Technology and systems are developing so quickly in so many domains that we haven't even had time to cross-pollinate most of them. Especially when using digital data and systems, software and processes built for one domain can, in many cases, be powerfully applied in another.

There are many rich solutions waiting to be crossed. You don't have to be a breakthrough-business or person in your own domain to discover and bring breakthroughs into your domains. Watch this video for a living example of what I mean.

Video after the jump.

Luis von Ahn presents a brilliant real-life example of how the internet can be used in new ways to solve multiple problems simultaneously using massively distributed online collaboration and provide value to all participants while doing so.

This is mind-blowing from a business perspective, and world-opening from a world education, learning and language perspective. Watch, enjoy, be amazed!

(Video after the jump)

We have a fabulous amount of beginner's language material available freely on the net - and that is great. And, as a tool for advancing specific translation needs, Google Translate is a great tool.

However, once you get into the more technical areas of a topic or industry, it can be hard to find materials that are written by native speakers for a natural translation. That's where Wikipedia comes in.

I like the format of Howard Rheingold's new mini-courses. Topics include:

• Infotention - a mind-machine combination of brain-powered attention skills and computer-powered information filters
• Network Literacy
• Introduction to Cooperation Theory
• ...and more.

Each is a single box on the web page with tabs: videos, more videos, resources, and fresh links.

Thanks to Wendy Drexler for posting this video which features one of her 7th graders demonstrating her personal learning environment.

(Video and more after the jump)

A nifty infographic from OnlineEducation.net... click to see it in it's entirety.

The handwriting is on the wall.

"I don't understand why I have to go to school at all, the internet knows more than all the teachers there put together."
-- Jeb Thorne, age 10

Found via cool site Omniglot:

Graeme Kilshaw has used visual binary, which was created in 1950's by Bell Labs, to represent a cool symbolic alphabet in combination with an interface device design called the Visual Binary Cube Alphabet. This is an elegant design: it is compact, useful, binary-friendly (digital friendly), and even mimics the shape of the human mouth when speaking the vowels and letters in many cases. And, it looks like an alien-future-sci-fi alphabet - and makes a very cool code. Neato!

Holy cow wow! This is an awesome materialization of new wealth, health and happiness for the entire world, especially regions that are poor or struggling. And anyone can help! Watch the TED video below (4:11 long) to get the scoop.

I think everyone loves breakthroughs. Call them "Aha's!", or "I get it!" moments, or whatever you like, these are events that the brain loves.

Breakthrough moments are a critical part of the learning curve for new skills, like learning a new language, learning a new sport, or maybe learning a skill like computer programming or sailing.