convergence

toc =Convergence=

=What is it?= Convergence is the term used to describe the merging of wired and wireless communications technologies to allow content providers to deliver interactive broadcast and narrowcast programming to mobile and fixed multimedia capable client based `transceivers'. Providers will in fact become multichannel broadcasters offering multiple content specific programming in both 'traditional' broadcast 'one to many' format plus 'on demand', 'pay per view' 'one to one' narrowcast format to an individual party. In practical or consumer terms, convergence is used to describe the merging of the telephone, fax, radio, television, games machine and the personal computer to provide a 'one stop shop' device for both business and home entertainment communications. (http://www.acmi.net.au/AIC/FCD/FCD_01a.html)

A Convergence Timeline
broadcast sound
 * Narrative** – antiquity

broadcast 2D images ideograms, cave paintings - hieroglyphics - Chinese script
 * Illustrated narrative** - antiquity ( from approx 20,000 BC )

broadcast text alphabets, Latin - Greek - Arabic
 * Written narrative** - antiquity ( from approx 3,000 BC )

broadcast text and hand drawn 2D images limited mass production illustrated manuscripts
 * Written and illustrated narrative** - Middle Ages

broadcast text and engraved 2D images - woodcuts 'unlimited' mass production books, newspapers
 * Printing** - 15th c.

broadcast text and 2D images books, newspapers using halftone process
 * Printing and Photography** - late 19th c.

narrowcast text
 * Telegraphy** - 1809

narrowcast sound
 * Telephony** - 1876

narrowcast text and 2D images
 * Facsimile** - 1839

broadcast sound
 * Radio** - 1906

broadcast sound, text and 2D images
 * Television** - 1923

broadcast text - word processing broadcast text and 2D images - desk top publishing broadcast text, 2D images and sound Multimedia Phase 1 - CDROM
 * Computing** - 1970's to 1980's

narrowcast text - eMail narrowcast text and 2D images Multimedia Phase 2 - Browser Software 1.0
 * Computing and Telephony** - early/mid 1990's

narrowcast 2D text, images and sound Multimedia Phase 3 - Browser Software 2.0 and 3.0
 * Computing, Telephony and Radio** - mid/late 1990's

narrowcast 2D text, images, sound and moving images Multimedia Phase 4 - Browser Software 4.0
 * Computing, Telephony, Radio and Television** - late 1990's

narrowcast VR/3D text, images, sound and moving images Multimedia Phase 5 - Browser Software 5.0 (http://www.acmi.net.au/AIC/FCD/FCD_01a.html)
 * add...true Interactivity and Virtual Reality** - 2000+


 * Convergence can refer to three main properties: digital, technological and industry/media.

Digital Convergence
Digital convergence has been defined as ‘the switch of almost all media and information to electronic format, storage, and transfer’ (Herman and McChesney, 1997:107). In other words, digital convergence is the technological development that reduces communication into digital format. Examples of information that can be converged are voice, text, video, pictures, and sound.

Technological Convergence
Technological Convergence is the convergence of different arrays of technology to perform similar tasks. Convergence often refers to the “synergetic” combination of different forms of information such as voice, video, and data onto a single network. The combination of these different communication technologies, which were once separate, are now combined creating new efficiencies. An example of a technological convergence is the cellphone. Cellphones are no longer only used to communicate from one person to another, but are now capable of playing MP3's, take pictures, capture videos etc. As technology improves, so does the quality of these tools.

The T-Mobile sidekick is a multifunctional communication device that allows you to send emails, talk on the phone, capture video/images, play music.

Industry/Media Convergence
Industry convergence is the coming together of several industrial sectors that deal with communication in one way or another. According to Herman and McChesney (1997:107), Digital convergence is the way that ‘media, telecommunications (telephony) and computer industries find their activities are becoming increasingly the same’.

In result of this digitally driven world, many industries that were once largely separate with different frameworks and modes of delivery such as the telecoms industry, information technology sector, and media content industry are said to be in the process of converging (Gauntlett and Horsley (2004:179). Digitizing these industries means that lines are now blurring and now share a common unit of delivery: the digital code.

Rogers Cable is a great example of industry/media convergence in Canada. Rrogers was originally cable company that only offered cable service in homes. Today, Rogers is also the largest cell phone provider in Canada. Also, Rogers owns many television stations, radio stations, Rogers Video, Rogers Cable Internet, Rogers home phone service, the Toronto Blue Jays among many other services.

=Benefits of Convergences=

Convergence, in general, is the coming together of similar viewpoints. Thus, new knowledge and creativities will arise. New technologies, industries, and digital information will ultimately surface, possibly benefiting everyone. Consider the recent industry CTI (computer telephony integration). This is a company that has emerged due to the convergence of computers and telephony (voice communications over long distances).

= = =Consequences of Convergences=

The backlash of digitizing is most prominent on the World Wide Web in the form of mp3/music file sharing. The result of this trend is audio piracy. The most notorious case is one that Involved Napster.

In result of this, the music industry has rethought their business. Now available are downloadable single songs. Now, instead of having to purchase a CD only to find that you only like one song, you are able to purchase a single song for a lower price.

References:
Herman, E. and McChesney, R. 1997: The Global Media: The nNew Missionaries of Corporate Capitalism. London and Washington: Cassel. Wikipedia: Telephony. Retrieved at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telephony on November 1, 2006.

Other Useful Websites:
Center for the Study of Technology and Society: [|www.tecsoc.org]

Convergence: [|www.luton.ac.uk/convergence.com]

The convergence center: [|www.digital-convergence.org]

more to come...