Red Queens and Increasing Returns
Responded to http://janedewitt.blogspot.com/
and http://everythingeducational.blogspot.com/
When we had to obtain a DVD for the science fiction assignment, I went to Blockbuster to rent a movie based on Philip K. Dick book. However, after renting the movie at a regular Blockbuster store I remembered the Blockbuster Express kiosk machine which I could have rented the movie for only a dollar, whereas in the store I had to pay over five dollars. My final thought was I could have stayed home and located the movie online for free, but with such a busy schedule I went to the Blockbuster store, since it was on my way home from working in my classroom.
Dr. Thornburg defines Increasing Returns as, “when two innovations hit the market at about the same time and by chance one technology gets locked in and drives the other to extinct” (Thornburg, 2009). On the other hand he defines Red Queens as a force that drives emerging technologies when, “huge competition between two technologies and in the process all other competitors are left behind” (Thornburg, 2009). Therefore, when regarding the competition between DVDs and video on demand and deciding the force I that drives these emerging technologies I would say the competition is an example of Red Queens. There has been a continuous competition between videos on demand and renting or purchasing a DVD. Most people tend to either watch movies on demand or rent DVDs from a kiosk because of convenience and low costs. With on demand and free movies online you no longer have to travel to purchase a movie and the movie is instantly available to you and your family. Although you have to travel when renting movies from a kiosk machine you only have to spend one dollar to rent a movie which is a reasonable price and many of the machines are located in grocery stores and other convenient locations. A website that is available for watching free movies online is http://www.letmewatchthis.com/ .
I believe that both DVDs and video on demand have both enhanced the way we watch movies. However, I believe that many of the free on movies online resources and videos on demands will obsolete renting DVDs, which I believe is currently occurring with the closing of several video rental stores. The use of DVDs and videos on demand has rekindled family time in the household. Nevertheless, I believe that in the future the viewing and purchasing on movies will occur on line because many sites offer free movies or a lost cost to view movies.
Thornburg, D. D. (2009). Increasing returns. [Vodcast]. Laureate Education, Inc. Retrieved from http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=4199715&Survey=1&47=5797856&ClientNodeID=984645&coursenav=1&bhcp=1
Thornburg, D. D. (2009). Red queens. [Vodcast]. Laureate Education, Inc. Retrieved from http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=4199715&Survey=1&47=5797856&ClientNodeID=984645&coursenav=1&bhcp=1
Charlotte,
ReplyDeleteI have never used a kiosk machine to rent a movie. That is not something I encounter often. I need to check into that and see how it works, or maybe the terminology is just unfamiliar to me and it is something that I see all the time, but haven't tried at this point. I believe you are correct about the Red Queens and the media industry. It is an ongoing race to see who will win. It is good to know that Blockbuster is still getting customers. I have a card, but I rarely use it. I am too much of an On Demand and Amazon.com girl. I love the convenience and the Blockbuster is across town.
Cynthia