Just four or five years ago, "productivity tools" was only a category of software.

The typical examples were calendaring and scheduling applications, software that saved time and reduced desktop clutter, and so on. The category expanded quickly, and interesting tools like mind-mapping software and online maps came to be called "productivity tools." Productivity was about getting things done... In fact, "GTD" became a popular acronym, and a popular software category, around 2007. Between then and now, the line between "e-learning tools," "learning tools," and "productivity tools" has blurred. As in our write-up on learning tools, the Centre for Learning & Performance Technologies annually draws up a list of the top hundred tools for learning. You could refer to them either way, really... tools for productivity, or for learning. Learning is life-long, we know.

We do say "Life is a process of learning," and that "we learn something new each day." It's interesting that our software terminology is reflecting that. (When did we ever get the idea that learning should only exist within predetermined sessions?)