Media Convergence and Mobile technology

UBC ETEC 523 Bingying (Iris) Wang

Media Convergence

Reflection

Thanks

References

Impacts

Educational Merit

Five Types

Black Box Fallacy

Introduction

Index

Media convergence was driven by the development of computer technology and further propelled by mobile devices (Campbell et al., 2017).

Media Convergence is “the flow of content across multiple media platforms, the cooperation between multiple media industries, and the migratory behaviour of media audience who will go almost anywhere in search of the kinds of entertainment experiences they want” (Jenkins, 2006, p.2).

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As a famous media scholar, Henry Jenkins’ research and work have notably influenced media academics’ understanding of media convergence. He pointed out that the black box concept, which indicates that all devices would converge into one central device that can do everything, is a fallacy because it oversimplifies the “media change” to “technological change” and ignores the existing incompatibility among various mobile technologies (Jenkins, 2006).

Black Box Fallacy

..... He claimed that the actual content of media persists and evolves in the media ecosystem, while the delivery technologies are the ones that tend to change quickly and become obsolete. The divergence of mobile devices (black boxes) is happening with the convergence of media content: although there is an escalation of functions within the same mobile device (for example, a mobile phone), many other specialized appliances (laptops, e-readers) exist due to people’s different needs or expectations for same media content within various contexts. For example, your reading needs differ at home, work, on a plane or train; therefore, customers require various mobile devices.

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Global Convergence

Social or Organic Convergence

Technological Convergence

Cultural Convergence

Economic Convergence

There are five types of media convergence: technological, cultural, economic, social or organic, and global convergences (Jenkins, 2006).

5 kinds of Convergence

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Global Convergence

Social or Organic Convergence

Economic Convergence

Cultural Convergence

Technological Convergence

Educational Implications

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Media consumption is more flexible and not bounded by time or place.

The audiences can experience the same media in multiple ways.

The distinctions and boundaries between different media are becoming blurry (Campbell et al., 2017).

The impacts of media convergence and mobile technology

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Nevertheless, convergence has several adverse effects (Zimmerbaum, 2021).

With the burgeoning development of mobile technologies, “we now inhabit a different kind of internet—what some call a closed Internet, or a walled garden” (Campbell et al., 2017, p.55).

The impacts of media convergence and mobile technology

My personal experience with media convergence and mobile technology

Before analyzing this subject, I did not realize how we communicate with media has converted dramatically due to media convergence and mobile technologies. Now I can see plenty of examples exist in our everyday life. For example, people can have an online meeting despite the distance that physically separates them. Furthermore, people who cannot show up in time do not need to worry because of the availability of screencasts which enable watching anywhere and anytime. The other day, I was searching video games for my ETEC 544 project and discovered that most games are available on multiple platforms, including PC, Switch, Xbox, PlayStation and even smartphones. Clearly, media convergence and mobile technologies subtly brought more convenience and accessibility to our life, and we gradually and naturally reacted and adapted to these changes.

References

Campbell, R., Martin, C., & Fabos, B. (2017). Media & Culture: An Introduction to Mass Communication (Eleventh). Bedford/St. Martin’s.Jenkins, H. (2006). Convergence culture: Where old and new media collide. New York University Press. Wikipedia contributors. (2023, February 5). List of mergers and acquisitions by Apple. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mergers_and_acquisitions_by_Apple Zimmerbaum, H. (2021, December 20). Media Convergence Definition and Examples. study.com. Retrieved February 22, 2023, from https://study.com/learn/lesson/media-convergence-examples-explanation.html

Bingying (Iris) Wang

Thank you!