CONVERGENCE

Converge: to gradually change so as to become similar or develop something in common, is the usual meaning of what convergence is as it has been the topic of much contemporary writing about the media. But that coming together between computers and television, for instance, has been spotty, incomplete and often contentious from a business and government perspective. The partnership between AOL and Time-Warner although touted as having a goal of melding content and internet delivery was never achieved and Time-Warner and AOL have now gone their separate ways again.

Although many countries like Japan, the leader, and more in Europe enjoy low-cost, fast, broadband internet service, while America lags behind even though during the dot com bubble a massive high sped optical data delivery network was constructed. Today little of it is being utilized. Numerous communities have attempted to put free or low-cost broadband WiFi systems in place and have been undermined, blocked or sabotaged by the communications industry. In many low population density areas, a good part of America, broadband is unavailable, in small towns access is monopolized and outrageously expensive, while in major metro areas costs are kept in check but by an inefficient balkanized system.

Meanwhile, separate technologies and systems for cell phone, land line phones, DSL or cable internet, cable or dish TV compete to no one’s advantage other than the bill collectors who are obtaining fees for three different kinds of access to many homes.

For digital photographers using their computers to access and edit their images on screen, being able to then present those images as a “slideshow” on a digital HDTV television is possible, but with complications, limitations and a confusion of means and methods. Although Apple TV makes it easy to show what is on your Mac on your TV, it requires having both an Airport WiFi network installed and a $300 set-top box for your TV. On the other hand, if you want to record your slide show on a DVD and obtain the full advantage of high resolution HD, you have to use a Blu-Ray DVD recorder, and they have only just been announced for installation in the next generation of new computers. But at least one company JVC has announced a new Xiview model LT-42WX70 monitor that;s 42 inch and has a wide color gamut, 96% of Adobe RGB colorspace which will do justice to your digital camera’s capabilities, if you want to afford a list price of $2,399.95; for more information visit http://www.jvc.com

The bottom line is we still have a long way to go to fully enjoy affordably the benefits in the meaning of convergence.

If you have a comment, they are welcome, so please post it. If you have a question you want me to answer please address an e-mail to David B. Brooks at: goofotografx@gmail.com

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