The US in general and Central Texas in particular face a daunting challenge: our capacity to sustain the creation and growth of businesses and jobs is being undermined. The emergence of global competitors' greater cost efficiencies, productivity, and technological sophistication greatly challenge our economic future. If Central Texas can embrace these changes by creating an environment which supports rather than retards the process of change, we will create a powerful motor for job creation and growth, which in turn will increase consumer choice and promote cultural diversity. If Central Texas fails to do so, or fails to do so rapidly enough, there are real risks that our businesses and citizens will be sidelined by the digital convergence revolution being embraced by businesses, users and governments around the world. Digital convergence is a process that is expected to provide a level of competitive advantage and wealth creation to nations, regions, industries, and companies, surpassing that created in the past by the emergence of the automotive, aerospace, and semiconductor industries.

"This book addresses and positions the issues in business strategy and public policy rising from digital convergence, especially in the areas of mobile communications, broadband networks, and digital multimedia broadcast services. It presents new business opportunities generated by digital convergence, and raises governance issues in digital convergence"--Provided by publisher.

This book examines the phenomenon of the “digital city” in the US by looking at three case studies: New York City, San Antonio, and Seattle. Kristin Scott considers how digital technologies are increasingly built into the logic and organization of urban spaces and argues that while each city articulates ideals such as those of open democracy, civic engagement, efficient governance, and enhanced security, competing capitalist interests attached to many of these digital technological programs make the “digital city” problematic.

The convergence of IT, telecommunications, and media is changing the way information is collected, stored and accessed. This revolution is having effects on the development and organisation of information and artefact repositories such as libraries and museums. This book presents key aspects in the rapidly moving field of digital convergence in the areas of technology and information sciences. Its chapters are written by international experts who are leaders in their fields.

interfirm alliances.

Independent Filmmaking and Digital Convergence: Transmedia and Beyond offers a comprehensive analysis of the technological changes of the past few decades in independent film and media-making, and explores new strategies and practices in media production, exhibition and distribution for independent producers and content creators. The book examines how independent filmmaking concepts have merged with digital and online technologies to create new hybrid multi-platform content creations. It explores key questions like how to reach an audience at a time when media conglomerates and their products dominate the market, and simultaneously, there is an overabundance of content competing for viewer time. The book investigates what kind of stories we tell and why; how the audience has changed, and what their expectations are; what the various niche markets are for independent producers and creators in new media; and new models for media financing and distribution. The content found in this book: Bridges the gap between professional media-makers and amateurs by focusing on new and emerging media models and practices. Provides a holistic view of the new media landscape, and practical advice on producing content in the new multi-platform media environment. Demonstrates how to create financially sustainable models for independent producers and creators in a shifting and unstable environment, providing many challenges, but also opportunities for independents. The author's website (http://www.filmconvergence.com/) supports this book with case studies, news and updates.

This volume aims to document the most important worldwide accomplishments in converging knowledge and technology, including converging platforms, methods of convergence, societal implications, and governance in the last ten years. Convergence in knowledge, technology, and society is the accelerating, transformative interaction among seemingly distinct scientific disciplines, technologies, and communities to achieve mutual compatibility, synergism, and integration, and through this process to create added value for societal benefit. It is a movement that is recognized by scientists and thought leaders around the world as having the potential to provide far-reaching solutions to many of today’s complex knowledge, technology, and human development challenges. Four essential and interdependent convergence platforms of human activity are defined in the first part of this report: nanotechnology-biotechnology-information technology and cognitive science (“NBIC”) foundational tools; Earth-scale environmental systems; human-scale activities; and convergence methods for societal-scale activities. The report then presents the main implications of convergence for human physical potential, cognition and communication, productivity and societal outcomes, education and physical infrastructure, sustainability, and innovative and responsible governance. As a whole, the report presents a new model for convergence. To effectively take advantage of this potential, a proactive governance approach is suggested. The study identifies an international opportunity to develop and apply convergence for technological, economic, environmental, and societal benefits. The panel also suggests an opportunity in the United States for implementing a program aimed at focusing disparate R and D energies into a coherent activity - a "Societal Convergence Initiative”. This study received input from leading academic, industry, government, and NGO experts from the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.