Convergence has been bandied about for quite a number of years without anyone really nailing down a key definition. The government through BERR and DCMS have set up a “convergence think tank” to examine the effects of convergence on the consumer landscape and the wider creative economy. There has always been something about teh word that has never quite fitted. Convergence in its own way brings about divergence.
They define Convergence as a historical process that joins broadcasting and telecommunications services . Throw in a little bit of user generated content and voila.
Some other definitions:
Ofcom defines convergence as
“The ability of consumers to obtain multiple services on a single platform or device or obtain any given service on multiple platforms or devices.”
Deloitte defines convergence
“… the successful combination of multimedia products and integrated services that previously did not exist, or were provided separately, from organisations across the Technology, Media and Telecoms sectors.”
Technosauarus defines convergence as
“The merging of personal computing, telecommunications and television into a single technology platform”
My problem is the term seems so out of date and implicitly negates the divergence (e.g. Blackberry) that is arising through convergence . Maybe a better term is “Expanded media”
