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2AAIT Technological Convergence S.HOLMES
2A Applied Information Technology Kyle Reece Ivory 11R

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction pg. 2

Main Body pg. 3-7

Conclusion pg.7

Bibliography pg.8

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Technological convergence is the tendency for one technological system to evolve into performing

other tasks that are not there original intended purposes e.g. many advanced calculators with

memories also have the function of adding games, or other utilities that were not the original

purpose of the device.

One of these products has shown major technological convergence is the Apple iPod Touch. The first

generation iPod touch was released on September 5 2007 and was meant to be as an iPod that also

had extensive gaming capabilities. Apple had already released many other iPods and in many

generations before (e.g. iPod classic, iPod Nano, iPod shuffle), all of which were primarily used to

play music. But as the screens went from black LCD’s into colour and there processing capabilities

increased, there gaming potentials were unleashed in a new iPod touch. The first line iPod touch had

in its time amazing new abilities of using Wi-Fi internet to access YouTube or any other internet

website via Apple’s Internet Browser, Safari. The iPod also had a 3-axis accelerometer meaning that

it could sense it being tilt either way bringing about new levels of gaming. Due to the name the iPod

touch has a Multi-touch display and only 4 external buttons being the Power/Sleep button, “home”

button and volume up and volume down.

Since there release on September 5 2007 the iPod has been upgraded into 4 generations since its

original release. The current is the iPod Touch 4 th generation (top). Since the 1st generation (bottom)

the iPod has been upgraded with many features whether it is hardware or software.

First Generation – The first iPod with Wi-Fi and Multi-Touch interface. Features Safari web browser

and wireless access to the iTunes Store and YouTube. 32 GB version later added. IPhone OS 2.0 and

App Store access requires an upgrade fee.

Second Generation – New chrome back with the Nike+ application allowing the user to connect

one’s iPod to their Nike shoe, volume buttons, and built-in speaker added. iPhone OS 2.0 and App

Store access standard. Bluetooth support added but not made active until iPhone OS 3.0, which

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requires an upgrade fee. Support for external microphone and remote added. The 8 GB model was

re-introduced alongside the 3rd generation iPod touch in September 2009, and included the newer

iPhone OS 3.1. iOS 4 was released for free for second generation iPod touch models June 21, 2010,

but included a limited selection of features. Future iOS software updates no longer supported (As of

iOS 4.2.1).

Third Generation – Updated to include upgraded RAM, CPU and GPU internals from the iPhone 3GS;

the 32 GB and 64 GB models include Voice Control support, VoiceOver, included OS version 3.x, and

bundled remote earphones with a inbuilt microphone. iOS 4 was released for free for third

generation iPod touch models June 21, 2010 and included Multitasking and homescreen wallpapers.

The 3rd generation iPod Touch with iPhone OS 3.1 was announced and subsequently released on

September 9, 2009. It is available with 32 GB or 64 GB of flash memory. Apple also continued

offering the 2nd generation 8 GB version running the 3rd generation OS. The new 3rd generation

iPod Touch includes faster hardware (the same microprocessors, graphics engine, and RAM as the

iPhone 3GS), a slightly lower battery life, voice control, light sensor, and bundled earphones with a

remote and microphone. The 2nd and 3rd generation iPod Touch can now be updated to iOS 4.x for

free, but cannot take advantage of features using the iPhone's camera or GPS receiver

. Fourth Generation – Apple unveiled the 4th generation iPod Touch on September 1, 2010. It

features Apple's Retina display and two cameras; one front-facing camera for FaceTime, Skype, and

other video chat applications, photos and high-definition video recording and one rear-facing

camera for photos and HD video recording. It also contains Apple's A4 for faster processing, a

microphone for communication, voice recognition, and voice memos, which can be useful for

recording things, and a three-axis gyroscopic sensor which enables the device to recognize

approximately how far, fast, and in which direction it has moved in space. The device originally

shipped with iOS 4.1, which added Game Centre to iOS along with the ability to use FaceTime

through Wi-Fi. Has a front-facing camera for FaceTime, the iPhone's Retina display without an IPS

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screen, has support for recording 720p video and 960 x 720 still photos via a back camera, Apple's A4

chip, a built-in microphone and a 3-axis gyroscope. The hold button has been moved to the right of

the iPod (it was the left previously). Includes iOS 4.1.

Model Picture Capacity RAM Connection Original Minimum Rated Battery

Release date OS to life (hours)

synchroni

se
st
1 8GB 128 MB USB via September 5, Mac: 10.4 Audio:

Generation 16GB Dock 2007 Win: XP 22

connector Video: 6
32GB (32GB

released

February 5,

2008)
2nd 8GB 128 MB USB via September 9, Mac: 10.4 Audio: 36

Generation Dock 2009 Win: XP Video: 6

connector.
16GB September 9,

32GB 2008

3rd 32GB 256 MB USB via September 9, Mac: 10.4 Audio: 30

Generation 64GB Dock 2009 Win: XP Video: 6

connector

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4th 8GB 256MB USB via September 8, Mac: Audio: 40

Generation 32GB Dock 2010 10.5.8 Video: 7

64GB connector Win: XP

SP3

Effects on an individual

Positive

Apple has sold over 45 million iPod touches (as of Jan 2010); obviously many more have been as the

fourth generation was released after Apple released this stat. I personally am able to name over 30

people I know with iPod touches and they have defiantly got advantages to them.

For individual impacts the fact that the iPod has so many functions whether it be telling the weather,

using face time for chat, calculator, organiser, music player, video player, gaming device… this list

goes on, people will develop a high dependence on their iPod as it has virtually unlimited capabilities

because of the million odd applications in Apple’s “App Store” This could be a great advantage

having all these options as well as just internet browsing. It would make life a lot easier to have this

one device that could do almost anything you want or need it to do in your everyday life.

Negative

But, because people would be so attached to their iPods it does promote an addiction to the device.

When the iPhone 4 was released there was the rare situation of people camping out the front of

shops just to get their hands on one. But the problem with this is that on their release date they are

very expensive and obviously there is always going to be a later generation that will just take more

and more money. The second is that for little kids to have an iPod connected to their parents credit

card they can download unlimited applications and movies. For example one of my friends David had

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his iPod connected to his mother’s credit card and within 4 months he had spent over $1,370 of her

money without being too aware of it. Also they do have limited warranties and I can think of about 8

people that have iPods with smashed cover screens. They can cost a lot more to repair than the

actual bought price.

The wider community

Positives

In the community since they are so widely used they could have great advantages, just in my friends

group when we have an over (sleep over minus the sleep part) we do often play games against each

other via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi through our iPods. It could also help for businesses to have their own

applications that could give employees push notifications about their work.

Negatives

Some negatives is that all technology that has multiple uses can substitute for actual activity e.g.

Coles has released an application that will allow users to see what is at their local Coles store or any

other in the world and the user can see what items are at the store, the price and expiry date and

can order the items to be delivered for a small delivery fee. Stuff like that could cause people to not

need to go out into the open world it is the same with face time stopping us from actually going and

seeing our friends.

Laws and censorship

One of the main problems with any music device is that it can store pirated music. It is one of the

most common offences. In China about 99.8% of music is pirated. (As of 2009) Even in Australia it is

very rare for a person to have >100 songs and ALL of them be bought. Music sharing sites are all over

the internet and music sharing at school is popular. Another is jail breaking. This is an application you

download from the internet or from safari straight from your iPod (dependant on software version)

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and it bypasses the security software on your iPod and allows you to download applications from a

different origin than apple that can significantly modify your iPod. One of the modifications allowed

me to run a dedicated server for an online PC game on my iPod, the wireless speed was not

sufficient enough along with the processing power so it soon crashed. It was still a cool thought

though. Another is that it allows you to download “Dtunes” instead of apples “iTunes” and it allows

you to access the internet and download any video that you are able to view and is in an mp4

format. This is illegal and offenders are liable to be fined up to $20,000 per offence. Jail breaking

your iPod voids your warranty for its repair when / if it breaks. The Jail broken applications and the

“Cydia” application you use to get them are all stored on the system partition which is only about

500 MB for an 8 GB iPod. This means that you fill it up easily and when it approaches being full it will

not respond the way it is supposed to. I have had the backlight and home button fail on me after jail

breaking my iPod touch multiple times as well as it just generally crashing.

The iPod touch is a great tool for the modern society and it has been adapted for many things other

than just music storage. In the future we will see it take a lot of changes and be upgraded

significantly Apple’s iPod touch and iPhones make up for around 80% oof their profits and will

continue to do so.

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Bibliography

http://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=ApWt7Lr.xMqaG6qZ0KrqWIvh5gt.;_ylv=3?

qid=20110213172240AAjCT9n, yahoo answers, viewed 10:00 15/02/2011

http://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AkGakC3HMOxzEAAMxpfgwzTh5gt.;_ylv=3?

qid=20110214181141AA7r5yO, yahoo answers, viewed 10:21 15/02/2011

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPod_Touch, Wikipedia, viewed 12:30 16/02/2011

Guinness world records book 2010, 2009, Guinness, California, America