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Wednesday 16 October 2013

Manovich, The Language of New Media

"the popular definition of new media identifies it with the use of a computer for distribution or exhibition, rather than with production." (Manovich, 2002, P.43)

With this statement Manovich is telling us this is the popular definition that is placed on the term New Media but he goes to explain that he doesn't agree with it "I think it is too limiting" (Manovich 2002). When looking at New Media there is quite a number of examples of what in fact falls under the category of New Media e.g. Internet, Websites, Computer Multimedia, CD-ROM's, DVD's and Video Games. Equally there is quite a number of things that do not fall under the category of New Media e.g. Television, Films, Radio and generally any paper based products.

In today's world New Media is all about computer/digitalization, so this leads most media objects to rely on digital representation and computer based delivery. This means that most media objects contain similar qualities. New Media can be reduced to digital data that can be manipulated by software as easily as every other piece of data in the digital world. "all new media objects, whether they are created from scratch on computers, or converted from analog media sources, are composed of digital code; they are numerical representations." (Manovich, 2002, P.49). An example would be a physical still image (this would not fall under the category of New Media) that you took and scanned onto a computer and opened it on a program like Photoshop and implement simple effects such as grey-scaling, sepia and blur (the end product would now be considered under the category for New Media).

New Media is primarily interactive and allows the consumer to experience a form of media on a whole other level compared to what Old Media had to offer. Interactivity being a big part in New Media tells us that most New Media forms are internet based concepts like websites and digital mediums. When consumers experienced Old Media such as television or film they did so passively, but now with the rise of New Media in the sense of the interactivity now consumers can be part of the media, they can experience it instead of just watching it. A modern example would be the 'The Million Pound Drop Live'. This Show is broadcast live and instead of just watching the audience is encouraged to play along online, so they are experiencing this form of media and interacting with it.
"New Media is interactive. In contrast to traditional media where the order of presentation was fixed, the user can now interact with the media object." (Manovich, 2002, P.66).


Manovich gives a great and detailed insight into what New Media means and what it is but the most important aspect to me for New Media is that it creative control and interactivity of it.




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This is a class blog for students enrolled on the History and Analysis of New Media Module at The University of Ulster. Please keep comments constructive to help students progress with the given text