
increased Internet use throughout the world will continue to grow
the opportunities for e-commerce, e-business and e-Learning.
With the pervasiveness of the
Internet and the emergence of attractive service offerings, there
is a burgeoning movement among consumers to get connected.
According to the Computer Industry Almanac, Internet access among
the North American population is expected to climb significantly
from 28% of the population in 1998 to just under 50% by the end of
next year. By 2005, it is estimated that almost three-quarters of
the North American population will be Internet subscribers. Growth outside of North America is
expected to be even more significant over the next several years.
These projections could prove conservative once high-speed,
broadband connections become widely available, driving an even
greater proportion of consumers online.
Greater connectivity should drive
more transaction business over the Web. As more consumers get connected and opt
for the speed and flexibility of broadband access, we believe that
they likely will expect the same from their Internet transactions.
With more than 9 million online shoppers, organizations cannot
afford to delay their ecommerce strategies. Forrester Research
anticipates exponential growth in business-to-consumer ecommerce,
from about $8 billion in 1998 to $108 billion by 2003.
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Percentage of the Population Online |
| |
1995 |
1998 |
2000 |
2005 |
|
North America |
8.9% |
27.6% |
47.9% |
71.5% |
|
West Europe |
2.2% |
8.8% |
21.7% |
50.1% |
|
East Europe |
0.1% |
1.0% |
3.3% |
15.2% |
|
Asia-Pacific |
0.1% |
0.7% |
1.7% |
4.6% |
|
South/Central America |
0.1% |
0.5% |
2.1% |
7.9% |
|
Middle East/Africa |
0.0% |
0.3% |
0.7% |
2.4% |
|
Users Worldwide |
0.7% |
2.5% |
5.2% |
11.1% |
|
Source:
Computer Industry Almanac |
|
|
Percentage of the Population
Online |
| |
1995-1998 |
1998-2000 |
2000-2005 |
|
North America |
46% |
32% |
8% |
|
West Europe |
59% |
58% |
18% |
|
East Europe |
101% |
79% |
36% |
|
Asia-Pacific |
87% |
51% |
23% |
|
South/Central America |
107% |
96% |
30% |
|
Middle East/Africa |
82% |
58% |
27% |
|
Users Worldwide |
54% |
44% |
16% |
|
Source:
Computer Industry Almanac |
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