Media Convergence - The Past, Present and Future

Summary

This video explores the concept of media convergence, which merges distinct technologies into one, transforming the way we use media. From the invention of the smartphone in 2007, which combined various tools like cameras and MP3 players, to the rise of social media and transmedia storytelling, media convergence has reshaped industries, content creation, and user participation. It highlights how technological, industrial, and cultural convergences are driving this evolution, leading to future possibilities like seamless thought uploads. The video also poses questions about the next steps in media convergence and its impact on our lives.

Takeaways

• 📱 In 2007, the first smartphone was announced by Steve Jobs, merging multiple gadgets like a telephone, camera, flashlight, and mp3 player into one device, changing lives forever.
• 🌐 Media convergence is the merging of distinct technologies into a single device or platform, combining separate ideas and leaving us with one big idea.
• 📈 As media usage increases, it becomes more invisible to us, with devices becoming more intuitive and ubiquitous in daily life.
• 💻 Media convergence arose from the digitalization of media content and increased internet usage, transforming industries, services, and work practices.
• 📲 Technological convergence, the merging of previously inaccessible technologies into one device, is the most significant type of convergence (e.g., the iPhone).
• 📰 Thanks to technological convergence, various forms of media (cinema, newspapers, radio) are now accessible on a single device, leading to cross-media content development.
• 🏢 Industrial mergers followed technological convergence, with media giants like Time Warner diversifying across multiple platforms, owning brands like HBO, DC Comics, and Warner Bros.
• 👥 The rise of social media shifted the media dynamic from passive consumption to active participation, leading to more user-created content and cultural convergence.
• 📚 Transmedia storytelling, such as Harry Potter's evolution into books, movies, theme parks, and websites, is a key result of media convergence.
• 🧠 The future of media convergence could involve deeper integration with users, potentially leading to real-time thought uploading or other futuristic technologies.

Q & A

What was significant about the smartphone introduced in 2007 by Steve Jobs?

The smartphone introduced by Steve Jobs in 2007 was revolutionary because it combined multiple tools and gadgets, such as a phone, camera, flashlight, and mp3 player, into one device. This marked a major shift in how we used technology, transforming various separate devices into one converged product.

What is media convergence?

Media convergence is the process of merging distinct technologies and media platforms into one. It involves integrating separate ideas and tools into a single device or concept, such as smartphones that now combine the functionalities of phones, cameras, and media players.

How does media convergence impact our daily media consumption?

Media convergence makes media so intuitive and integrated into our lives that we often don't notice how much we consume. Our devices and the media they deliver have become ubiquitous, leading us to interact with multiple forms of media without conscious effort.

What technological development led to the rise of media convergence?

Media convergence emerged from the digitalization of media content and the rapid increase in internet usage. This allowed new forms of content to appear and transformed industries, services, and work practices by merging different media platforms into one.

What is technological convergence and why is it significant?

Technological convergence refers to the merging of different technologies into one device. It is significant because it allows people to access previously inaccessible technologies through a single platform, such as smartphones, which integrate features like news, entertainment, and communication in one place.

How did industrial players react to the trend of media convergence?

Industrial players, especially large media corporations, diversified their products across various platforms to capitalize on the convergence trend. Companies like Time Warner and Disney expanded into multiple forms of media to maintain a presence in different industries.

What role did social media play in the evolution of media convergence?

Social media revolutionized media consumption by turning passive audiences into active participants. It encouraged user-created content, blurring the line between amateurs and professionals, and fostered collaboration, transparency, and increased user engagement.

What is cultural convergence, and how does it relate to media?

Cultural convergence refers to the blending of different cultures and practices through shared media. It occurs when audiences engage with professional media, such as brands and franchises, across multiple platforms. This is evident in transmedia storytelling, where stories are told through various media forms, like books, movies, and websites.

What is remediation in the context of media convergence?

Remediation is the process by which new visual media gain cultural significance by drawing on and remodeling earlier media. For example, photography remediated painting, film remediated stage productions, and television remediated film and radio.

What are the future possibilities for media convergence?

The future of media convergence holds endless possibilities, including closer integration between media and users. There is speculation about technology that could allow real-time thought uploads without physical interaction, potentially leading to even deeper fusion between humans and technology.