Blog Post # 2

Last week in Web Publishing class we discussed convergence and how old media forms are coming together to form new media. An example of convergence, would be the ability of modern cell phones to take pictures and access the Internet.

Well, I found an article at cnn.com that directly relates to this idea of convergence. The article was about Comcast and how the company is promising faster Internet services.

When I think of the word Comcast, I think of cable because I currently resided in the dorms at Flagler College and the company provides my cable. Naturally, they would since they are the only cable provider in this area!

Anyways, Comcast is a major player in the media game and their constantly expanding their services. Specifically, the company is developing new technology that delivers up to 160 megabits of data per second for downloads. This is a major step up from the average 10 megabits per second offered by most cable companies.

In class, we discussed some of the reasons why convergence is happening so rapidly. One of those reasons was because information is a commodity, which can be brought and sold. That is exactly why Comcast is perfecting this new technology, so it can hopefully boost broadband sales, which have been slowing.

In addition to faster Internet, Comcast is also offering 1,000 high-definition movies through video on demand and pay per view services. Like we mentioned several times in class, TVs are about to switch over to high definition later this year, and they are governing themselves accordingly.

This relates to another idea we learned in class, digital divide. These developing technologies will help reduce the digital divide because almost everyone is switching over to HD, and those who are not are laggards or non-adapters according to the Diffusion of Innovation Model. Comcast really doesn’t care about these people who are out of the digital loop.

Besides the Internet and the HD movies, Comcast has a Fancast website, which has old and new TV shows and some movies for users’ convenience. As a result, Comcast has lots of power, because the control of information means more power. In other words, Comcast can advertise for its website on the TV and advertise for its TV services on the web.

As if all this is not enough, the company is introducing a new caller id service that pops up on computers and TVs of customers who purchase its cable, Internet, and phone package. Comcast is also working closely with Vtech to develop a cordless phone with a mini screen, so customers can check their email, weather forecast, sports data, and phone directory all on one device.

With so many companies like Comcast emerging it won’t be long before the computer and the TV are officially one and the same like we discussed in the last class!