Jerry Fishenden (go here and read if you don’t know him) sent a long and thoughtful email earlier today. I am posting his thoughts about convergence here. Jerry is commenting on what we wrote about convergence here. He also wrote about identity management and mobile/pervasive computing, and I will put them on separate posts in just a bit.

Jerry writes, “**Convergence**.

I think this has to be convergence/divergence. While it’s true content types etc are converging, at the same time we’re seeing significant divergence. All of this arises from the separation of form and content. I’ve cut and pasted something I happened to pop on my blog yesterday which I think sets this out reasonably clearly:

We are now witnessing a move towards a clear separation between presentation and function, between form and function if you like. This is the age of Web services systems that expose programmatic interfaces that can then be consumed and used by a whole host of different front-end systems. One underlying system can serve multiple devices, channels and interfaces. This is a development of major significance that will impact the way we design and interact with systems for generations to come.

Think for example of the current complexity of finding and listening to Internet radio stations using a browser and a PC. The whole process of booting the PC, logging in, firing up an Internet browser, going to a Web site, looking for Internet radio stations, firing up a media player and so on.

And then compare that experience with using another kind of browser - a dedicated Internet radio. It achieves the same objective, but by very different means. A simple, familiar form factor with an on/off switch and a tuning dial.

Yet both the dedicated Internet radio and the PC-based Internet radio experience are built on the identical underlying nfrastructure, use exactly the same content. This separation enables us to rethink the way in which people will interact with and enjoy the benefits of the digital age. It enables us to rethink the way we design corporate systems, both internally and externally. Web sites for example are just one form of presentation of our corporate services. We need to ensure we take advantage of this model and design systems so that the same underlying content and services can be accessed in a rich variety of ways.

This is because for all the talk of convergence of content (audio, text, video, etc), we will see an increasing divergence of presentation methods and devices. This has to be a good thing. It will offer unrivalled opportunities for users to drive and reward market leaders where those who offer the easiest, most convenient and best designed interfaces and devices will be richly rewarded. For those not familiar with his work in this important area, I recommend you visit Bill Buxton’s Web site (http://www.billbuxton.com ).

In terms of the “digital divide” agenda, accessibility, the whole way govt and other users think about what they build, the standards they use and so on this is of enormous significance.”