CHARACTERISTICS OF NEW MEDIA

New Media is a 21^st Century catchall term used to define all that is related to the internet and the interplay between technology, images and sound. In fact, the definition of new media changes daily, and will continue to do so. New media evolves and morphs continuously. What it will be tomorrow is virtually unpredictable for most of us, but we do know that it will continue to evolve in fast and furious ways. However, in order to understand an extremely complex and amorphous concept we need a base line., Most technologies described as "new media" are digital, often having characteristics of being manipulated, networkable, dense, compressible, and interactive.^[1] Some examples may be the Internet, websites, computer multimedia, computer games, CD-ROMS, and DVDs. New media does not include television programs, feature films, magazines, books, or paper-based publications – unless they contain technologies that enable digital interactivity.

 Digital

Media data is transformed into binary codes. Binary code allows people to access data in a way that is easier and faster. Everything digital is made up of Binary Code – or zeros and ones. The data can be found as an output. As an output form it can be seen as online sources, digital disks, or memory drives. These outputs are to be decoded and received as screen displays.

The opposite of digital is analogue. Analogue refers to the process of storing physical properties in another physical form – like old newspaper archives.

Analogue media is fixed – it does not change. Whereas, digital media is in a constant state of flux. It is constantly flowing, changing, and improving.

Wireless connections between computers, servers, and networks are becoming more common. Despite this, many connections still depend on cables and telephone lines. These connects have to be physically dug into the Earth.

Interactivity

It is a two way form of communication. People are able to make individualized lifestyle choice from endless possibilities offered by the market.

People are no longer just on the receiving end. New media allows consumers and users to get more involved. This can be seen in simple acts like commenting on news pieces or writing a review for a place.

Interactivity includes: hypertextual navigation, immersive navigation, registrational interactivity, interactive communications, and interactivity and problems of textual interpretations.

It is a “key value” characteristic of new media. Interactivity is a powerful representation of user engagement with media texts. It is also a more independent relation to sources of knowledge, individualized media use, and greater choice.

Networked

This characteristic is the availability of sharing content through the internet. This involves consumption. A prime example would be our consumption of media texts, and how now we have a large number of highly differentiated texts available in various ways.

In a nut shell, it is important to note one way that “new media” may not actually be all that new. The subtle structure of such an organization underlies a profoundly partisan representation of facts and images. The same is largely true in hyperlink writing. While the content that is mentioned and presented within an article may be empirically accurate, it is important to note that the selection of sources and outside connections may still be highly subjective. This quality makes research a more shaded and complex enterprise and sometimes even enriches the reader’s understanding of a given issue.

 BY PHILIP TAMBA