EDUC 7108 Blog Responses

Click the name to see my responses to each module's blog assignment:

Module 5:

• Kathy
• Yolanda

Module 4:

• Heather
•  Tawana

Module 3:

• Brandy
• Cheryl

Module 2:

• Tawana
• Brandy 
• Yolanda

Module 1:

• Candice
• Aimee

Module 5: Red Queens & Increasing Returns

For the science fiction assignment in Module 4, I decided to obtain my movie utilizing the online download option available through my husband’s Netflix account. (I say my husband’s account because I could care less about the instant availability of movies through companies like Netflix!) I chose this method because it was the most cost-effective and it alleviated my need to venture out to locate the movie on DVD.

Interestingly enough, the Blockbuster DVD kiosk provided to my small hometown only lasted about 6 months. The local video store has shut down and most people are now seeking entertainment from the likes of Netflix and Hulu. There is some satisfaction in knowing you can watch a movie at the click of a button on a remote or mouse.

A Red Queen is representative of the competition that exists between technologies resulting in the rapid development of additional technologies (Thornburg, 2008). Companies are persistently competing to overtake the market share by introducing new products. The competition that has arisen between DVDs and video-on-demand is not dealing with an example of a Red Queen. DVDs are a product that has matured; whereas, video-on-demand technologies continue to emerge in today’s market. As companies continue to modify the various DVD formats, we will continue to see a continuous availability and production of DVDs. Video-on-demand has the potential to obsolete the DVD; however, this will take several years to occur.

When considering where DVDS and video-on-demand are on the four criteria of McLuhan’s tetrad, it is safe to the DVD is an emerged technology that is now quickly approaching the end of its lifespan. The DVD enhanced the way people watched movies from the comfort of their own homes. The DVD has been around for many years as it replaced the VHS and now it appears it will soon be replaced by video-on-demand.

Reference:

 Thornburg, D. (2008). Red Queens, butterflies, and strange attractors: Imperfect lenses into emergent technologies. Lake Barrington, IL: Thornburg Center for Space Exploration.