The Convergence of Media

Jenkins states convergence as "the flow of content across multiple media platforms, the cooperation between multiple media industries, and the migratory behaviour of media audiences."

The rise of the internet has allowed for a mix of old media and new media, with different kinds of information from all platforms becoming interlinked from computing and other information technologies. Convergence lets individual consumers interact and connect socially to create new forms of media and content accessible to wide audience with the birth of the digital revolution.

All entertainment technologies have been adapted to the internet with the radio, films, music and television being accessed with the web. As a student, I watch everything online without owning a television on iPlayer or 4OD, the BBC and Channel 4 have brought a catch up TV service to the web making it more accessible to many who don't own a television or who would like to watch a show from anywhere with an internet connection. I also  listen all my music whilst surfing the net, mostly on Spotify, a free streamer of music with adverts played between several songs. More recently, Spotify has allowed a premium service for streaming music on mobile devices for a monthly charge. Your account can also be connected with Facebook to share music with friends, allowing users to interact socially and see what their  friends  are listening to.

Another example of web convergence is the use of making free calls online via Skype, letting users call across the world and make video calls without using a home landline or mobile device at a cost. I use this frequently to contact friends and family at home whilst at university enabling greater social connection.

Convergence not only applies to the web but in portable devices such as smartphones and in particular iPhones and android devices. I find that my own smartphone is something which, besides using the phone for basic functions like  calling and texting, I spend alot of time using it for many other purposes which i would ordinarily would have gotten up to go on my laptop to do something. I find myself flicking through various social networking sites, using apps for the Guardian and other news sites to keep up to date, checking the weather, emails, googling information and keeping up with my finances with a mobile banking app. I use my smartphone to the extent that it organises my life and the synchronisation of my emails and other accounts helps to make that a little bit easier. Having the ability to do all of these things from my phone in any location has greatly improved my media experience through the technological convergence of the web.

Overall I find that media convergence has helped to develop and improve my lifestyle and social connectedness with easier access to all kinds of different technologies and media, I feel that media convergence has made a positive impact on society and will continue to make further developments in the future.