The New Communication Technology: Applications, Policy, and Impact, Fifth Edition, Focal Press

Chapter 17

Someone once said that if the world was narrow. In fact it is true that the world could exist in
grasp our hands. All that can be realized through the Internet network. Early electronic information resources is teletext magazines that shaped graphics and text with one-way information access and video text system oriented graph, its operation is very interactive with two-way information access. And in fact, the system. This is not well developed. After this era passed, came the internet which is present as a means of world communication  without restrictions of time and place. The Internet is a decentralized network of computers where no one can arrange it but everyone can develop them.
WWW is a collection of protocols and standards for accessing information in the internet with three. The main standards: the Uniform Resource Locators (URLs), HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and HyperText Markup Language (HTML). The three possible mechanisms for accessing or appearance information. HTML is  WWW programming language, such as sign <br> means moving to a new line, while the URL is system address location of documents are, for example http://tamasyakuliner.blogspot.com/. We can surf the web with a browser, including Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Maxthon, Opera, and most recently Google Chrome. We also can find any information you want through a search engine, just mention Yahoo, MSN, or Google. Internet Commerce (E-commerce) to grow and expand as it grows
internet usage and computer access as a window of the world. Gains derived from e-commerce is
real-time prices and comparative comfort in shopping can also browse and buy in
houses, shipping or receiving goods directly, to share opinions and experiences about the product sold, as well as allowing the purchase of certain products. In the E-commerce, there are two types of sites that use the informational, and dynamic. Informational site contains information and location of the company, products offered, and  the basic technology used to order products while dynamic sites, providing special offers search based on the goods by the user. Factors that influence the development of the Internet is Web interface allows users with a known earlier, the existence of real-time interaction so that
Opera-users can view footage of live update and download information according to which sought, almost everyone is able to create HTML-based documents with Java as a programming language, have a concept of the Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) that allows the user entered into the zone generated by the computer, and the Web successfully promote the growth of electronic cottage industry and  is an ideal platform for the world of advertising. On the other hand, when you access the Internet, there is often a disturbance even the virus originated from a third party. Therefore we need a security system, called a firewall. we can go online any time or even 24 hours nonstop, and our privacy can also be disturbed, therefore we can use the service Anonymously browse the internet to protect our identity. Basically, Internet will continue to grow as interest is an urgent need for information and communication systems. Internet
has provided to our various facilities for research, launching new products, and exchange information. With the rapid development, it is necessary also faster communication channels as well. Improvement these capabilities make us able to communicate more quickly with a diverse variety of data. It is important to see the Internet as a convergence of communications and technology companies, including telephone, satellite, and cable industries.

August E Grant & Jennifer H Meadows. (2008). Communication Technology Update and Fundamental. 11^th Edition. Focal Press. Boston.

Chapter 18

Technology development is now inevitable, one of the proof is in the presence of media convergence. Convergence of media is the unification or merger of a variety of media and communication technologies. Media convergence is the integration of multiple media functions into a single media. This makes the collapse of the wall of separation between various technologies and applications of communication and information, so that between one and the other technology can not be distinguished anymore. Convergence appears driven by user needs to be some function of technology. The functions initially at the different media, because this drive then dihasilkanlah blend of some of these functions into one media only. This is where convergence occurs.
Convergence relates to the world of digitalization. Any information developed from analog format into digital format. What is digital? Digital technology related to the internet, therefore allowing the merger of media convergence of traditional telecommunications with the Internet as well. Compared to analog, digital has several advantages such as process information more quickly, not easily distracted by external disturbances such as weather and building, and modern look. The convergence of technology that began when it was discovered the telephone, television and the computer then this technology combined with internet technology is finally growing without limit. The phenomenon of media convergence is the presence of a variety of media that combine the new communication technologies with traditional communication technology. There are so many examples of media convergence today, here I lay out some examples:
Digital television, multichannel television / cable television. It is the people not only watch television from the television. Convergence between computers and television, where we can watch TV via the computer. Not only that, even television can be watched via a mobile phone. This proves the convergence of the media makes things become practical in the media, just imagine now we can watch TV anytime and can be taken anywhere via mobile phone without having to sit still watching television at home. Computers are not only used to access information and process data information only, but has grown in the presence of Internet access and broadcast television. In my opinion, the convergence of media to change the paradigm of people on television, I used to think that television is just great shape, box, has the antenna inside and outside. But developments make my paradigm change that television has a variety of forms, ranging from television in a small cell phone, television on the computer until a large LCD screen television. There is also a cable television from the convergence between television and telephone, which allows users to choose their own preferred broadcast and broadcast requests through the telephone service provided.

Hanphone / phone. Convergence of media occurs also on the phone. We do not use the phone only for communication but there are other functions. We have a lot of media services in the mobile phone, which is not limited to SMS and phone. Camera images, videos, music or mp3, television, radio, 3G, Internet access even in a media phone. This is clearly easier and profitable mobile phone users in performing various activities. Users do not need to buy a camera that photographs are expensive, but can take pictures using the phone.

Television online. Is the television over the internet where this technology is the merging of television and Internet media. People are now able to watch television via the internet. In Indonesia alone televisionline examples are like those of the www.metrotvnews.com Metro TV and SCTV is www.liputan6.com.

IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) television is the result of the convergence of broadcast television, cable television, internet access and phone services delivered using Internet protocol over broadband networks (August E. Grant & Jennifer H. Meadows, 2008: 113). IPTV is an interactive television that describes the convergence of television with digital media technologies such as computers, personal video recorders, mobile phones and devices, which allows the user interactivity. This interactive program concepts in the form of interactive quizzes, audience participation, the final selection of drama, and order a product or home shopping.

The presence of the internet to prove the convergence of media. Enough with the media computers we have access to various information, read the letter / e-mail, watch television, listen to music, radio, banking services, speaking via video (Skype), and call. Well, I myself was surprised by the development of this sophisticated technology.
IPad is one form of advanced technology development. IPad is the product of the convergence of phone and computer. The combination of two media produces a sophisticated and modern media where IPad presents a variety of services available on the phone or on the computer including internet access.

Talking about the implications (consequences, impact, or influence) of course a lot of media convergence. Media convergence have positive and negative implications. Positive implications:
– Convergence of media to enrich the widespread information about the entire world because there is internet access.
– Provides many options to the user community to be able to select the desired information according to taste, for example, it is interactive television and multichannel television where users choose their own preferred programming. So the use of convergence technologies become more personal.
– More easy, practical and efficient. No need to have two media when the media was able to have one course with two functions.
– The emergence of the democratization of information where everyone can access information freely and widely in various ways and forms.
– In the economic implications, the convergence effect on the company and communications technology industry because of changing attitudes bisins. The advantage gained from the convergence of media is very profitable and promote the company. In addition, easy access to industry and company information to make easier and faster to anticipate challenges, new needs of consumers as well as competition tightens.
– In the field of work, obviously in today’s types of work related to technology and enthusiasts loved by many people like things that smell of IT or information systems, in my opinion this is a strong evidence of technology in human life.
– People get information faster. For example, readers of online news simply by clicking on the desired information in the computer then the moment that information was revealed.
– Interactive. Communities can provide direct feedback on the information presented. Convergent Media raises new characters are more interactive, where users can communicate directly and obtain a direct consequence of the message (Severin and Tankard, 2001: 370).
– Convergence of media provides a radically new opportunities in the handling, supply, distribution and processing of all forms of visual information, audio, data, etc. (Preston, 2001: 27).
Convergence of media is also not free from negative implications, namely:
– Changes in people’s lifestyles that become addicted to technology (cybermedia and cybersociety). The existence of technological dependence in which all things become very practical and automatic. I think that practical technology is good for speed and ease, but this could also be bad if we do not wise to use it, why? Due to the practical we tend to be a “lazy” where everything you automatically will accelerate the loss of jobs because human work can be replaced with sophisticated technology.

– The emergence of the digital / virtual community. Advances in technology convergence that has developed close the gap and shorten the time. Distance and time are not a problem anymore, for example you in Europe with me in Asia can communicate with each other on the spot via the Internet or other media without the need to meet in person. This gives rise to virtual communities where direct communication is face to face is not attractive anymore. My opinion is reinforced in the book entitled Handbook of new media: social shaping and social consequences of ICTs, it is said that media convergence degree massivitas cause mass decreases, because the more personal and interactive communication (Lievrouw and Livingstone, 2006: 164).
– The print media / traditional media / conventional media began to lose with modern media / new media / online media.
– The growing social gaps.
The existence of positive and negative impacts of media convergence in the end lead to new challenges, namely:
– The decline of print media, where traditional media or conventional left behind so that the traditional press was replaced by the press online. In digital media journalists free to update information directly with the convergence of technology, resulting in decreased function of editors in the press. Community through digital media to find out the news in real time or at the time of the events took place, this is different from the print media who have to wait for the next day for news can be disseminated. Examples of convergence in this case as www.detik.com and www.lintasberita.com. In addition the government also are benefitting from this convergence of technology by opening the Internet page for publication information. Thus this becomes a challenge the conventional mass media so as not to keep up with digital media and management must develop preaching becomes more rapid, accurate, complete, and be immediately accessible to people around the world.

– Reduced social interaction directly causes ineffective communication. This is a challenge of the negative impact of media convergence where face to face from not interested anymore, people are more likely to prefer to communicate through the media. The result is the loss of social presencesehingga ineffective communication. Why is not effective? because they do not see and feel the direct facial expressions and body language that eventually the other person will actually arise misunderstanding the message. For example, now people prefer to speak via phone than in person, consequently the greater the risk of misunderstanding.
– The emergence of a growing social inequality is a challenge for media convergence. First-class differences in social class influenced by economic factors, education, etc., but in the digital future is now, social class differences more clearly visible because it is influenced by one’s ability to access information. For example, people in urban areas with living in rural differences in access to technology, where the society in the city faster and easier access to technology than in rural areas.
– Another challenge is the media convergence readiness of society to avoid cultural schock. Technological developments such as media convergence is a new and sophisticated for the people, but sometimes some people are not ready with this technology innovation well prepared economically and in knowledge. Therefore, firms that provide this technology should really think about the readiness of the community with something new, be as smart as possible to adapt this technology to the public. Another challenge is the cultural background and habits of community technology. The perpetrators must be able to adjust the convergence media convergence technology this media with cultures that exist in society.
– The next challenge is the convergence with the regulations (regulation). In this regard the government as the regulator fully responsible for creating regulations to protect the public from the negative influence of media and regulate freedom of media convergence in order to remain on the limit. This is required to avoid collision of adverse interests of the parties where usually the user / society that are victims of convergence.
Regulations relating to how far the right of people to use / access to media convergence and how far the distribution of media convergence can be reached by the public. Convergent media content also must be accounted for in accordance with prevailing norms and ethics in society. It was clear in 2011 is not stopped growing technological development. The years went forward technological developments occur, human knowledge is growing day by day which eventually resulted in creative innovation and continuous technological advances. Convergence of media is testament to the dynamic world that is always changing. Developments will indeed produce a modern society and especially with media convergence, but need to be underlined that the progress that there must also be accompanied by regulations that govern, why? Because the regulation was almost out of technological development. Do not let the massive progress that sophisticated to be too free, so do not consider and pay attention to socio-cultural values​​, moral values ​​and ethics in society. Keep in mind also that the technology only helps facilitate community activities, does not mean become second nature to technology dependence. For example because there are convergent media, so people tend to be “lazy” and very practical. Therefore we must be smart and judicious in using it and be careful not to get caught up in this case.