Appendix 4: Feedback on Activities
Appendix 4: Feedback on Activity 7.1 How many technologies can you see in Figure 7.1?
Well, this is an unfair question, partly because the photo doesn’t show all the technologies, and also because you wouldn’t know what software or services were included, but just for the record, here’s my list:
Hardware
1. Laptop computer
2. Music CD
3. Book: yes, a printed book is a technological artefact! It doesn’t have to be digital to be a technology.
4. Mobile phone
5. Satellite receiver/converter
6. Television monitor
7. DVD player
8. Apple TV box
9. Audio-visual receiver/control box with 7 channels, 1080p HDMI, Dolby and DTS format support
10. Loudspeakers (3 in picture, including a woofer, back right)
11. Remote control (one: for all equipment except computer, mobile phone and book)
Software
Almost impossible to list and unobservable anyway, but would include iTunes, iPhoto (uses photos from iPhoto library as a screen saver for the TV monitor when music is playing), digital conversion in the A/V receiver, etc., etc.
Networks
Wi-fi
Internet
Telephone
Radio
Satellite TV (could have been cable, or broadband telephone, but isn’t)
Services
Satellite broadcast television channels
Radio stations (global choice, via Sonos)
Apple TV (including Netflix and other streaming services)
Sonos music (including Deezer, a service similar to Netflix for music)
Necessary for integration
Single remote control (eHarmony)
Audio-visual receiver
Apple TV
Apple Mac Pro laptop computer
Mobile phone (controls Sonos and iTunes)
My wish for the future: one portable box, please!!!!!!!!
I think whoever owns this home entertainment system could do with a model for technology selection (OK, I’ll admit it, it’s mine). Or is it that the home entertainment industry needs to get its act together regarding standardization? But I digress. All this changed in 2016, when my Internet provider upgraded to fibre optic and 5G from coaxial cable and 2.4G and offered a ‘deal’ on integrated services. I decided at the same time to upgrade the whole system with a new TV monitor, control box, modem, speaker system, and more apps such as Amazon Prime and DAZN, but the ‘live’ cable television programs are still just as awful as before!