Previously unrelated devices now merged in one device or now able to communicate and work together.
Examples include: Cameras on cell phones & computers that send picture and sound to TVs, DVRs, DVDs etc.

The digital age has changed all of the rules. Once TVs and home entertainment components could handle digital information (from DVDs to Digital Video Recorders), they had the ability to "speak" and "understand", to communicte with computers.

Convergence is taking place in two ways:

1) Networking your home entertainment components to your computer (or to your computer and connecting to the internet).

2) Putting a hard drive (like the one in your computer) into a TV set so that it can perform some of the functions of a computer and use removable "media" (big memory sticks and discs) to transfer information between your computer and your TV.

WHY would you be interested in doing this?

• To see the digital photos you stored on your computer displayed on your TV (often in slide show formats).
• To listen to the digital music you downloaded from the internet playing through your home theater sound system (or any connected sound system in your home).
• To watch movies you have created or stored on your computer displayed on your TV--either home movies or movies you can download from the internet.
• To watch movies or play games in real time over the internet, displayed on any connected TV.

You may be hearing more about "wireless" TVs and other devices that connect to your computer. "Home Networking" which began by connecting more than one computer in your home, is now reaching out to your home theater. And just as home network connections have gone wireless (allowing more than one computer to share information or an internet connection), wireless home networks are available to include your TV as well.

Today, watching slide shows and listening to music from your computer is appealing. Some DVD players, DVD recorders, and DVRs (hard disc recorders like TiVo) are coming equipped with "ethernet" connections that allow the devices to be connected to your computer(s). A whole new category of component has been born (and with it the mass of names for it): Media center, media bridge, home media enabled, are just a few you may find. These are devices that either work as a computer or connects to your home network.

All of this may seem confusing and you may want nothing to do with it...but the future of this connected technology will affect you some day...

The direction that this convergence is taking will lead us to a new way to get your TV programs~in real time from the internet (they call that "streaming video"). We will have "video on demand" which means we will pick our own program schedule.

New words new devices...we'll cover each in detail in the months to come... or sign up for our newsletter to get updates and tips in via email:

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