Technology and nursing education: a scenario for 1990.
An examination of predictions concerning the future of American society provides a basis for building a scenario for nursing education in the USA. Trends influencing the future of society and professional nursing education include the tendency towards a planet-wide society, changing orientations towards individual towns and cities, changes in the occupational structure and in use of energy, and technological breakthroughs in electronics and genetics. Central to new technologies is the computer. Computerized systems of education and networks of such systems are now technically possible. Although capital resources for such systems may be scarce, eventually the substitution of capital for the even more expensive human labour may force the use of greater technology in education. Teacher acceptance is the greatest challenge to increased use of technology in education. Teacher acceptance is the greatest challenge to increased use of technology in education. Increased use of technology may force better instruction. Increased technology does not presuppose a less humanistic education.