Technological
convergence is the trend of technologies to merge into new technologies that
bring together a myriad of media. 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.
In the past, for example, each entertainment
medium had to be played on a specific device. Video was played on a television
by using a video player of some sort, music was played on a tape deck or compact
disc player,
radio was played on an AM/FM tuner, and video games were played through a
console of some sort. Similarly, different communication media used their own technologies.
Voice conversation was carried on using a telephone, video communication
briefly used high-end video phones, facsimile copies used fax machines, and e-mail used a
computer.
Technological convergence in the last few
years has resulted in devices that not only interact with the media they are
primarily designed to handle, but also with a number of other formats. For
example, the XBox video game console has as its primary purpose the playing of
console games, but it is also able to play back video and music and to connect
to the Internet. Similarly, most modern DVD players are capable not
only of playing DVDs, but also of playing music CDs, displaying photos from
photo CDs, playing encoded video in formats such as DIVX or VCD, and playing
DVD music.
Technological convergence also leads to
devices that are designed specifically to replace a number of different
devices. The Apple iPod, for example, while
originally conceived of as a portable music player, is now touted equally as a
portable video player, photo album, and radio tuner. Cell phones, as well, have
moved far beyond their beginnings as simple voice communication devices and now
offer the functionality of personal music players, digital cameras, and text
messenger systems as well.
The
Internet is perhaps the most widespread example of technological convergence.
Virtually all entertainment technologies – from radio to television to video to
books to games – can be viewed and played online, often with greater
functionality than they have in their primary technology. Communications
technologies, as well, can be used, with the Internet replacing fax machines,
telephones, video phones, and the postal service.
While
technological convergence gives consumers the convenience of having many
devices all in one, saving on both size and cost, there is an initial tradeoff
in quality. When technological convergence first gives birth to a new
multi-technology, the various technologies it is comprised of are usually at a
slightly lower standard than independent devices. Usually within a year or two,
however, this disparate quality is reduced to a virtually unnoticeable level.
