New Media

Introduction to New Media

Twenty Concepts in New Media

Approaches to New Media

Social Networking

Games Technology

Transformation of Higher Education

Convergence: process whereby new technology are accommodated by existing media and communication industries and culture.

Examples: Computer, Websites, Computer games, CDs, DVDs

Digital Divide: the gap between those who have ready access to computers and the Internet, and those who do not

Marshall McLuhan: the medium is the message, the tetrad, extensions and amputations,

Kranzberg's Law: technology is neither good, nor bad, nor is it neutral

Kurzweil: law of accelerating returns (rate of technology change increases exponentially)

Singularity: Point at which artificial intelligence becomes autonomous and events become "unpredictable or even unfathomable to human intelligence."

Her by Spike Jonze

Moore's Law: the number of transistors in a circuit doubles every two years

Rock's Law: capital cost to produce semiconductors increases exponentially over time

"There is no new media without old media."

Social Shaping of Technology: technological advancements are socially driven.

Information Society Theories: creation, distribution, use, integration, and manipulation of information is a significant economic, political, and cultural activity.

Informational Capitalism: information is a capital asset. Society is moving from industrial to informational.

Actor-Network Theory: objects are all part of a social network. Relationships are between things and between concepts

Determinism: technology is the basis for all human activity. Technological development determines social change and history.

Determinists

Neil Postman

Marshall McLulan

Walter Ong

Karl Marx

"More than any other single invention, writing has transformed human consciousness."

"The uses made of technology are largely determined by the structure of the technology itself, that is, that its functions follow from its form."

"The medium is the message."

"The hand mill gives you society with the feudal lord: the steam-mill, society with the industrial capitalist."

Hard Determinism

Soft Determinism

Technology develops independently from social concerns. We organize ourselves to "meet the needs of technology." Technology is autonomous.

Technology still guides evolution, but we have free will to adopt (sometimes after a cultural lag). "A new device merely opens a door. It does not compel one to enter."

Ted Kaczynski

Marshal McLulan

Raymond Williams

Network Theory: small world, strength of weak ties, hubs and connectors, power laws of distribution

Social Capital

Bonding: strong bonds between family, and community members

Bridging: weaker bonds between acquaintances

Linking: connection to those at different levels of power

Sherry Turkle: "alone together"

Larry Rosen: "connecting virtually isn't like real-world bonding"

Keith Hampton: "relationships are being enhanced, not replaced"

The Social Network by David Fincher

Features of Games

Types of Games

Rules

Variable, quantifiable outcomes

Valorisation of outcomes

Player effort

Player-attached outcome

Negotiable consequences

Arcade

Console

PC-based

Handheld

Mobile

Social Media

The Average Gamer

30 years old

47% female

Women 18+ are the fastest growing demongraphic

There are more adult women gamers than boys under 17 years old

62% of gamers play with others (online or in person)

Increase in Violent Video Games

"Games are, 'situational variables,' which, 'change the perception of and reaction to aggressive behavior.'"

There has not yet been sufficient research to support that virtual violence carries over into real world violence

What is a Psychopath?

Someone without a conscience

A cogitative style that places little or no value on fair treatment of others

Little empathy

Gamification

Applying gaming characteristics to non-gaming contexts

Augmented Reality

Blends the virtual and real worlds

Pokémon GO

Promising technologies

Conversational interfaces

Synchronous Learning

Virtual and Augmented Realities

Screen-free technologies

The university isn't dead

the internet does not replace the campus

Online education is not as effective

Online Learning

Asynchronous

Synchronous

Hybrid

Not real-time

Email, discussion, forum, etc

Contributions are "considered more thoughtful compared to synchronous communication"

Real-time

Utilizes videoconferencing technology such as Adobe Connect, WebEx, etc

Increases social pressure, creates social and community membership

Combination of asynchronous and hybrid

Issues

Enhancing teaching and learning quality

Accommodating digital natives

Increasing student flexibility

Developing 21st century skills

Improving the cost of higher education

Readings

A Brief History of Liberal Education by Zakaria

Higher Education is Not a Mixtape by Derek Newton

Readings

Games, Learning, & Literacy by James Paul Gee

Virtual Reality 101 by cnet

Augmented Reality by Meron Gribetz

Case Study: Video Games & Violence by Flew


Why Online Games Make Players Act Like Psychopaths by Ryan Rigney

Readings


Bored & Brilliant by Manoush Zomorodi

Does the Internet Make You Smarter? by Clay Shirky

Does the Internet Make You Dumber? by Nicholas Carr

The Internet Isn't Making Us Dumber; It's Making Us More Meta-ignorant by William Poundstone

The Social Debate: Rosen and Hampton

Larry Rosen: yes, Connecting Virtually Isn’t Like Real-World Bonding

Keith N. Hampton: no, Relationships Are Being Enhanced, not Replaced

Readings

What is New Media? by Bailey Socha and Barbara Eber-Schmid

The Medium is the Message by Todd Kappelman

Readings


The Accidental Universe by Alan Lightman


Mastering Memory by Abby Smith Rumsey


Google-Knowing by Michael Patrick Lynch


Our Digital Form of Life by Michael Patrick Lynch

Connected, but Alone by Sherry Turkle

Readings

Technological Determinism by Daniel Chandler

Social Shaping of Technology (SST) by Jiyan Wei

Tools of the Mind by Nicholas Carr

Film Theory & Analysis by Christopher P. Jacobs

Her: Needs & Desires by Channel Criswell

Notes on "The Gaze" by Daniel Chandler