Mobile – its effect on the family unit

In response to Brian Jacobs’ article ‘Finally – the year of mobile?’, Vic Davies of Bucks New University, looks at how mobile technology is now creeping into the living room via games consoles and televisions and the effect this may have on the family unit…

“I agree with Brian in terms of what mobile represents and how the Industry needs to get to grips with its potential. But I was also interested in his comparisons with television.

“Post the digital switch many of the interactivity capabilities seen in mobile devices will begin to be seen in the box in the corner of the living room that we used to call a television set. Indeed the convergence event in mobile is already being seen in other technological platforms such as games consoles.

“But what are the implications of this in terms of the dynamic with groups, such as the family unit, as against individual? As a university we have begun researching what this means, not just in terms of the use of the technology, but also how this relates to decision making around both the technology itself and the content it carries.”