[kFW] Convergence-thoughts

[Daniel Harris <daniel@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi there All,

I am speaking on the panel session "Will Convergence be Derailed by a Lack 
of Interoperability?" at Streaming Media Europe:
http://www.streamingmedia.com/europe/program/session.asp?d=1&t=3&s=5
Should be fun, so come along!

I've been asked some questions in order to kick off the panel discussion. I 
was so intrigued with the answers I thought I'd share them with you. It 
occurs to me that more thought should be given to hindrances and problems 
as a means to finding solutions and highlighting the gaps in the "system" 
which we should then look to fill...

>Title: Will Convergence be Derailed by a Lack of Interoperability?

Just to clarify my take on the title, I don't see this as a call for us to 
bring out our crystal balls and all pretend to be fortune tellers. I am not 
interested in guessing the future or even trying to predict it.

I'm interested in what's wanted of the future. I see this more as: if we 
can't sort out interoperability is convergence even possible? Does 
convergence need interoperability?

>Session Outline:
>
>Interoperability is the convergence hurdle. How can the future of convergent
>media be served by such a diversity of devises unless companies address the
>interoperability issues NOW? Time will stand still. This session will
>cross-examine the issues of interoperability from the perspectives of
>companies across the board. Hear the hard truth and dispel the conflicting
>rumours.

I can't wait! ;-)

>- With so many different platforms, devices and providers involved, is
>interoperability even a possibility?

Yes. Anything is a possibility (even if it's very tiny). The question is: 
do we want interoperability to happen? Do people want convergence? Has 
convergence been shown to be profitable to businesses? Until it's been 
shown to be profitable why would people want to invest in it (even though 
there my be a demand)?

>- Is interoperability really possible?

The Internet is a marvelous example of interoperability and yet, on it, 
businesses continue to thrive (or not) and do battle as they always have done.

>- Will interoperability help each player in the market be more convenient
>and consumer friendly?

Yes. The consumer will love it. The consumer really wants it.

>- Will consumers be the drivers of interoperability or is this going to be
>decided by the content providers and suppliers?

As with all things: where there is a buyer there is a seller; where there 
is demand there is supply. I don't know who will be the driver. I want it 
to be all players: consumers, service providers to content owners. If 
everyone plays a part in driving interoperability then it's much more 
likely to be beneficial to everyone and hence be accepted and be successful.

>- What are the pro's and con's of interoperability for the digital media
>industry? Who stands to gain from it's success / failure?

Many of the larger players think they will loose market share and perhaps 
that is one of reasons why there is such a resistance to 
interoperability/convergence. However, does loss of market share mean lower 
revenues? Don't huge increases in revenue follow convergence?

All the way through this I've been trying to shorten that darn long word 
"interoperability" and I finally came up with in'ity (or inity) cos it's 
kinda like unity, man! ;-)

Cheers Daniel

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