Convergence

When we talk of convergence in technology, we mean how technological systems have the tendency to change or evolve toward performing very similar tasks. Technological systems have taken a whole new dimension over the last few years. For example, we started with mobile phones that did not even have color in the screen. A few years after that we moved on to phones that have colored text and pictures. Not long after that, we arrived at smartphones. These phones perform tasks just as a computer would and sometimes we do not even have the need for computers in doing certain things anymore.  The major differences in the phones now are the sizes in which they come and the touch screen function that comes with it. Tablets have followed phones for some years now and have the same functionalities as a phone and a computer except that they are a little bigger in size that smartphones and smaller that a computer. Some of these come with small keyboards if the user is not comfortable using the touchscreen function to type text.

Nowadays we even have what is called a phablet. This technological device has similar functionalities like the computer, smartphone, and tablet. The only difference is the size in which it comes. Devices are becoming more similar but more complex in functionalities with the difference being only in size and or shape. The idea of convergence is that we are able to use very different devices to accomplish similar tasks and sometimes having or owning two or more devices means that you would not even have the need or use for one. Another thing to notice is that convergence comes with expense. The more compact and sophisticated these devices are becoming, the more expensive they get.