In his introduction to the Language of New Media, Manovich implies that new media can do things that other media cannot. Discuss this claim with reference to an electronic and a printed encyclopaedia.
Manovich distinguishes between representation and simulation. Summarise this distinction and discuss with reference to your own research.
as comments below and also to your blogs please
caroline
03/11/2009
a) With reference to an encyclopaedia, a new media version (e.g. on the internet) seems to provide many advantageous features which are less evident with the traditional old media style one (e.g. volumes of paper books). These include:
1. the ease of updating information online, for example the back end software may include database storage which can be easily manipulated, and its immediate effect; a paper version requires a reprint for every update at a cost.
2. the online version is generally more accessible, e.g. portable mobile devices provide instant access at fingertips in any location with wireless internet access; the paper version is generally in large volumes of books which are located in one place, e.g. library/reading room, and are therefore not easy to transfer.
3. at least in some cases the online process is more democratic than the traditional version as anyone can be an author of information whilst a ‘wiki’ can be set up easily and quickly; with the paper version, the expected authors/sources would be a specifically selected educated group.
4. the nature of digital data enables audio versions to have a ‘cue’ function for visually impaired users, which would not be possible with analog, at least in a beneficial way;
5. and the potentially unlimited amount of space to upload information online, with the function of scrolling down the screen; there is a limited capacity of what the paper version can hold in terms of volumes of paper.
A prominent disadvantage of the new media version is that in the case of many online encyclopedias, such as Wikipedia, anyone can be a contributing author even if they do not have any knowledge in the subject, posting false, misleading information. With the old media kind, certain standards have to be met, e.g. sources, proof-reading, facts confirmed, to an appropriate level before being published and therefore is considered more reliable than the online version.
b) Simulation: to replicate behaviors of another situation/object in a different, new situation/object, which respond to certain stimuli. A simulation has both an input and output – it is an experience that allows for experimentation. An example of a simulation can be simple as child’s toy or more complex, in perhaps the most well-known example, a plane simulator.
Representation: describes and explains reality, but the user/viewer does not experience reality. It captures a certain moment – not changeable. Different people have different interpretations and responses. An obvious example would be drawings/paintings.
Silas
04/11/2009
1. In his introduction to the Language of New Media, Manovich implies that new media can do things that other media cannot. Discuss this claim with reference to an electronic and a printed encyclopedia.
New media has a vast amount of functions it can perform
In regards to the electronic and printed encyclopedia, the electronic one can be accessed with ease at any time and the time in which it tales to find the subject you’re looking to research is cut compared to looking the printed version.
But there are factors that need to be considered; the people who read them so there is an element of falseness when it comes to research write the electronic encyclopedia. Someone can edit what has been written whenever they want so what you could be reading about can be completely false. i.e. Wikipedia
The interaction between consumers and businesses, thanks to new media, has grown significantly. The consumers can now communicate back to the big businesses as opposed to just accepting their advertisements and getting on with it. The introduction of new media has now allowed for people to mix n join with the companies they couldn’t do 20 years ago…
2. Manovich distinguishes between representation and simulation. Summarise this distinction and discuss with reference to your own research.
Manovich describes representation in 4 different sectors:- information , communication, action and control. In the information section he discusses the way users can be immersed in an imaginary fictional universe similar to traditional fiction. e.g. a search engine or on-line encyclopedia. In communication he describes Teleaction and says most things that begin with tele i.e. telephone, television and telegraph. In the action section he describes the use of action to create illusions e.g in Photoshop an image can be altered. In the control section he describes a computers interface, which has different icons and menus which allow the computer users to control a computer.
In simulation he talks of technologies that aim to immerse the viewer completely within a virtual universe.
Simulation and representation to me appear to be the same thing as a simulation is used to represent something. A flight simulator a computer software used by would be pilots or those interested in planes to go through the motions of flying a plane is used to represent a pilots job when flying a plane. To represent something is to fully be aware of what it is and to show respect to it and try to bring others in to learn about it so they can go on to represent it to.
A simulation is something that is made to appear real to viewers and other people. To bring all senses into it and have those viewing it question if it is real or not.
To be completely immersed in something can take some time away from you and when u realize it’s not real can make you love the thing that fooled or immersed you.