The future
of technology is rapidly changing. Through the power of media, the world we
live in has become completely digitized. Radical developments in the ways we
consume have shaped the economy and various societies. Of the utmost importance
however, is mobile media.
In whatever
form this comes to be, mobile technology is the future of convergence. We live
in a world where virtually anything we need is at the tip of our fingers. The
concept of consumerism has changed in large part due to not only social media, “It
is ironic that we have a world of information at our fingertips through the
Internet and greater communicative power than ever before for the public, yet
we often squander it on pop culture trivia and an incessant need to keep in
contact with others.” (Pavlik 214) but the Internet’s availability as a whole.
People are able to shop, watch their favorite shows or movies, communicate with
people on the other side of the world, or simply just share their thoughts.
Corporations
have capitalized off this notion, and began catering to this shift in
consumerism. One particular example in regard to gaming is Madden NFL. The game
began as a 2D experience on low quality gaming systems. However, over the years
it has began catering to a more general audience. You no longer need a major
gaming system in order to play it. Although it is still advertised
traditionally via television and print, it is now largely advertised online.
The game
has taken on a life of its own. There are ads and promotional trailers found on
sites like YouTube, and also largely endorsed on social media. The introduction
of online gaming also plays a very big factor. In fact, being able to compete
with someone digitally enhances the interaction of the fanbase.
Although the
game is advertised as “free,” the aim is that the user will make in game
purchases. Thus, the user is influenced to buy more. This is just an example of
what convergence has become. You take something like Madden, which is a traditional
console game, and expose it on television through NFL games, and mostly on
social media.
The future
of convergence lies in mobile devices, where that will take us no one knows.
Society was dumbfounded by touch screen technology. But soon the Internet will
be plugged into our brain like The Matrix. Laugh now, but we’ll see.
Citation
Pavlik, John V., and Shawn McIntosh. Converging Media: A New Introduction to Mass Communication. 4nd ed. New York: Oxford UP, 2014. P 214
No comments:
Post a Comment