The Internet, Digital Media, and Media

Convergence

Chapter 2

Smartphones and Media Convergence

Along with computers, digital music players, and a new generation of touchscreen devices like the iPad,

smartphones are part of the general shift to media convergence in media

devices over the past decade.

Figure 2.1: Distributed Networks

People Embrace Digital Communication

Digital communication Image, text, or sound is converted into

electronic symbols, which are transported and reassembled as a precise reproduction.

Includes e-mail and instant messaging

What Are Social Media?

Venues for social interaction Virtual communities that are

multiplatform, participatory, and digital… truly democratic

Platforms that enable the interactive Web by engaging users to participate in, comment on, and create content as a means of communicating

Media Convergence on Our PCs

Media converges on computers Users can access:

Movies (Netflix and Hulu) Music (iTunes and Spotify) Books (Amazon and Google) Games Newspapers and magazines

Services such as Skype and iChat can replace telephones

Media Convergence on Our TVs

Examples Internet-ready TVs Video game consoles such as Xbox, Wii,

and PS3 Set-top boxes such as Apple TV, Google

TV, Roku, and Boxee Consumers use multiple avenues to

access media content.

Mobile Devices Propel Convergence

Smartphones and tablet computers can be used for: Texting Listening to music Watching movies Reading books and magazines Connecting to the Internet Playing games

The Impact of Media Convergence and Mobile Media

Media consumption is mobile and flexible.

Merging of media onto one device blurs distinctions between what used to be separate media Formats are morphing We can experience media in multiple

manners simultaneously

The Changing Economics of Media and the Internet

Apple established the new media economics. Provided a market for music on iTunes in

exchange for a 30-percent cut of the revenue

Amazon Followed suit, creating the Kindle and

selling e-books for a cut of the revenue

Ownership and Control of the Internet

Connected to three issues Security of personal and private

information Appropriateness of online materials Accessibility and openness of the

Internet

Information Wants to be Free

Wikileaks The Guardian

Google

What Google OwnsWeb▪ Web Search▪ Google Chrome• iGoogle

Specialized Search• Google Blog Search▪ Google Patent Search▪ Google Finance▪ Google Alerts▪ Google Custom Search▪ Google Product Search▪ Google Scholar▪ Google Trends

Media▪ YouTube▪ Google Images▪ Google Videos▪ Google Play▪ Google News▪ Picasa

Social • Google +▪ Knol• Reader• Groups• Orkut• Blogger• Google Talk

Geo▪ Google Latitude▪ Google Earth▪ Google Maps▪ Panoramio• Google Offers• SketchUp

Mobile• Google Mobile• Android• Motorola Mobility

Home & Office▪ Gmail▪ Google Sites▪ Google Translate ▪ Google Docs▪ Google Calendar▪ Google Voice▪ Google Wallet

Advertising• Adwords and AdWords Express• Adsense• Google Mobile Ads• Google Analytics• Google Display Network• Google Video Ads• Google TV ads• FeedBurner

Access: The Fight to Prevent a Digital Divide

Digital divide Refers to the growing contrast between

“information haves” and “information have-nots.”

Smartphones are helping to narrow the gap.

Still a big gap between the United States and the rest of the world

Net Neutrality: Maintaining an Open Internet

Net neutrality “Every Web site and every user has the

right to the same Internet network access and speed

Major telecomm companies want to offer faster connections and priority for those willing to pay higher rates.