Technological convergence is where a number of different technologies come together in one gadget. For example, an iPhone combines a phone, radio, camera, games player and internet interface in one. The internet is a brilliant example of technological convergence - it combines television/ film/newspaper/ magazines/ radio/ music and video games ... in one place.
Technological convergence is largely possible due to digitisation - the fact that different media items like radio/ images/ print/ music can now all be encoded and shared in digital formats. They are all made in compatible formats. Devices like iPhones and the internet have become the main focal points for using these formats with a shift away from technologies that are more limited in their functionality e.g. a newspaper can only let you access the news, a record-player only lets you access music.
Watch this video to illustrate some of the effects of technological convergence related to the Internet:
What do you think are the implications of technological convergence for the music industry?
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