Red Queens and Increasing Returns

Module (5) Blog Post

Red Queens and Increasing Returns

At first, I had to determine what the red queen had to do with technology. Through articles, I determined that the Red Queen gets her name from the story written by Lewis Carolin. The story is titled “Through the Looking Glass”. In this narrative, a dialogue between the two characters, Alice and the Red Queen a question is posed by Alice in reference to why they are not making any progress. The Red Queen replies back to Alice stating that just to stay in the same place, you have to run as fast as you can. It is difficult to make progress. The dialogue between these characters is compared to the competition that takes place between emerging technologies. The race is very hard, and the result can be that one of the technologies lags behind in the race to fully emerge. Dr.Thornburg (2008c) explains that the technology that falls behind is often left behind; however, it does not mean that the one that wins is the best technology among them. 

When you decided to obtain a DVD for your science fiction assignment in Module 4, where did you go to find a movie based on a Philip K. Dick book? Did you rent or purchase a DVD, or did you view it digitally on your computer using Netflix or a similar vendor of video-on-demand? 

The movie that I selected was “The Minority Report” starring Tom Cruise. Fortunately, I have an old collection of movies as well as a new collection. I actually had the video on an old VHS and my DVD player plays both VHS and DVD movies. However, I have become a fan of Netflix because it is the cheaper way to go. 

Is the current competition between DVDs and video-on-demand an example of increasing returns or Red Queens? Justify your response with sound reasoning and specific examples. 

Yes, the way that we watch movies is an example of Red Queens. There continues to be a competition between how movies are presented for some time. The example, it cost more to go to Walmart or any order retail store to buy a DVD than it does to download the movie using Netflix (another source). Economic hardships that are being endured in our society is causing people to become more and more money conscience. The cost of DVDs is going to be a considering factor in the distinction of DVDs.

Where do you think DVDs and video-on-demand are on the four criteria of McLuhan’s tetrad? 

It is apparent that VHS is completely obsolete even though I still have a collection. I think that both DVDs and video-on-demand has caused VHS to become obsolete. My guess would be that video-on-demand will overtake DVDs and make them obsolete in the near future.

Reference:

Thornburg, D. (2008c). Red Queens, butterflies, and strange attractors: Imperfect lenses       into emergent technologies. Lake Barrington, IL: Thornburg Center for Space Exploration.