A major part of anyone’s lifestyle in the modern age is using the latest technology to make life run that little bit smoother.
Tech is also crucial for how we stay entertained in our spare time and how we work. It’s hard to imagine working life now, for example, without emails, video calls and the internet.
One very common piece of technology that most people use in North America and beyond are smartphones. These portable devices might have started out as ways to make calls or send text messages but have grown into so much more over time. The best smartphones now allow users to complete a varied range of tasks and keep them fully connected with the world.
Media convergence: Why are smartphones a good example of this?
For anyone not familiar with the concept, media convergence refers to the merging of various mass media forms. This is something that we have seen happen more and more in modern times, where the barriers between different forms of mass media have been broken down.
Good examples of this include eBooks (which merge traditional paper books with digital technologies) and newspaper websites (which merge print media with online news reporting and online advertising).
Smartphones though, are arguably the best example of media convergence and highlight just how interlinked media sources are in the digital age. The main reason for this lies in how smartphones bring together various media sources into one central, easy-to-access place. This is different from the pre-smartphone era, where you might have needed to access various media sources separately.
But what media does a smartphone converge into one portable and always accessible place? This includes:
- Music
- Photographs
- News
- Video
- Internet
- TV/Movies
- Books
- Podcasts
While this is not a comprehensive list of all media that smartphones converge on, it does show why they are the ultimate medium for this.
How are smartphones being used in everyday life?
The above gives a good general overview of why compact, portable, and easy-to-use smartphones allow us to access a range of media sources wherever we are. But what are some specific examples of how people do this in modern life and the tasks it helps them with?
Gaming
Gaming is a massive sector worldwide and one that has grown hugely in recent years. This has been prompted by the ever-more sophisticated games that developers produce and the range of choice in gaming now. Live VIP roulette tables highlight this and show how diverse the modern gaming industry is. These types of game also tend to lend themselves well to the smaller screen, and to being played in moderation between other everyday tasks.
Banking
Another task that people love to use their smartphones for is online banking. This involves using the internet on a mobile phone to access a bank’s online portal. Once logged in, people can manage their money in a convenient, flexible way. There is no doubt that this has been a major step forward for the banking sector and means customers can take control of their finances wherever they are.
Shopping
With the size of the global e-commerce market predicted to hit around $48tn by 2030, it’s obvious how much people love shopping online now. From clothes to books, beauty products and more, we just cannot get enough of the choice, convenience and great deals e-commerce offers. Shopping online is also a lot less hassle than heading out to busy shops in person!
Online shopping is also an everyday task that people use their smartphones for — they can quickly log on to the internet on their device and find exactly what they need. Many people also simply like to fill in some free time by browsing online stores and getting ideas for what they might buy next.
Streaming music, TV, and movies
Modern smartphones run on super-fast internet networks, and this makes them ideal for streaming music, TV shows and movies. As a result, this is something many people across the world use them for daily. From the most interesting movies to the coolest new tracks or the hottest new show, smartphones are the perfect way to catch up on them all when you have time.
Smartphones a key part of modern life
When you take a closer look, it is clear that smartphones are not only the best example of media convergence but are also widely used for some very common everyday tasks. This makes them key to our lives and something that most people couldn’t manage without.
