Multimedia and the Internet - Technology convergence
In The Internet Galaxy, Castells flirts with the idea of technology converging. Examples he gives of what this might consist of in the future include:
- A TV being used as a display and being connected to the internet by a computer and a phone line
- Using TV channels when they are off air to transmit information to storage devices that can then be accessed by computers
Examples of this convergence that I have been exposed to include the following:
Case currently allows students to watch television on the personal computers. I myself have not tried this (although I certainly intend to as soon as finals are over with); but my roommate has tried it a few times and seems to enjoy this technology. She says the quality is pretty good and enjoys being able to watch TV on her computer since we do not have a television in our room. I think the technology is pretty neat and exceptionally convenient for poor college students. Almost everyone will purchase themselves a computer, but not everyone will be willing to shell out the cash necessary for a television. With this technology, we are not required to.
I love listening to music. I have music playing all the time in my room, whether I am doing work, trying to get to sleep, cleaning, anything. I love is that there are radio stations in Croatia that broadcast their stations over the internet. This is wonderful for two reasons. First, I do not have a stereo or even an alarm clock (I use my cell phone) that lets me listen to the radio. Secondly, even if I did have such a stereo, I would still not be able to listen to stations that were being broadcast in Croatia. Thus with my laptop and an internet connection, I am able to listen to the same radio program as people on a different continent.
Comments
Posted by: John
Posted on: December 5, 2005 10:04 AM
The whole TV/Computer convergence thing is here and now. It is part of the reason Microsoft released its Media Center edition. Now you can hook up your TV to your home network and if you have a DVR you can access those files from your computer. I do believe sooner or later they will become one. Less space and the ease of use make it popular. TV stations as well as the Nielson rating system have realized that now with DVBs and PCI or USB cards that allow you to watch TV on your computer that not everyone is watching the episode of Desperate Housewives at Sunday at 9 but throughout the week.