Blog Post Module 5
For many years the DVD succeeded with
little to no competition from other products. In today’s market there are
numerous products that are giving the DVD a run for its money. Shortly after
the DVD entered the market, the VHS tape became obsolete. The technology
correlated with the VHS allowed viewers to not only rewind and fast-forward,
but also choose specific chapters or scenes to view. This was appealing to many
consumers.
Like most people, I have a rather
large collection of DVD’s in my home. I did not have to purchase or rent the
DVD for the assignment in module 4. If I come across a movie that I would like
to see I would more than likely look it up on a program like Netflix that
operates through our gaming system.
The existing competition between DVDs
and video on demand is not an example of increasing returns. As Dr. Thornburg
stated “two innovations hit the market at about the same time and by chance,
one technology gets locked in and drives the other to extinction, in a
nonlinear process” (Thornburg, 2009). These technologies did not come into play
at the same time. The DVD was dominant well before on demand videos were
readily available to the public. I do not feel that one particular technology
has over come the other; I feel it is a matter of preference and convince at
this point in time.
These two technologies have made the
VHS obsolete over the past years, but in time I feel one technology will become
more dominant. We have already begun to see the Blockbuster stores closing;
however the small kiosks are becoming more prevalent.
References
Thornburg, D. (2008c). Red Queens, butterflies, and
strange attractors: Imperfect lenses into emergent technologies. Lake
Barrington, IL: Thornburg Center for Space Exploration.
Thornburg, D. (2009). Increasing returns. [Vodcast]
Emerging and future technologyDVD produced by Laureate Education. Baltimore:
Author
Thornburg, D. (2009). Red Queens. [Vodcast] Emerging and
future technologyDVD produced by Laureate Education. Baltimore: Author
Greetings Heather!
ReplyDeleteWhile youyr post is very well articulated, I do have questions. You said the dvd's and movies on demand did not hit the market about the same time...what constitutes "about the same time?" If movies on demand were being introduced around the time dvd's were reaching their peak of total diffusion is that considered hitting the market at the same time? Also, what really constitutes "extinction" with regards to technology? There will likely always be at least a small minortiy of people utilizing some of the outdated technologies. So how can we say that the rising number of Netflix and video on demand users doesn't indicate some form of dvd extinction? Great post!
Tawana
Hi Heather,
ReplyDeleteI agree with your perspective on the increase in the popularity of kiosk. I have seen this trend with mobile phone carriers as well. The consumer shopping experience is no longer about a specialization but more about convenience. With everyone's busy lives companies will need to begin to look at creative ways to market convenience and usability more than before to stay competitive.