I found this on OCR forum from Rob Carlton (of OCR), which seems to put it very
well
HERE
"Technological convergence refers to the process where new technology is
moving towards single platforms delivering multiple media outputs that
can be used to reach audiences.
An example: a PS3's primary function is
video gaming but you can download and watch movies from Lovefilm.com on
it and also watch catch up TV and music videos.
Convergent technology is technology that allows an audience to consume
more than one type of media from a single platform.
Lots of aspects of the internet e.g. social networking, YouTube, online
editions of newspapers and magazines are convergent but candidates
cannot quote the internet as the sole aspect of their answer.
Their
answer needs to be linked into the media area they are talking about
(Film, Music, Magazines, Newspapers, Radio, Video Games). E.g if they
were talking about newspapers you could link in to their online editions
and talk about how this differs from the traditional paper version and
the opportunities it presents.
If talking about film, candidates
could, for example, point to Facebook campaigns advertising a film or
viral marketing spread via the internet.
Digital projection is convergent technology because films that are
produced digitally have moved away from the physical film medium and can
be supplied to theatres in digital format (lower costs for distribution
versus higher start up costs for theatres switching to digital
technology).
As the film is in digital format there are also cost
savings as potentially less work needs to be done on the film to get it
onto Blu-Ray, DVD, internet trailers etc as no physical conversion needs
to take place because the film is already in digital format.
Cross Media Convergence is really a Business Studies term and refers to
companies coming together vertically or horizontally (or both). The
example often cited in exams is of Working Title making use of its
parent company(s) to gain access to bigger stars and a better
distribution network for their films.
Synergy basically means working together to achieve an objective that
couldn't be achieved independently. Cross-media convergence can help
with synergy if companies are wise enough to take advantage of the links
they have forged. Disney is an obvious example of a synergistic company
from the top down from Film Studio to Kids' TV Channel (where it
further plays and promotes its films) to the Disney Store (in the street
and online) where your kids can pester you to buy all the merchandise
and DVDs/CDs they've seen on the TV/Web or in the cinema."
No comments:
Post a Comment