Red Queens and Increasing Return

Red Queens and Increasing Return

My module four assignment was completed with almost no difficulty.  I have Netflix video on demand on my TV at home.  My television is a smart TV with the internet, Netflix, and other exciting technology benefits.  I used Netflix to rent Minority Report and watch it for the module four assignment.  The video on demand technology was used to complete the assignment in module four.  The increasing competition between DVDs and video on demand is a good example of a red queen because of the intense competition and improvements of the two products.  Looking at the history between the two forms of technology over the last several years both the DVD and video on demand have made some huge improvements and rapid developments to their products.  “It can be argued that users are the beneficiaries of Red Queen events. Without fierce competition, there would be little incentive for vendors to provide new feature sets for their software. The rapid-fire development of highly popular applications is aided by this kind of competition.” (Thornburg, 2008c).  Both the DVD and video on demand have made new features and created new ideas due to their direct competition with each other.  Since the release of video on demand there has been a fierce competition between this technology and the use of DVDs.  The video technology allows the users to access movies at home or on their computers anytime, anywhere for a monthly fee.  DVDs allow you to purchase the movie and watch it anytime you want without having to make a purchase.  They always seem to be trying to outduel each other in their competition.  DVDs have lowered prices for purchase to compete with the video on demand technology.  They have sharpened their image and quality and added special additions and new features.  In response to this competition video on demand has also lowered their prices to allow people to watch all of the movies they like for only a small monthly fee.  The technology has also changed where video on demand is available almost anywhere.  Video on demand can be found on TVs, phones, computers, and tablets.  You also have Red Box and other companies offering DVD rentals for low prices and easy access in public places.  I believe that the video on demand and DVD competition would be placed in the Enhancement area of McLuhan’s tetrad.  These forms of technology would be in the Enhancement area because the new technologies go hand in hand.  The video on demand technology is an improved version of the DVD technology.  The video on demand technology is an improved version of the DVD technology.  One is a cheaper more convienent version of the other one.  The new tool improves and enhances the DVD technology.  Video on demand makes the DVD technology better.  I think it will eventually make the DVD technology obsolete in the future.         

References

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