Convergence
This panel asked the questions "What ever happened to the idea convergence, is it happening or not, and if it is, how?"
Moderator Evan Jones kicked things off by noting that the term convergence originally referred to corporations merging but now refers to multiple media messaging. Spunky Gmunk (Bradley Grosh) took up the point, introducing us all to the expression 'back in the day', which spread virally to other panelists and attendees over the next two days, by talking about the phone iPod hybrid that hasn't reached North America yet. I have to say I do NOT get phone culture, but somehow the enthusiasm of the panelists convinced me I have to run right out and start blogging on a phone while swapping mp3s and gaming while also watching Three's Company.
Loc Dao from CBC Radio 3 and Tom Muller both talked about cross-media music delivery systems. btw Radio 3 has been canned and word has is that the crew who created it are setting up shop independently... so expect to hear more about them in the future.
For me, the pivotal point came when Jesse Seppi warned of the risk that we are going to lose the craft and creativity that is so visible on the Web as the media converge.
Which got me to thinking that we have been in a very special, privileged place for the past few years, a kind of tech bubble, where the people who craft things -- designers and developers -- are at the forefront, building the tools as well as controlling the way things look and work. Having the tech visible, like in wireframe style animations, is cool because it is new. If Jesse is right, as things progress, everything starts to get skinned and the tech will be submerged, gradually more and more invisible. In advertising, for example, who pays any attention really to the designers and directors? They are truly behind the scenes. And how much do designers control content? Market testers pretty much set the agenda there now. New media doesn't feel like that at the moment but for how long? permanent link
Moderator Evan Jones kicked things off by noting that the term convergence originally referred to corporations merging but now refers to multiple media messaging. Spunky Gmunk (Bradley Grosh) took up the point, introducing us all to the expression 'back in the day', which spread virally to other panelists and attendees over the next two days, by talking about the phone iPod hybrid that hasn't reached North America yet. I have to say I do NOT get phone culture, but somehow the enthusiasm of the panelists convinced me I have to run right out and start blogging on a phone while swapping mp3s and gaming while also watching Three's Company.
Loc Dao from CBC Radio 3 and Tom Muller both talked about cross-media music delivery systems. btw Radio 3 has been canned and word has is that the crew who created it are setting up shop independently... so expect to hear more about them in the future.
For me, the pivotal point came when Jesse Seppi warned of the risk that we are going to lose the craft and creativity that is so visible on the Web as the media converge.
Which got me to thinking that we have been in a very special, privileged place for the past few years, a kind of tech bubble, where the people who craft things -- designers and developers -- are at the forefront, building the tools as well as controlling the way things look and work. Having the tech visible, like in wireframe style animations, is cool because it is new. If Jesse is right, as things progress, everything starts to get skinned and the tech will be submerged, gradually more and more invisible. In advertising, for example, who pays any attention really to the designers and directors? They are truly behind the scenes. And how much do designers control content? Market testers pretty much set the agenda there now. New media doesn't feel like that at the moment but for how long? permanent link
Posted by howboy at 11:31 PM.
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