When you decided to obtain a DVD for your
science fiction assignment in Module 4, where did you go to find a movie based
on a Philip K. Dick book? Did you rent or purchase a DVD, or did you view it
digitally on your computer using Netflix or a similar vendor of
video-on-demand?
When I considered
movies to watch based on Philip K. Dick books, I first considered renting a
DVD; however, the Blockbuster where I used to rent DVDs has gone out of
business. Before they went out of
business, I hadn’t rented a DVD for several years anyway. My second thought was to order the movie from
my cable provider and watch it on my television. However, that is a costly process and I would
probably not find any of the movies I wanted to watch because they were old
releases. My third option was to use the
Netflix subscription we have. Netflix
charges a monthly fee, and we can watch any movie, series, or TV show they have
available (and they have thousands) on our TV, desktop computers or mobile
devices. Netflix had one of the movies
on the list, so I watched that one on my desktop PC where I could pause,
rewind, and watch it at my convenience.
Is the current competition between DVDs and
video-on-demand an example of increasing returns or Red Queens? Justify your
response with sound reasoning and specific examples.
Thornburg describes
the theory of increasing returns as two technologies entering the market at the
same time. One technology gets “locked
in” and makes the other technology obsolete even if the other technology is the
superior technology (Laureate Education, 2010a). His example of Beta versus VHS formatted
tapes and Panasonic versus Sony as examples.
Because ultimately VHS-formatted tapes were more easily available to
consumers, ultimately the Beta technology was rendered obsolete when VHS was “locked
in.”
The situation between
DVDs and video-on-demand is more of a red queen situation rather than of
increasing returns. DVDs and VODs did
not emerge on the market simultaneously.
Renting and purchasing DVDs from chains such as Blockbuster or Hollywood
Video, and from general merchandise and mass merchandise stores, online, and so
forth, was an established market for quite some time. The need for even better, or “new and
improved” technology resulted in the emergence of videos on demand through
cable providers and eventually subscription services like Netflix. The Blockbuster and Hollywood Video near me
eventually were put out of business by the burgeoning business of VOD
services.
Where do you think DVDs and video-on-demand
are on the four criteria of McLuhan’s tetrad?
On McLuhan’s tetrad,
DVDs are becoming obsolete as they are replaced by VODs that are enhancing
technology to make the way consumers retrieve (access and view) movies and television
shows more efficient (Laureate Education, 2010b).
Reference
Laureate
Education, Inc. (Executive
Producer). (2010a). McLuhan’s tetrad.
Baltimore, MD: Author.
Laureate
Education, Inc. (Executive
Producer). (2010b). Red queens.
Baltimore, MD: Author.