Did You Know?

XPLANE

Founded in 1993, XPLANE is a design, consulting, research, and strategy firm using visual thinking to help businesses improve internal processes and connect with consumers. From their offices in Portland, Oregon, and Amsterdam, the company works with clients in a wide range of industries—from apparel to health care, manufacturing to not-for-profit—to create infographics, creative presentations, graphic training tools, Web sites, and other media that best suit the needs of their message.

In September 2009, XPLANE worked with The Economist to create the following video for the magazine’s Media Convergence Forum, an event that brought together technology experts, marketing psychologists, and media professionals to discuss trends in innovation, the media, business leadership, consumer behavior, and technology. As you watch the video, keep these themes in mind.

Questions on Subject

  1. Question

    What does “convergence” mean? According to the video, what is “converging” in the modern world?

  2. Question

    The video describes a changing media landscape, with some aspects in decline and others on the rise. Explain one of these trade-off situations, being sure to include statistics.

  3. Question

    According to the video, what device will likely provide the world’s primary connection to the Internet in 2020?

Questions on Strategy

  1. Question

    What type(s) of examples does the film use to illustrate its point: facts, opinions, samples, anecdotes, or stories? To what extent are these examples persuasive? Why, or why not?

  2. Question

    Identify the thesis of this video. What is it, where is it, and how is it supported?

  3. Question

    Occasionally the video interrupts its examples by posing questions to viewers. Why would they do this?

Questions on Medium

  1. Question

    Given the large amount of text in the video, why would the filmmakers choose to make a video instead of writing a text article or essay? Explain at least three reasons in your response.

  2. Question

    Describe the tone of this video. How do its language, graphics, and music contribute to your assessment?