Media discontinuity
Encyclopedia
The term media discontinuity or media disruption refers to switching between different media within the same process of information processing or acquisition.
The person seeking (or processing) information is thereby forced to change their strategy of information processing or searching in order to comply with the media at hand. It is often assumed that a media discontinuity within a chain of information processing complicates and slows down the acquisition and processing of data, information and content and may also reduce it in quality.
For instance, a business process
is being interrupted whenever data needs to be passed on in a different form than it was received in. A good example for this are order form of mail order businesses which are filled in by the customer and need to be entered into the order processing system either manually or partially automized.
In the course of electronic business
it is often desired to avoid media discontinuities by integrating
business functions
along the value chain
. This serves to reduce transaction costs in order to make a business more competitive. Avoiding media disruption in order to make public administration more efficient is also one of the main goals of E-Government.
s which in turn were replaced by CDS.
This causes known media discontinuities to disappear, however some of these are replaced by new ones. This development will always repeat in various occurrences. Some physical medias remain, such as paper and screens.
For instance, there is a functional relation between the interactions between a user and different devices, such as:
The goal of a convergent communication strategy is to unify the features within devices which have display capabilities designed for the use case in question and which are as lightweight as possible.
Such convergence is achieved by dropping traditional communication networks such as landline
s and LAN
in favor of WLAN.
The duality of ITU
, IETF and other standards helps to achieve this goal in the long term.
are sent to the account holder by text message. This kind of multi-factor authentication via internet and cellular network with two or more security factors is considered extra secure.
. In this case, the physical relationship can be used as a security factor as well. Multi-factor authentication with proximity estimate between devices with two or more security factors is very easy to understand and therefore considered even more secure.
The person seeking (or processing) information is thereby forced to change their strategy of information processing or searching in order to comply with the media at hand. It is often assumed that a media discontinuity within a chain of information processing complicates and slows down the acquisition and processing of data, information and content and may also reduce it in quality.
For instance, a business process
Business process
A business process or business method is a collection of related, structured activities or tasks that produce a specific service or product for a particular customer or customers...
is being interrupted whenever data needs to be passed on in a different form than it was received in. A good example for this are order form of mail order businesses which are filled in by the customer and need to be entered into the order processing system either manually or partially automized.
In the course of electronic business
Electronic business
Electronic business, commonly referred to as "eBusiness" or "e-business", or an internet business, may be defined as the application of information and communication technologies in support of all the activities of business...
it is often desired to avoid media discontinuities by integrating
Economic integration
Economic integration refers to trade unification between different states by the partial or full abolishing of customs tariffs on trade taking place within the borders of each state...
business functions
Business process
A business process or business method is a collection of related, structured activities or tasks that produce a specific service or product for a particular customer or customers...
along the value chain
Value chain
The value chain, is a concept from business management that was first described and popularized by Michael Porter in his 1985 best-seller, Competitive Advantage: Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance.-Firm Level:...
. This serves to reduce transaction costs in order to make a business more competitive. Avoiding media disruption in order to make public administration more efficient is also one of the main goals of E-Government.
Virtualization
Traditional ways of media handling are being virtualized by introducing electronic storage and on-screen content retrieval. Predictions that traditional media would disappear are Legion, however they have been disproved entirely by recent development. Known media is continuously replaced by new developments, e. g. punch tapes were replaced by floppy diskFloppy disk
A floppy disk is a disk storage medium composed of a disk of thin and flexible magnetic storage medium, sealed in a rectangular plastic carrier lined with fabric that removes dust particles...
s which in turn were replaced by CDS.
This causes known media discontinuities to disappear, however some of these are replaced by new ones. This development will always repeat in various occurrences. Some physical medias remain, such as paper and screens.
Convergence in Communication Technology
Replacing the diversity of different devices for different ways of communication which have historically been developed one after another in mobile communication with unified platforms and thereby eliminating unnecessary media discontinuities is of particular interest.For instance, there is a functional relation between the interactions between a user and different devices, such as:
- Cell phones
- Tablet computerTablet computerA tablet computer, or simply tablet, is a complete mobile computer, larger than a mobile phone or personal digital assistant, integrated into a flat touch screen and primarily operated by touching the screen...
s - Notebook computers
- Desktop computerDesktop computerA desktop computer is a personal computer in a form intended for regular use at a single location, as opposed to a mobile laptop or portable computer. Early desktop computers are designed to lay flat on the desk, while modern towers stand upright...
s - PagerPagerA pager is a simple personal telecommunications device for short messages. A one-way numeric pager can only receive a message consisting of a few digits, typically a phone number that the user is then requested to call...
s - Security tokenSecurity tokenA security token may be a physical device that an authorized user of computer services is given to ease authentication...
s - Keyrings
- ID cards
- Payment cardPayment cardThe term payment card covers a range of different cards that can be presented by a cardholder to make a payment.-Types:Typically a payment card is backed by an account holding funds belonging to the cardholder, or offering credit to the cardholder. Payment cards can be classified into types...
s - etc.
The goal of a convergent communication strategy is to unify the features within devices which have display capabilities designed for the use case in question and which are as lightweight as possible.
Such convergence is achieved by dropping traditional communication networks such as landline
Landline
A landline was originally an overland telegraph wire, as opposed to an undersea cable. Currently, landline refers to a telephone line which travels through a solid medium, either metal wire or optical fibre, as distinguished from a mobile cellular line, where transmission is via radio waves...
s and LAN
Local area network
A local area network is a computer network that interconnects computers in a limited area such as a home, school, computer laboratory, or office building...
in favor of WLAN.
The duality of ITU
Itu
Itu is an old and historic municipality in the state of São Paulo in Brazil. The population in 2009 was 157,384 and the area is 641.68 km². The elevation is 583 m. This place name comes from the Tupi language, meaning big waterfall. Itu is linked with the highway numbered the SP-75 and are flowed...
, IETF and other standards helps to achieve this goal in the long term.
Media discontinuities in Security Technology
However, within the field of security technology, there are use cases where media disruptions are desired in order to raise the security level. Classic attack scenarios against security systems are described in international standards. Security is improved whenever an attack needs to be performed on two different medias or two different devices at the same time.Virtual Media Discontinuities by use of Separate Communication Channels
For instance, there are banks, where transaction numbers for online bankingOnline banking
Online banking allows customers to conduct financial transactions on a secure website operated by their retail or virtual bank, credit union or building society.-Features:...
are sent to the account holder by text message. This kind of multi-factor authentication via internet and cellular network with two or more security factors is considered extra secure.
Physical Media Disruption by use of Separate Devices
An additional increase of security against attacks can be achieved by dividing security-related features across two devices such as a cell phone and a security tokenSecurity token
A security token may be a physical device that an authorized user of computer services is given to ease authentication...
. In this case, the physical relationship can be used as a security factor as well. Multi-factor authentication with proximity estimate between devices with two or more security factors is very easy to understand and therefore considered even more secure.
See also
- Cross Media Publishing
- Digitalization
- Dokument Technologies
- Enterprise Content ManagementEnterprise content managementEnterprise Content Management is a formalized means of organizing and storing an organization's documents, and other content, that relate to the organization's processes...
- Information SystemInformation systemAn information system - or application landscape - is any combination of information technology and people's activities that support operations, management, and decision making. In a very broad sense, the term information system is frequently used to refer to the interaction between people,...