Digital media and 'technoculture'
Thursday, August 27, 2009 by Zhou Jiang
by Zhou Jiang
Digital media is different from analogue media in that the information exists in binary code, which has little physical presence. Analogue media exists in more substantial physical forms. For example, vinyl records store music in waves of vinyl which are analogous to waves of sound. The waves of magnetic particles on magnetic tapes also resemble sound waves. Information stored on analogue media tends to be tied down to that media. It is possible to copy these media but this is costly (e.g. one needs to buy tapes) and degrades the quality of copies. Once information is in digital form it can be very quickly and cheaply copied, and sent across the world. Earlier digital media was largely restricted to text, and was visually and sonically homogenous and toneless. Since the 1990s, however, digital media allows for more of our senses to be stimulated at once. A great variety of pictures, sounds and text can be brought together at once, and combined in different ways.
I had some thoughts on the tutorial question about technological determinism versus technological voluntarism in relation to mobile phone. I do not think that either is correct entirely but I would tend to agree more with technological voluntarism. Mobile phones have different meanings for different people, and are used in different ways by different people. For example, some parents of teenagers see mobiles as a way in which their children can get into more trouble or be contacted by dubious strangers. For other parents, however, mobiles are a way of keeping track of their children, as they can be phoned at any place or time. Also, mobiles generally increase our ability to contact other and be contacted. However, some people use their mobiles to avoid contact. They look at the number of the caller to screen the calls and avoid talking to some people. Also, they can text people they would prefer not to interact with in a conversation. In public places they can also use the phone to ‘shield’ themselves from interaction with others by looking at their phone constantly, texting and playing games.
Digital media is different from analogue media in that the information exists in binary code, which has little physical presence. Analogue media exists in more substantial physical forms. For example, vinyl records store music in waves of vinyl which are analogous to waves of sound. The waves of magnetic particles on magnetic tapes also resemble sound waves. Information stored on analogue media tends to be tied down to that media. It is possible to copy these media but this is costly (e.g. one needs to buy tapes) and degrades the quality of copies. Once information is in digital form it can be very quickly and cheaply copied, and sent across the world. Earlier digital media was largely restricted to text, and was visually and sonically homogenous and toneless. Since the 1990s, however, digital media allows for more of our senses to be stimulated at once. A great variety of pictures, sounds and text can be brought together at once, and combined in different ways.
I had some thoughts on the tutorial question about technological determinism versus technological voluntarism in relation to mobile phone. I do not think that either is correct entirely but I would tend to agree more with technological voluntarism. Mobile phones have different meanings for different people, and are used in different ways by different people. For example, some parents of teenagers see mobiles as a way in which their children can get into more trouble or be contacted by dubious strangers. For other parents, however, mobiles are a way of keeping track of their children, as they can be phoned at any place or time. Also, mobiles generally increase our ability to contact other and be contacted. However, some people use their mobiles to avoid contact. They look at the number of the caller to screen the calls and avoid talking to some people. Also, they can text people they would prefer not to interact with in a conversation. In public places they can also use the phone to ‘shield’ themselves from interaction with others by looking at their phone constantly, texting and playing games.