Evolving Technologies

FUSION IS HERE!!!

As technology grows and develops the more advanced products or services become available for people to use. The internet has become a powerful tool over the past few years as nearly everyone interacts with the internet in one way or another (McClelland et al, 2008). Broadcasters saw an opportunity and wanted to mix television with the internet, broadcasters have now offered internet users the chance to stream programmes (McClelland et al, 2008).

Game consoles such as the Sony playstation 3 and Nintendo Wii have offered its users a method to use television to interact on the internet. Shopping channels on Sky TV also offer similar services where the subscriber can simply plug in a phone line and surf the internet on the television and purchase products from those shopping channels.

Although using the internet on a television sounds promising, quite a lot of users will still use the traditional methods to access the internet as people are sceptical about change (McClelland et al, 2008). Sony developed a home theatre pc during 2008 which costs around three thousand dollars which fuses the internet and television together, the round stylish box includes everything a standard pc will have as well as being capable of watching the television. (New York Times, 2008).

The fusion of the internet and television is still evolving and more awareness needs to be created in order for it to succeed. New hardware will keep on popping up giving people more options in how they want to access the internet.

MOBILE REVOLUTION

The passage of time has seen the evolution of technology specifically with the use of mobile phones. When mobile phones first came into existence, it was all about communication; i.e. using it as a tool or medium of communication. But as time evolved, technology improved and competition amongst mobile phone companies was on the rise.
The changes in technology led to the mobile phone options such as multimedia, camera, storage device, music download, internet etc. The use of the internet via mobile phones has been so rampant over the last few years that there is a debate on the future will see internet users using their phones to surf instead of computers. some scholars have agreed to the use of mobile phones of being more advantageous than the internet(Oliphant,1999)



Some eye-catching facts about the UK mobile market

There are almost 60 million people in UK, in which 48 million own mobile phones. According to the Mobile life European report,
• Over half of 60 million have used Bluetooth.
• 37% have recorded a video using a mobile handset.
• 27% have downloaded a music track.
• Almost half of the British mobile population (46%) has accessed the internet using their mobile.
• 25% have uploaded pictures or videos to the internet through their mobile.
• 20% of the research respondents said that they used GPRS.
• 18% watched TV or video clips.
• 9% used their mobile to pay bills.
• 8% bought products using their mobile



Mobile phones will overthrow the use of PCs because most cell phone owners, especially the younger generation prefer phones having several options amongst which there is the internet. They shall prefer surfing from their phones because of its portable advantage rather than a PC (laptop) which is more static and heavy to move about with.

The issue of privacy is another factor that shall push people to surf on their phones because the mobile phone is more personal than a pc. A laptop though having the portability can be used by many people meanwhile mobile phones is used by an individual and hence a more personal gadget.


REFERENCE

iabk.uk.net (2008) Available from

New York Times (2008)[online] Available from
< http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/31/technology/personaltech/31computer.html_r=1&scp=1&sq=Bringing%20the%20Internet%20and%20Television%20a%20Step%20Closer%20Together&st=cse>

McClelland S., Morissey B.(2008)'The Future of TV'.Media Week[online] Available from


Oliphant (1999) 'The mobile phone meets the Internet'.Wichita [online]Available from