Technological convergence
Technological convergence is the modern presence of a vast array of different types of technology to perform very similar tasks.
For example, in today's society one can communicate with a friend via mail, online chatting, cellphones, e-mail, and many other forms of modern technology. Though the forms of technology are all very different, they all essentially provide the same basic service: person-to-person communication. The notion of a one to many form of communication have since diluted.
The convergence can also concern the underlying communication infrastructure. An example of this is triple play, where communication services are packaged allowing consumers to purchase TV, internet and telephony in one subscription.
The term convergence is commonly used in reference to the synergistic combination of voice (and telephony features), data (and productivity aplications) and video onto a single network. These previously separate technologies are now able to share resources and interact with each other creating new efficiencies.
See also
- Urgence of Convergence A video blog providing details on how to profit from TV/Internet/Phone technological convergence.
- Convergence in the Media
- Digital Convergence Initiative
- [STS 300 at UMD]