IS TECHNOLOGICAL CONVERGENCE OCCURRING?
Decades ago you used to buy gadgets that functioned well for different purposes; one unit did one task well and others not so well.
Take the Sony Walkman for instance, the revolution of having music in your pocket wherever you went. The idea was by Nobutoshi Kihara, who wanted the ability to listen to operas whilst flying on transpacific plane trips. First launching in cassette format during 1979 it proved a big hit amongst consumers. The Walkman became so popular it changed with the times, with the CD Walkman (also known as the Discman), MiniDisc Walkman and MP3 Walkman popping up over the years. The brand is still going strong to the present day, and is now also implemented as software in Sony Ericsson phones.
However, it is the iPod that has taken all the limelight recently, becoming one of the most famous inventions of the 21st century. The concept of a hard drive based device (and flash storage recently), with the capability of storing thousands of tracks has become one of the most popular portable gadgets ever created.
Now, onto the question as to whether technological convergence is occurring. The answer is an obvious yes; with the best example being the Apple iPhone. Launched in 2007, it has completely changed the mobile phone industry. It features an awesome 3.5 inch touch screen that works beautifully in virtually every aspect. So, what features has it got packed into its shell? Well, firstly its a mobile phone, an iPod, a camera, a video recorder, a GPS mapping device, an internet web browser and email client, a calculator, a voice recorder, and endless other features due to the App Store (featuring over 85,000 applications).
Take the Sony Walkman for instance, the revolution of having music in your pocket wherever you went. The idea was by Nobutoshi Kihara, who wanted the ability to listen to operas whilst flying on transpacific plane trips. First launching in cassette format during 1979 it proved a big hit amongst consumers. The Walkman became so popular it changed with the times, with the CD Walkman (also known as the Discman), MiniDisc Walkman and MP3 Walkman popping up over the years. The brand is still going strong to the present day, and is now also implemented as software in Sony Ericsson phones.
However, it is the iPod that has taken all the limelight recently, becoming one of the most famous inventions of the 21st century. The concept of a hard drive based device (and flash storage recently), with the capability of storing thousands of tracks has become one of the most popular portable gadgets ever created.
Now, onto the question as to whether technological convergence is occurring. The answer is an obvious yes; with the best example being the Apple iPhone. Launched in 2007, it has completely changed the mobile phone industry. It features an awesome 3.5 inch touch screen that works beautifully in virtually every aspect. So, what features has it got packed into its shell? Well, firstly its a mobile phone, an iPod, a camera, a video recorder, a GPS mapping device, an internet web browser and email client, a calculator, a voice recorder, and endless other features due to the App Store (featuring over 85,000 applications).
Put that into perspective, you now don't need to carry the following with you:
- iPod (for both audio and video playback)
- Camera (for digital photography)
- Camcorder (for video recording)
- Satellite Navigation Device (for long car journeys)
- Laptop (for internet browsing and email)
- Calculator (for complicated calculations)
- Dictaphone (for voice recordings)
- Or even a builders level (the iHandy Level app turns your iPhone into one)
The iPhone has made so many gadgets redundant, and is one of the best all-in-one devices on the market due to its intuitive and innovative operating system.
"The iPhone is the most sophisticated, outlook-challenging piece of electronics to come along in years. It does so many things so well, and so pleasurably, that you tend to forgive its foibles."
David Pogue
An iPhone killer could well come along in future years, but for the moment it stands as one of the best devices of the 21st century selling over 20 million units. The recent decline of iPod sales (8% decrease) is partly due to the features of the iPhone, and the way it has given nearly every other mobile phone manufacturer a headache!
"The iPhone is the most sophisticated, outlook-challenging piece of electronics to come along in years. It does so many things so well, and so pleasurably, that you tend to forgive its foibles."
David Pogue
An iPhone killer could well come along in future years, but for the moment it stands as one of the best devices of the 21st century selling over 20 million units. The recent decline of iPod sales (8% decrease) is partly due to the features of the iPhone, and the way it has given nearly every other mobile phone manufacturer a headache!
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