A Layman’s Guide to
Digital Convergence
Digital Convergence refers to a future in which all of our electronic communication devices will be united into one superpowerful feed, encompassing television, the Internet, radio and telephone. Although futuristic films, novels and even pop-culture cartoons like The Jetsons have hinted at such a future for decades, this seemingly fantastical concept is finally very, very close to becoming reality. Increasingly, the worlds of telecommunications, broadcasting, computing and television are becomingly inseparably linked.
Already, our lives are inundated with digital devices. Recently, both television and telephone – the last hurdles – have started to go digital. Once technology allows for high-speed digital downloads, it will be possible to purchase movies, albums, books and video games through one simple communications device capable of doing it all. Already 12 million Europeans enjoy the benefits of interactive television, downloading movies and playing games through their TV sets.
So far, the technological obstacles to achieving true digital convergence have proved difficult to solve. But the company that does so is sure to be a leader - which, of course, raises multiple questions about who should own such technology and how much control users should have over it.
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Robbins, whom Howitt cast precisely because of this ability to play the tycoon on several levels at once - to be a bad guy who is also a role model - likewise found himself, if not actually warming to Winston, then at least understanding why he was the way he was.
director Peter Howitt on set with Phillippe.
“I like him because you can’t quite figure him out,” says the actor. “On the one hand, you see that he can be benevolent and generous and brilliant. And on the other, he didn’t get to where he is without being evil, manipulative and ruthless. I thought it was essential to convey Winston’s full complexity.”
Robbins did some research of his own into a number of real-life computer moguls and celebrity business executives who, like Winston, seemed to be pursuing personal power as much as they are trying to gain a business advantage.
“What I discovered,” he says, “is that most of them believe they are serving the needs and clients of their customers, and yet they also operate in all kinds of underhand ways. After all, it’s a lightning fast industry. You can’t ever sleep. You can’t ever rest on your laurels. You have to constantly be adapting to new people, new discoveries, new ideas. Someone like Gary Winston has to do everything he can in order to stay on top. He really likes to toy with people, to manipulate, to stay in control.”
Milo (right) and Phil Grimes (Ned Bellamy) in ‘The Egg’.
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