I wonder how well known it is to the general public that the big television networks, the major publishing houses and the manufacturers of computers and computer software are sitting down in meetings all over the country to discuss the coming cable information revolution. What I'm talking about is something known to industry insiders as ISDN or "Integrated Services Digital Network."
For example, there are serious discussions between software publishers and cable TV networks regarding how to distribute software over the same cable that brings CNN into your living room. Of course the telephone industry is also interested in this technology. In fact, all of the major dissiminators of information, including radio, television, newspapers, publishing houses, international networks, and much more, are all wondering how to get the "information superhighway" organized.
As more and more of our services move from analog bases to digital bases, it will become much easier to merge the technologies. With the emergence of fiber optics as a delivery medium, digital technology has entered the mainstream for telephone services already. Television and radio programs will soon follow. At some point the technology for delivering information services will be identical, no matter what information you are receiving. At that point, it becomes difficult to distinguish the differences between a telephone company and a television station. In other words, when a telephone company can deliver a television show over the same cable that CBS uses to do the same, then what is to stop that "telephone" company from becoming a "broadcaster?" What has become apparent to the big players in the industry is that the answer to that question appears to be: "Nothing."
The long term goal of service providers is to be able to allow users to "dial-up" for services. In other words, if you want to watch "Casablanca" and subscribe to any service which has access to the movie, then you can request that the movie be shown at YOUR convenience, NOT at the convenience of the provider. Of course, this same technology can be used to download a computer program, listen to your favorite song, or search a database for some relevant fact from any on-line encyclopedia. These services have always been considered unconnected, until now.
So you find situations which appear unconnected, such as Cable TV magnates meeting with software company executives to discuss distribution techniques that are profitable for both companies. You might also wonder why telephone companies would want to purchase the rights to movies or cartoons ... now you know.
So, what does this mean to the average person? Well, that all depends. The phrase "Information Age" has been used for over a decade now to describe the current stage of human history, but with the convergence of all of these technologies, the "Information Revolution" will truly be upon us. And, as usual, there will probably be a price. While it may be true that you will be able to request a specific episode of "Gilligan's Island," you will have to pay for it directly. Eventually the major networks will be forced to offer their services in the same manner, and you will pay for your television viewing by the minute. But who knows? Once people start paying directly for these services, perhaps they will be less likely to become couch potatoes.
