Course Content

In this module we introduce the concept of digitization via an interesting Prezi and its effect on media (maybe our first introduction of digital media???).

Before we start, there are a few technical corrections that need to be made regarding this piece:

• • First of all, the plural of medium is media.. while many refer to digital media as a singular term, the correct noun verb usage to use is the plural form… ‘digital media are..’ for example.

 

• • All data on computers are NOT stored as zeroes and ones. Technically, everything in a computer is magnetized/electrical in nature. So, when you are asked, what is stored on a computer.. the correct answer is plus and minus electrons. It is computer programs that convert the positive electrons to ones and negative to zeroes at the machine code level. All programs on computers are stored/converted/interpreted on a hierarchical basis.. all the way ‘up’ to the scripting languages such as HTML, java script etc. Converting scripts into English (or other languages is also a programming issue. The difference between digital media and static electricity is that electrons become media if they can be repeated back to you in sustainable/predicable ways (i.e. static electricity is simply electronics that are random in nature). If you understand that you can make the mental leap to see how a room’s walls (or a rug’s) color could conceivably be changed electronically instead of using paint, for example.

 

• • The intent/purpose/advantage of digitization is mainly in support of the following four activities:
    1. capturing
    2. storing
    3. manipulating
    4. disseminating/distributing

 

• Yes, each medium can be combined with other media without losing its integrity, but the truth is, overall interpretation of the message provided by ‘multi‘ media can sometimes be different than if it is utilized alone, regardless whether that medium is analog or digital… take remixing for example. One most obvious effect is intellectual property rights/copyrights. We will explore this in the next cycle when we delve into the concept of media convergence.

This Prezi introduces a short history of media that leads up to digitization, which is a phenomenon that has occurred only in the last 30 years. After looking this over, think about the main points and be prepared to post them in the drop box.

Here are a couple of other looks at this debate/conversation:

https://junoindisorder.wordpress.com/2014/02/03/the-difference-between-the-analog-and-digital-media/

http://www.explainthatstuff.com/analog-and-digital.html

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