Re: Yup; the Internet is screwed up.

["Jeffrey S. Young" <young () jsyoung net>]

On 23/06/2011, at 8:07 AM, Joe Greco <jgreco () ns sol net> wrote:

> > > Be that as it may, I don't think current methods and techniques in use =
> > will scale well to fully replace antennas, satellite and cable to =
> > provide tv and radio signals.
> > > =20
> > > (remembering for example the recent discussion about multicast)
> > > =20
> > They won't, but, that's not what consumers think about when they decide =
> > where to get their content.
> >
> > Consumers look at convenience, cost, and availability. In some cases, =
> > quality also enters the picture.

It's interesting in an "Innovator's Dilemma" sort of way.  Consumers are moving
from time-based consumption to time-shifted consumption.  As (we) technologists
finds ways to bring the market what it wants in a cost-effective manner the 
old methods to deliver content are eclipsed.  If we can scale to deliver the 
majority of content from the big hard drive in the sky the market for cable and
television's linear programming signals goes away.  It's hard for me to think that 
radio will be eclipsed (but with LTE and iCloud, perhaps even that is possible).

As the methods to deliver content change so will the paradigms and the 
descriptive language.  How many kids know what an LP is?  How many of
their kids will understand what a "time-slot" is?  How many will lose their
favorite program because it was "cancelled" by the "network" -- will programs
vie for real eyeballs rather than places in a "fall lineup"?  Will "blanket ads"
be replaced by the household's "Google Profile" and what was a Neilsen 
rating anyway?
 
Our jobs are going to depend on finding ways to scale infrastructure for the 
convenience of others.  I don't think the Internet is "screwed up" it's just 
reached the point of inflection after which it will scale based on convenience.
Broadcast and multicast are much more efficient ways of video delivery than 
unicast IP, but then the PSTN was a perfectly good system, who needs
cellular or VoIP?

jy