Convergence is seen as one of the important element when we talk about new media because it consist of the 3Cs: computing and information technology, communication networks, and digitised media and information content.
Scholar | Definition |
Henry Jenkins (2006) | Convergence should be understood primarily as a technological process bringing together multiple media function within the same devices. |
Rajendra Singh and Siddharta Raja (2010) | Convergence is a process driven by technology and demand and resulting from service’s providers adopting new technologies and business practices. |
Alex Shneyderman and Alessio Casati (2008) | Convergence is an act of a transition of two or more dissimilar entities to become similar. |
Gracie Lawson-Borders (2006) | Convergence as the realm of the possibilities when cooperation occurs between print and broadcast for the delivery for multimedia content through the use of computer and Internet. |
Palviks (2004) | Convergence is the coming together of computing, telecommunication, and media in digital environment. |
Green Paper on Convergence (European Commission, 1997) | The ability of different network platforms to carry essentially similar kinds of services or the coming together of consumer devices such as the telephone, television and personal computer |
According to Christian Saxtoft, different authors define convergence differently yet usually complementary:
- The “technology author” – convergence identifies a general pattern in evolutionary process, namely the tendency to bring entities together, for example the coming together of classical telecommunication, the Internet, information technology and broadcasting, the ability to offer multiple services on single network or the ability to offer the same service via more than one medium.
- The “media author” – the flow of content across multiple media platform, the cooperation between multiple media industries, and migratory behaviour of media audiences who will go almost anywhere in search of the kinds of entertainment experiences they want.