ABSTRACT
Growth in Internet access is sometimes described as exponential but it must be an 'S' curve, as there is evidence from economic trends that the rate of increase is reducing. The implications for e-learning are that local culture may influence the acceptability and take-up of the Internet for learning. Virtual learning will become just as natural as a way of learning. However, e-learning market is international and some of the most respected names are entering it. Although commercial consumer sites are learning many lessons of use to the e-learning industry, the commercial motivation conflicts with the open and free ethos established by early users of the web. Individuals will react differently to the various methods of e-learning. Although some of these differences will be due to their skills and competencies, by far the greater impact on their preferences is that of their personality and learning style.
