Wireless Informatics Forum

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Throughout history, new technologies have emerged that threaten to disrupt the establishment, and the mobile phone is no exception. But ultimately, new technologies tend not to kill-off the old, they simply force a change.

The launch of television ‘threatened’ to see the end of cinema; the same for CDs and vinyl, the internet and print media. All of the established mediums remain, but have adapted to suit ther new landscape.

And so to mobile TV. In an age of home cinema system, 40″ LCD screens and HD programing it seems contradictory that the same consumers looking to emerse themselves in their home theatre systems would be willing to watch media content on a 2″ screen.

It’s got some of the ‘Hollywood’ establishment riled. The clip above from veteran David Lynch is a classic in the making; ok the iPhone element is faked but the interview (and his sentiment) is a genuine.

Ironically, he has a point. There’s a reason why we go to the cinema and why we buy enormous flat-panel televisions for our home with Dolby 5.1 surround. It’s to be emersed in the action, to experience the director’s vision. But at the same time, this is a classic example of the establishment not fully understanding new technologies and how they can actually enhance existing media.

I think it unlikley, no matter what the advertisers might tell us, that anyone would settle down to watch a 90 minute movie on their mobile (in its current form). What is realistic is that the mobile suits our increasing appetite for media-snacking; taking bite-sized chunks of entertainment to fill our downtime, commutes etc. We’ ve already seen blockbuster cinema releases using the mobile platform as a marketing vehicle, delivering made-for-mobile trailers and viral campaigns. Cloverfield is a prime example.

Mobile TV is simply the MTV for Generation Y.

In no way will it replace existing media, but it may force a change.