Technological Convergence
Convergence is defined as the interlinking of computing and other information technologies, media content, and communication networks that have arisen as a result of the evolution and popularization of the internet as well as the activities, products and services that have emerged in the digital media space. Convergence is loosely defined as the occurrence of two or more things coming together to eventually meet and or in which old and new intersects or builds upon. Although for the consumer convergence simply means “convenience”. Technological convergence is the trend of technologies that bring together a myriad of media. Convergence of media occurs when multiple products come together to form one product with the advantages of them all know as the black box. (Jenkins, 2006). While historically, technology handled one medium or accomplished one or two tasks, through technological convergence, devices are now able to present and interact with a wide array of media. For example, the cellular phone, once used for calling now not only places calls ,it is capable of sending and receiving data such as text messaging, playing music, surfing the internet as well as GPS and video recording capabilities. Astonishingly so, it was necessary to have at a minimum of four separate devices in order to perform these functions as few as tens years ago. However, it appears that most people have a multi- functioning device used for primarily for one or two purposes. We are surrounded by a multi-level convergent media world where all modes of communication and information are continually reforming to adapt to the enduring demands of technologies, “changing the way we create, consume, learn and interact with each other”. (Jenkins, 2006). Does convergence have a downside? It is suggested that while one device can multi-task, “big” is not always better particularly in their initial forms; converged devices are believed to be less functional and reliable than their component
References: Wikipedia (2006) Technological Convergence http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/technologicalconvergence.com Jenkins H. (2006) Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide New York: New York University Press. Krupansky, J. The Blog Spot (2009) http://www.basetechnology.blogspot Dr. Curtis Anthony New media of Mass Communication (2011) www.uncp.edu/home/acurtis/newmedia Convergence Keisha Tucker 03-15-11