Sophia99

The two videos: Not For Resale and Converging Technologies, focus on technology, but from
completely different angles.

One looks back; the other looks forward. Not For Re-sale is all about nostalgia, the love for old video games, and how physical game stores are fading away. It treats these places almost like museums where people connect to the past. You can feel both the sadness of losing something meaningful and the joy of remembering what shaped us.
Converging Technologies, on the other hand, talks about how far we have come in the last 30 years. It shows the jump from computers the size of closets and phones that looked like bricks to tablets, smart devices, and AI. Honestly, Star Trek writers were ahead of their time; they imagined tablets 60 years before we had them. Maybe they knew something we didn’t and expressed it through “fantasy,” when in reality, they were describing the future we now live in.
What the videos have in common is simple: they are about technology and our relationship with it, the past we come from, and the future we are walking into. One celebrates where we have been; the other celebrates where we are going.
Technology has become part of our daily lives whether we like it or not. I am aware of that, and I accept it. Society needs to do the same, awareness and acceptance. It is here, it is advancing, and it is not slowing down. These videos make that clear.
They are almost motivating, in a way, encouraging us to embrace what is coming. Even though I still enjoy things like snail mail and going to the post office, I love that I can contact anyone within seconds. I can tell if somebody is doing well just by how fast they reply or even read the mood behind their messages. That is communication technology, too.
On the gaming side, it is not just a hobby anymore; it is a career for many, a new living if you
will. I support that… partially. Some games go too far, too violent, too chaotic, and people dive
into them with no discipline. There is no balance. And that leads to issues: mental fatigue,
overstimulation, and who knows what else? I believe in the connection between shootings with the lack of control with technology or video games. We don’t fully understand how much this affects the brain yet. But with moderation, games can be helpful. They can teach, they can connect, and they can be part of a healthy “tech diet.”
Technology also makes life easier. I can take online classes without driving in the cold. A teacher and a student can connect instantly through a device and invisible waves we cannot see, like magic. Some people take advantage of this convenience and get lazy, depending completely on technology for everything, manners, entertainment, problem-solving, forgetting that our brain is still the greatest tool.

Technology did not create man, man created technology.

But for others, like me, technology opens doors. My car alerts me when I need oil. My phone lets me take high-quality pictures without depending on someone else. I can print photos without going to a lab. I can learn and move forward at my own pace with online classes. It is helpful, and I am grateful for it.
Even though these videos do not touch on every detail I mentioned, they support the bigger idea: change is constant. The past fades, the present moves fast, and the future is already knocking.
There is a sadness when things disappear, but also great joy, because it means humanity is still
creating, growing, and thinking. In the end, both videos reminded me that it is good to remember the past, enjoy the present, and get excited for the future.

Academic Articles and Analysis

CONTECS Final Report (2008) examines the convergence of nanotechnology, biotechnology, information technology, and cognitive science (NBIC), emphasizing that these fields are increasingly interdependent and carry wide societal implications. The report explains that NBIC integration brings “ethical challenges, governance concerns, and the need for interdisciplinary collaboration,” and warns against “deterministic visions of human enhancement” that oversimplify what these technologies can achieve (CONTECS Final Report, 2008). The analysis complements the arguments in Converging Technologies, Shifting Boundaries or CTSB, which notes that NBIC convergence destabilizes traditional categories and “blurs the boundaries between science, technology, and society” (CTSB, 2009). According to the article, as technological systems merge, cultural and ethical frameworks must adapt because “existing distinctions between human and machine, organic and synthetic, and public and private can no longer be taken for granted” (CTSB, 2009). Both sources call for inclusive, reflective governance to ensure these transformations benefit society rather than outpace critical oversight.
In contrast, the Not For Resale reviews illustrate another form of convergence occurring in digital media culture. Reviewers describe the decline of physical game stores and a shift toward digital distribution, highlighting community loss, nostalgia, and concerns about preservation. One reviewer notes that the film portrays “the last breaths of the small business, used video game store industry,” emphasizing how local shops are disappearing as digital platforms dominate (IMDb User Reviews, 2020). Professional commentary echoes this sentiment: digital marketplaces may “erase some games from existence” as physical media becomes obsolete and server-dependent titles vanish from circulation (Megavisions Review, 2020). These reactions parallel NBIC scholarship by showing how technological change reshapes identity, economy, and culture.
While NBIC research examines shifts in scientific and human-enhancement boundaries, the
documentary’s reception shows how everyday cultural practices, from collecting games to
participating in local retail communities, are equally transformed by new technological systems.

Meta-analysis

These videos, and honestly this whole course, taught me something bigger than just new
communication technologies. They reminded me that technology isn’t an enemy. It Is not something to fear or reject. It Is something to understand, use wisely, and grow with. And that Is exactly what I am taking from this class.
Everyone learns something different from these videos. For me, Not For Resale showed how people hold onto the past, the comfort of things they can touch, the memories that come from old devices and game stores. Converging Technologies showed the opposite, how fast things are moving, how much we have created in such a short time, and how the world keeps changing whether we like it or not.
Together, the videos made one message very clear: technology is here to stay, and we are better off when we work with it instead of fighting it.
And that is really what I learned in COMM 440. To embrace it. To understand it. To be aware of how it affects us. To use it with intention instead of fear. Technology can help us, but only if we
approach it with knowledge, balance, and care, just like anything valuable in life. If we ignore
it, misuse it, or stay stuck in the past, then yes, it can hurt us. But if we are mindful, if we
stay aware and keep learning, it becomes one of our greatest tools.

It took society over 60 years to finally realize technology wasn’t going anywhere, and that it was going to keep evolving. And still, many people resist it. Not because it is “evil,” but because
embracing technology means embracing change. It means learning again. It means growing. And people convince themselves that learning stops once they reach a certain age. They limit themselves. They create excuses. But no one ever said we had to stop learning. No one ever said our brains have an expiration date. That is why I appreciate this class so much, and why I want to thank you, Dr.Wachanga. There are teachers who make learning feel heavy, something you want to run away from. And then there are teachers like you, who make learning something we actually want to do. I will not lie, I am not crazy about assignments in any class, but I know they are part of the process. They push us, they help us grow, and they make the message stick. And in this class, the message was loud and clear: we have the tools. We have the resources. We have the ability to use technology in ways that connect us to the world, through blogs, Facebook, video games, memes, all of them. Yes, even memes teach us something about culture and communication. Technology lets us reach people we would never have meet otherwise. But we cannot forget where we came from, either. The past is important, just not a place to live in. We remember it, learn from it, and keep moving forward.

What do I take from this course?

That the future is bright. That technology is not replacing us; itis supporting us. Things are evolving and we need to evolve with the new future. It is not going to be easy, but it will be worth it. Our brains are still stronger than any device, but only if we use them. And that learning never stops unless I stop it.
After reviewing the research on Converging Technologies alongside the public commentaries about Not for Resale, one clear conclusion emerges: many people are genuinely concerned about how technology will shape the future of humanity. These worries are natural, even expected, uncertainty has always been part of human nature. While we cannot prevent every fear or every challenge that comes with technological change, we can trust that people will continue striving to make thoughtful decisions.
Humanity learns, adapts, and ultimately moves forward. Technology is useful and powerful, but like everything we create, it is imperfect.
I also chose to include a personal review from a viewer who is not an academic scholar, because public voices matter. Even if someone does not have the same educational background as a researcher, they bring something equally valuable: lived experience. They witness how technological change affects everyday life, culture, and community. That perspective deserves recognition, and for me, it carries real weight.

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References

James, K. (Director). (2020). Not for resale: A video game store documentary [Film]. Principal
Media. https://www.kanopy.com

TV Choice. (2008). Converging technologies [Film]. TV Choice. https://www.kanopy.com
European Commission. (May 2008). CONTECS final report (Publication No.

124377001-6_en.pdf). 124377001-6_en.pdf

IMDb. (2020). Not for Resale (2019): User reviews. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6483458/reviews/

Megavisions. (2020). Review: Not for Resale: A video game store documentary.
https://www.megavisions.net/review-not-for-resale-documentary/

Schuurbiers, D., & Fisher, E. (2010). Converging technologies, shifting boundaries. Science and
Engineering Ethics, 16(1), 31–45. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-009-9158-2

Vita Player. (2019). Documentary review: Not for Resale. https://www.vitaplayer.co.uk/

Free AI writing assistance. Grammarly. (n.d.). https:www.grammarly.com

Thank you, Dr. Wachanga, for guiding us, for teaching with patience and understanding, and for making this class meaningful.

😎The future is shining. Wear your sunglasses. 😎