Rating: 
Summary: Digital Convergence Review
Review: Andy Covell's "Digital Convergence" provides lots information regarding the conventional and current technologies. The author talks about the history and development of conventional technologies, such as telephone, prints, and radios, and how digital technology makes it differently. The author also discusses computing, digital communications technology, and digital multimedia in detail on each technology.This book is faily easy to read for beginners who want to learn about digital technology because it provides definition and usage of some certain technologies or mechanisms; however, this book will not be helpful or useful for people who already have knowledge on digital technology, but want to know more in depth information. Providing very little implementations is another weakness of the book. It gives little implementation at the very last chapter of the book which is also not very helpful. Overall, this book is perfect when looking for definations and implementing the technology with daily life, but not for gathering new ideas. People will find this book comes handy when looking for an easy defination for term what we hear everyday, but do not exactly know what it means.
Rating:
Summary: Digital Convergence Review
Review: Andy Covell's "Digital Convergence" provides lots information regarding the conventional and current technologies. The author talks about the history and development of conventional technologies, such as telephone, prints, and radios, and how digital technology makes it differently. The author also discusses computing, digital communications technology, and digital multimedia in detail on each technology. This book is faily easy to read for beginners who want to learn about digital technology because it provides definition and usage of some certain technologies or mechanisms; however, this book will not be helpful or useful for people who already have knowledge on digital technology, but want to know more in depth information. Providing very little implementations is another weakness of the book. It gives little implementation at the very last chapter of the book which is also not very helpful. Overall, this book is perfect when looking for definations and implementing the technology with daily life, but not for gathering new ideas. People will find this book comes handy when looking for an easy defination for term what we hear everyday, but do not exactly know what it means.
Rating:
Summary: Digital Convergence Review
Review: Andy Covell's "Digital Convergence" provides lots information regarding the conventional and current technologies. The author talks about the history and development of conventional technologies, such as telephone, prints, and radios, and how digital technology makes it differently. The author also discusses computing, digital communications technology, and digital multimedia in detail on each technology. This book is faily easy to read for beginners who want to learn about digital technology because it provides definition and usage of some certain technologies or mechanisms; however, this book will not be helpful or useful for people who already have knowledge on digital technology, but want to know more in depth information. Providing very little implementations is another weakness of the book. It gives little implementation at the very last chapter of the book which is also not very helpful. Overall, this book is perfect when looking for definations and implementing the technology with daily life, but not for gathering new ideas. People will find this book comes handy when looking for an easy defination for term what we hear everyday, but do not exactly know what it means.
Rating:
Summary: Technology Trends and Solutions = Digital Convergence
Review: Andy Covell's book is a clear, informative presentation of both the history and development of technology trends, and as well provides a look-see into future technology solutions. The author discusses current and emerging 'digital convergence technologies' with network applications such as GIF, JPEG and PNG image compression, and audio compression formats like MP3 and streaming media. Throughout, Covell's tone is upbeat in this positive and enthusiastic analysis of 'the powerful effects of digital convergence.' He argues for the creation and regulation of national and international standards as important mechanisms for developing and protecting collaborative technologies in today's increasingly-global society, and marketplace. The easy-reading style of Digital Convergence, which features personal anecdotes, conveys a great deal of useful information; the author keeps his audience (likely the 'little guy' individual or small-time entrepreneur) in mind, as he weaves an interesting tale of enabling digital technologies - which 'facilitate human interaction and collaboration like no other technologies that have come before.'
Rating:
Summary: Technology Trends and Solutions = Digital Convergence
Review: Andy Covell's book is a clear, informative presentation of both the history and development of technology trends, and as well provides a look-see into future technology solutions. The author discusses current and emerging 'digital convergence technologies' with network applications such as GIF, JPEG and PNG image compression, and audio compression formats like MP3 and streaming media. Throughout, Covell's tone is upbeat in this positive and enthusiastic analysis of 'the powerful effects of digital convergence.' He argues for the creation and regulation of national and international standards as important mechanisms for developing and protecting collaborative technologies in today's increasingly-global society, and marketplace. The easy-reading style of Digital Convergence, which features personal anecdotes, conveys a great deal of useful information; the author keeps his audience (likely the 'little guy' individual or small-time entrepreneur) in mind, as he weaves an interesting tale of enabling digital technologies - which 'facilitate human interaction and collaboration like no other technologies that have come before.'
Rating: 
Summary: Covell's Digital Convergence: An Excellent Overview
Review: Andy Covell's book is a well-written, informal overview of the kinds of changes that technology has made most recently across several fronts. It is essentially a technology primer and overview which begins with a little history and some of the very basic principles upon which digitial technology is built. It written in such a way that a person with no previous exposure to technology gains a good basic undertanding of what is going on "out there", and so that the person with some sense of what these changes are already comes away with questions answered and knowledge solidified. He explains, among other things, how digital is different from analog, what is happening in the networking process ( very basic network architecture), terms such as ATM, IP, Network Transport Layers,then branches out into digital mutimedia (cameras, video,audio,websites,etc.). The author is optimistic about technology, and feels that it is very empowering to the average person. This is an excellent book to be used in courses about technology, particularly basic, introductory courses.
Rating:
Summary: Packed with Information
Review: Andy Covell's book, "Digital Convergence", is packed with information regarding the historical development and transformation of specific forms of technology. His ability to chronologically describe important technological advances and how they came to be is not only informative, but entertaining. He defines technological acronyms and allows the reader to better understand the emerging "lingo" that goes along with the advancement of digital convergence technology. Lastly, this book offers a well written over-view of the digital convergence phenomenon that continues to drive the evolution of technologies. I would highly recommend this book to any one who is interested in having an intelligent conversation about today's, and forthcoming, communication and technology.
Rating:
Summary: Packed with Information
Review: Andy Covell's book, "Digital Convergence", is packed with information regarding the historical development and transformation of specific forms of technology. His ability to chronologically describe important technological advances and how they came to be is not only informative, but entertaining. He defines technological acronyms and allows the reader to better understand the emerging "lingo" that goes along with the advancement of digital convergence technology. Lastly, this book offers a well written over-view of the digital convergence phenomenon that continues to drive the evolution of technologies. I would highly recommend this book to any one who is interested in having an intelligent conversation about today's, and forthcoming, communication and technology.
Rating: 
Summary: Very general and not much insight
Review: Digital convergence provides a high level overview of the current digital technologies. This book describes conventional technologies, how digital implements differently, computing, digital communications technologies, multi media and convergence technologies. The final chapter in the book provides a very generic project template for how to select and implement your first convergence project. The technology descriptions are very brief, and while they provide a decent overview, there is absolutely no depth. The basic buzzwords are covered but very little in terms of real world implementation experience or industry issues are covered. The practical implementation details are left until the final chapter. However, it only provides a basic Systems Development LifeCycle methodology approach that could be used for any development effort. Mr. Covell makes very little attempt to describe how convergence projects differ from traditional implementations. Overall, this book makes an ok primer but provides very little "hard" or practical information.
Rating:
Summary: Very general and not much insight
Review: Digital convergence provides a high level overview of the current digital technologies. This book describes conventional technologies, how digital implements differently, computing, digital communications technologies, multi media and convergence technologies. The final chapter in the book provides a very generic project template for how to select and implement your first convergence project. The technology descriptions are very brief, and while they provide a decent overview, there is absolutely no depth. The basic buzzwords are covered but very little in terms of real world implementation experience or industry issues are covered. The practical implementation details are left until the final chapter. However, it only provides a basic Systems Development LifeCycle methodology approach that could be used for any development effort. Mr. Covell makes very little attempt to describe how convergence projects differ from traditional implementations. Overall, this book makes an ok primer but provides very little "hard" or practical information.
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