There are many exciting advances in the way information is shared around the world and may have a significant impact on training.  The latest news on the technology front is WiMax.  Why is this so exciting? WiMax allows information to be accessed wirelessly at broadband speeds that currently surpass Wi-Fi and at greater distances. What this means for training is freedom for the student and possibly better communication between students and instructors.  Podcasting and Vodcasting have certainly been good uses of passive training, but what about live training?  With WiMax, students will be able to access live training, will be able to actively participate in training and will have the flexibility to do this on a wide variety of receivers. An article in Business Week on 9/4 reported about Intel and their test of WiMax technology in rural Vietnam.  Some of the farms in Vietnam are so remote that they have never had even land-line telephone communication.  In addition in improving their sales and distribution channels, WiMax can now bring education to communities that previously has not been possible. This can only mean good things for the US. I can’t imagine anywhere in the United States that would be more remote than a rural village in Vietnam (although it’s possible).  But here’s my point: bringing WiMax technology to rural communities nationwide can only remove the technology divide between rural and metropolitan areas. Bringing instruction directly to a telephone, iPod, laptop, etc., can only mean better and more education for everyone, regardless of geography.  And now it looks like WiMax is coming to a farm near you.