Having read quite a few articles from Jenkins in the past, the reading this week kept in line with the rest. He was easy to follow and pretty much has the same ideas about convergence, that it's changing the world, but it's not necessarily a bad thing.
Convergence is about putting together new and old types of media so they function coherently and benefit the user. Gone are the days when you had one device for on task, and another to do something else. This brings me back to the idea of my Gameboy Color, having recently gone into a retro gaming phase, i pulled out my GBC and booted it up. It took me a couple of minuteds to realise i needed to actually put a game in, and to find the game, i had to dig through the box to find the right one. These days, modern gaming platforms rely on the cloud, digital downloads and (although not sure how long for) discs.
So sitting there playing Pokemon Yellow, i thought just how strange it was using this device without being able to do much on it other than play the games. So i pulled out my iPad and checked Facebook, replied to a couple of mentions on Twitter, increased my max bid on eBay, and i was at peace. I hadn't realised how used to convergent media i had become, and now we expect everything to be instant, on the same device, and up to the same place as where it was before.
So where does this leave people who aren't upgrading as quickly as i am? I know that too much of my money goes towards early adoption of tech, but some people aren't in a position too.
The increase in the digital divide is one way to look at it, we all have that friend who still has a phone that, in our mind, does 'nothing'. Let's face it, it's not an iPhone, of course it does nothing.
But convergence also has a positive effect, you don't need to by a lot of devices to be up to date with the internet, for light use all you need is a smart phone. By having one device that has the capacity to do everything, it brings everyone onto a similar level of access.
References
Jenkins, H. (2006). 'Worship at the altar of convergence: A new paradigm for understanding media change'. In H. Jenkins, Convergence culture: Where old and new media collide (pp 1-24). New York: New York University Press. [URL:http://www.nyupress.org/webchapters/0814742815intro.pdf]
I like your post Nate, you summed up convergence well. I too spend too much money on new tech-toys, but hey we're studying communications & media. Which in today's society is predominately dominated by the digital/online age.
ReplyDeleteI think the only problem with convergence is it makes us a bit lazy; but it's sort of a good lazy. We don't really have to go anywhere to do a lot of tasks anymore, just boot up the PC, laptop, smartphone, ipad etc.
Funny you mentioned your Gameboy, I too pulled mine out the other day, it was like going back in a time warp, I even busted out the Gameboy camera for a sesh.
I agree wit Tarrant. convergence has made us lazy. While I am sitting here writing, I am on my bed with my phone firmly planted by my side, laptop on my lap, and tv on. I could be very comfortable here all day! This probably explains why obesity is becoming a major problem.
ReplyDeleteHey Nathan :)
ReplyDeleteI have to disagree with you on the digital divide issue you raise in your blog. Though I admit in other developing countries it may be of an issue, today in Australia I dont beleive it plays such significance. I would have to say that Australia is one of the countries with the highest rates of early adaption of technology. The fact that Australia has a reasonable cost of living, educated workforce, government welfare and subsidies, NBN, and with the price of technology always becoming lower we seem to have just cause to adapt.
Me working in retail I see it every day that people which look like they live in commision housing forking out $500+ to buy a new gaming console with all the trimmings.
I do agree though going back to dated technology that it feels weird not having all the added functionalities that we are used to.
Interesting post regardless :)
I agree with you Nathan about people still forking out for the high end digital, but a digital divide though does not have to be monetary to exist. It can exist in sheer knowledge of how technology works. A digital divide can exist between a 20 yr old student and 50 yr old parent in regards to facebook or the internet...arguably the generation which has grown up with the internet and facebook is more likely to understand how they work than those who have grown up with the printed word. The digital divide in Australia on an economic point of view, does not exist as strongly as elsewhere...however, generation wise and on a general know-how basis, it exists universally.
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