Digital convergence

Digital convergence refers to the convergence of four major industries into one conglomerate. These industries are Information Technologies, Telecommunication, Consumer Electronics, and Entertainment. Technology is trending toward the evolution of previously distinguishable digitalized information formats, services, applications, networks, and business models in ways that reduce or blend the distinctions. An example of a digital convergence trend setter is the Apple iPhone which transitions between IT and Telecom.

Digital convergence provides innovative solutions to businesses and consumers, usually within the same application or context. As this trend continues to mature, businesses need to move to converged content, mixing business content with personal (user generated) content. This approach enables businesses to have greater customer intimacy through social networking. Thus, the cell phone has become a leading edge devices for businesses to conduct sales and marketing.

Digital convergence combines numerous present and future markets, technologies and functions, and will serve as the foundation for innovation in extant and new industries. This rapid pace of innovation results in the exponential rise of new data and information; increased information and cognitive overload resulting in decreased human and institutional performance; information asymmetries across academic disciplines, industries and markets; shifts in the global economic order; emergence of new geographies of technological innovation; and new threats to global economic stability and peace. With the complexities and perils of scientific, technological, and social change, however, opportunity is present in the transformation of science and technology to meet existing and emerging needs.

Which customer needs does digital convergence serve? Whether the customer plays digital games, manages complex logistics for supply store chains, or requires real-time integrated intelligence to make battlefield or business decisions, consumers of digital convergence have related needs: to use the widest range of relevant data as easily, quickly, cheaply, safely and securely as possible to best satisfy the greatest number of beneficial purposes.

Always Aware! provides a foundation to help customers get their needs met at the appropriate time, place, and cost at the appropriate level of risk. Always Aware! is the coalescence of all the functions for the acquisition, storage, distribution and utilization of all present and future human and machine-derived knowledge. Thus, the distinction between service and product offerings, traditionally provided through discrete networks and channels of trade by information technology, consumer products, media and telecommunications industries, has become less and less pronounced.

Always Aware! is a key enabler, reducing the importance of distance, connecting people and speeding information flows and processes – constituting a crucial development in the evolution of interdependent global enterprises and increasing the potential for greater inclusion and enhanced societal interaction (social networking). As markets develop, Always Aware! provides the foundation to create opportunities for new business models, increasing competition, and challenging and altering existing businesses and traditional business models.

Mobile Applications

Mobile applications are solutions allowing for the implementation of distributed applications connecting mobile and enterprise applications over wireless networks. Always Aware! is built upon a multi-modal wireless communications backbone that seamlessly integrates voice and data for use on any edge device, including mobile systems. It provides the two-way communications framework for information to be assimilated from, analyzed and disseminated to any machine whether sensor, computer, phone, or disparate software system.

The difference with Always Aware! is that it is a web service solution (or thin client) which means it’s agnostic to mobile devices and to wireless carriers such as Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, Comcast, Iridium (satellite) or any other carrier. “Edge users” (called Edgers) do not need to purchase, download, or install any software applications. Edgers simply use their existing mobile device such as Apple iPhone, Google Droid, Blackberry or any other cell phone, PDA, landline telephone, or mobile computer to send or receive information or commands to control machines and computers.

Always Aware! offers numerous enterprise and workflow features in a mobile application to help users manage a wide range of information for contacts, events, documents, tasks, programs, email, and the like. Machine-to-Machine (M2M) mobile apps are supported, enabling any Edger to have remote monitoring and command and control over disparate machines and systems. Also, Always Aware! provides simultaneous voice and data blast communications which are not possible using any native cell phone or mobile application device. In essence, Always Aware! enables you to bring you work and personal information on the go – it’s all there in your cell phone (or wherever it’s convenient for you).

Always Aware! provides value to content publishers, advertisers, businesses and individuals that need to gather information from multiple sources, make real-time (automated) decisions, simultaneously communicate with groups of people or machines, and then receive real-time feedback to loop through the process any number of times. Always Aware! provides a subscriber portal for individuals to sign-up and back-end administration tools for businesses to control information flow and management. No programming or specialty skills are required other than knowing how to use a browser.

Always Aware! supports Location-Based Services (LBS) by either obtaining GPS information from individual cell phones who have subscribed to a particular service or from remote tracking and sensors systems such as traffic monitoring or vehicle tracking systems. Marketers or retail shops can use Always Aware! to detect when a customer (or Subscriber) is within a certain location and then automatically send them shopping coupons, show tickets, VIP promotions, or other perks. Businesses can maximize employee productivity by providing instructions and support to a mobile workforce while automatically monitoring their movements and triggering alerts if employees are not where they are supposed to be at certain times.

Always Aware! puts the power to control your world in your hands. Be vigilant, be Always Aware!