Well folks, the picture is getting clearer. You've heard about "Golden Convergence" from Robert Morgan of Recon for Investors, you've read John Martellaro's Warp Core columns at Applelinks, and now Donald Shimoda has written a fine article at Think Secret that should be required reading if you need even more convincing.

What this convergence thing is, to use Donald's words, is a " coalescence of historically separate technologies into one indistinguishable continuum." And one point that Robert Morgan, John Martellaro, and now Donald Shimoda continue to make is that Apple Computer has been slowly putting together the elements that could make it all happen. Donald's Think Secret article lists all the components he thinks are related: Quartz, Cocoa, QuickTime, FireWire, iMacs, and Java.

We're not about to try to recapitulate all his arguments and explanations, but we would like to say a few words about the possible end result, which is nothing less than a wide-open digital wonderland that will give you video on demand from virtually any source, including "normal" broadcast TV. We use quotation marks around "normal" because it seems to us that what we all know as television is about to undergo a huge transformation, because "golden convergence" will also turn millions of consumers into broadcasters. (Mac users are already at that point but probably don't realize it in large numbers yet.)

The changes foreseen by Donald will also allow just about anyone to produce sophisticated Web sites in the twinkling of an eye. Hmmm. Now what do you suppose that means for all you whiz-bang web producers out there? Our two cents worth is that designing talents will be even more in demand than they are today, and artists and designers will be able to place their visions into the digital mainstream without having to do all the grunt-work currently required. [This should be very exciting. In fact, it is exciting! Now can someone please tell us how we can be kids again so we can be famous before we're fifteen? -- JHF]

.

February 07, 2012