College faculty can avoid investing valuable time and resources in inappropriate technologies by staying in step with technological progress. A "future proof" approach to technology recognizes and welcomes small failures, considering them part of the ongoing process of absorbing technology into the learning process. Future proofing attempts to understand the factors that influence technology, and hence, the impact of technology on learners. The factors that comprise future proofing include: (1) market dominance solutions based on a strong market presence often prove to be the single greatest factor in decision making; (2) ease of use users of technology will usually prefer simplicity over functionality; (3) the best-practice approach since technology is just a delivery medium, proven successful teaching and learning practices are likely to work when technology is added; (4) technical nonreliance--users should avoid relying too heavily on the expertise of technical gurus; (5) least cost--free software should be rigorously reviewed and users should plan on receiving limited or no technical support, since software freely available may disappear or fall victim to programmer neglect; and (6) best guess-roulette creative and effective solutions evolve from combinations of technologies only possible from experimentation. (DB)