I know perfectly well that the argument over the changes I mentioned is flawed. ^_~ But I also speak from the standpoint of knowing just how much of a hassle it was for companies to appeal to the FCC to get the technology standard for color TV’s.
This left a lot of companies and a lot of consumers in the position of not knowing what to produce/purchase. I still own some of those things that fell through because of the prolonged battle to get things approved as being standard.
Anyway, part of the reason I don’t argue against the government mandate, is because even if it is regarding mass communication, it’s not going to affect the actual content. I’d like to believe that it’s going to happen anyway (the switch to full digital) because of how things are changing, but I know better.
People are stubborn and unless given no choice, they can and will fight technological advances. This too is me speaking from what I’ve observed over the years. The government has already agreed to front the money/coupons for purchasing the necessary digital converters (which aren't all that expensive) and if you’re like me and receive cable, I already get my transmissions in digital and the cable box takes care of it.
I think Lunar is definitely arguing from a flawed standpoint -- i.e. "Change is bad!! -- but I think some of the ideas brought up in that thread are also flawed, especially the examples of black and white --> color television and 8-track --> cassettes --> compact discs.
The main flaw with that is those changes were not government-mandated; they were a natural evolution of technology and what consumers wanted (although companies had to appeal to the FCC for so damn long to get approval for their tech to be the standard for color TVs). I think the same should happen here. There is no arguing that digital is better than analog. It is basically a fact.
But I have problems with government mandates, especially in the realm of mass communication (not that I think this is some battle for free speech or something, mind lol). Because digital is so cheap to produce now, it will not be long before digital TV receivers are affordable for basically everyone (some of them are almost as cheap as DVD players at this point).
The government mandate is not really needed, I think. The market is well on its way to achieving what the mandate would. If people want to be stubborn and not switch over, then that's their choice -- companies also have the choice of refusing to devote resources to obsolete technology.
Last edited by Shinmaru at 10:11:57 PM EDT on September 16, 2008.They live. We sleep.
I'm in favor of the switch. A lot of media already has turned to digital so doing the same with broadcasts makes sense if you think about it. I understand that all new TV's and such are required to come with the necessary tuner to pick up digital signals so I don't see a problem with it. ^_^
This is kinda like how we should give up and switch over to metric already. It'll make things easier in the long run, but at least two generations will have to go through the hassle of the switch. Sacrifice for the greater good, people.
Quote of the Week - Shoot. I'm too lazy to find one.
Aaryanna Mom
Title: Otakuite+ | Posted 09/17/08 | Reply
@Shinmaru:
I know perfectly well that the argument over the changes I mentioned is flawed. ^_~ But I also speak from the standpoint of knowing just how much of a hassle it was for companies to appeal to the FCC to get the technology standard for color TV’s.
This left a lot of companies and a lot of consumers in the position of not knowing what to produce/purchase. I still own some of those things that fell through because of the prolonged battle to get things approved as being standard.
Anyway, part of the reason I don’t argue against the government mandate, is because even if it is regarding mass communication, it’s not going to affect the actual content. I’d like to believe that it’s going to happen anyway (the switch to full digital) because of how things are changing, but I know better.
People are stubborn and unless given no choice, they can and will fight technological advances. This too is me speaking from what I’ve observed over the years. The government has already agreed to front the money/coupons for purchasing the necessary digital converters (which aren't all that expensive) and if you’re like me and receive cable, I already get my transmissions in digital and the cable box takes care of it.
~Kathy
Shinmaru
Title: Otaku Legend | Posted 09/17/08 | Reply
I think Lunar is definitely arguing from a flawed standpoint -- i.e. "Change is bad!! -- but I think some of the ideas brought up in that thread are also flawed, especially the examples of black and white --> color television and 8-track --> cassettes --> compact discs.
The main flaw with that is those changes were not government-mandated; they were a natural evolution of technology and what consumers wanted (although companies had to appeal to the FCC for so damn long to get approval for their tech to be the standard for color TVs). I think the same should happen here. There is no arguing that digital is better than analog. It is basically a fact.
But I have problems with government mandates, especially in the realm of mass communication (not that I think this is some battle for free speech or something, mind lol). Because digital is so cheap to produce now, it will not be long before digital TV receivers are affordable for basically everyone (some of them are almost as cheap as DVD players at this point).
The government mandate is not really needed, I think. The market is well on its way to achieving what the mandate would. If people want to be stubborn and not switch over, then that's their choice -- companies also have the choice of refusing to devote resources to obsolete technology.
Last edited by Shinmaru at 10:11:57 PM EDT on September 16, 2008. They live. We sleep.
SabrinaM
Title: Team | Posted 09/16/08 | Reply
I'm in favor of the switch. A lot of media already has turned to digital so doing the same with broadcasts makes sense if you think about it. I understand that all new TV's and such are required to come with the necessary tuner to pick up digital signals so I don't see a problem with it. ^_^
-Sabrina
TwistedCyberChick
Title: Senior Otaku | Posted 09/16/08 | Reply
This is kinda like how we should give up and switch over to metric already. It'll make things easier in the long run, but at least two generations will have to go through the hassle of the switch. Sacrifice for the greater good, people.
Quote of the Week - Shoot. I'm too lazy to find one.