Blog 5
For my science fiction assignment, I viewed the
movie “Minority Report.” I was able to rent this movie on DVD through my Netflix
service. I would prefer to watch movies digitally because I am able to watch
instantly instead of waiting for the DVD in the mail. This movie wasn’t available
for instant access through Netflix so I resulted to having it mailed to me
instead. I do believe that DVD’s and video-on-demand are examples of Red Queens.
DVD’s and digital access seems to be the only two formats of watching movies. Other
options of watching movies are all non-existing. Dr. Thornburg (2009) explains
that red queens have huge competitions between technologies; in the process,
all other competitors are left behind. For example, a VHS tape is no longer in
competition with DVD’s and digital videos. They have been left behind and will
no longer be in the running. As I go into video stores, I no longer see VHS
tapes for sale. I also think that VCR’s, the machine that plays VHS tapes, are
no longer available through retail stores.
Although I believe that digital movies are rising
above DVD’s, I don’t think that DVD’s will become extinct by digital video
access. These two competitors are two very great options and very great
alternatives to each other. This is why I believe Netflix offers both options.
They understand that people enjoy popping in a DVD just as much as they can
watch instantly through their computer devices. If I had to choose, I believe
that digital video access will eventually extinct DVD’S but no time in the near
future. One main reason why people are still watching movies through DVD is
because new releases and other high demand movies are not available on digital
access keeping them in the race. Once digital access offer new releases or just
all movies, they will eventually have an increasing return on DVD’s. When
placing these two options on the McLuhan’s tetrad, I believe that DVD’S are a
retrieval of the VHS and video-on-demand is in the enhancement criteria.
Thornburg, D. (2009). Emerging and
future technology. Baltimore, MD: Author. Laureate Education, Inc
