From bare feet to superfast broadband

If all the course parcipitants were actually massing at the start of marathon, it would be interesting to survey the range of footwear worn. The elite runners will no doubt have some hi-spec kit. There may be a few who have gone for the fashion statement, in order to be noticed. Most I suspect will be wearing what is most comfortable within their budget, and available to buy or borrow . Anyone participating in flip-flops or bare feet is surely going to struggle unless perhaps they are in the wheelchair event.

Does the way we present our podiatric digits have any relation to the digital divide? The UN may well have passed a worthy resolution to say access to the internet should be a basic human right, but how should access be defined? Without a considered definition it will be of no more use than saying it is a basic human right to have footwear. Unsuitable footwear can actually be a bigger handicap than having non at all.

It would only be interesting to know what brand of sports footwear course participants wear  if it did indeed relate to how they access the internet to persue this course.
Is internet access their own or borrowed ( home, work or library?)
Do they share a computer or have one for their exclusive use?
Is internet access via satelite, dial-up or broadband ?
If the latter, what is the average broadband speed of connection?

Online learning has so much potential. Can it be inclusive and reach places that establishment based learning can't or will it just add to the choices already available for those living in large cities, and deepen the digital divide?

The Crowd at the Starting Line.

Coursera DID send the links and suggestions a month or more ago, but I left it all to the last minute. This evening I checked into the facebook group, and searched for twitter posts with the edcmooc hash tag. Now I feel overwhelmed. This is a BIG event. This is the London Marathon of learning.There are hundreds...or thousands? of celebral athletes massing at the starting line. One thing is for sure, I am not in the elite runners section! My digital fitness is hovering at litttle more than analogue level.
With all the dismay of an athlete whose trusted trainers have split, I have discovered that my laptop has digital conjunctivitis.otherwise known as sticky " i ". So the chances of typing errors abound!