Digital Media Concepts - Article Example

Digital media Concepts Name Institution Instructor Course Introduction The simplest definition of digital media is electronic media that use digital codes to work. This e form of media differs from traditional form of media where signals and not codes were used in for communication. In traditional media, signal was transmitted through communication channels. During that time, there was no digital technology or computers to facilitate communication. On the other hand, media refers to a communication channel through which messages are transmitted to a target group or audience. The term mass is used to show the large capacity of audience reached by media. In traditional media, the audience remained passive since all the power and authority belonged to the presenters. This made it to be a one-way communication and the audience was just listeners or viewers1. With the invention of zeros and ones of digital communication, media became interactive allowing the audience to interact or participate in the content and with each other. The pace of change is drastic as digital media has promoted personalized experience and has grown dramatically in terms of audience capacity. In order to define digital media today, several concepts have to be applied. In this paper, the discussion focuses on three digital media concepts which are digitization, interoperability and media diversity. The paper will also demonstrate the interaction between digitalization and media diversity and digitalization and interoperability. Digitalization Analog signals were used in traditional media to transmit sound, heat and electronic communication. In the course of transmission, analog signals continuously vary and are processed through analog signal processing2. However, digital signals only take particular sets of values which are in power of two. Digital signals take up binary numbers of zeroes and ones3. The ones and zeroes are representatives of ON or OFF respectively. Digital communication is one where digital signals are used to transmit information or digital messages. Digital media uses digital form of communication and digital computing. Digital computing began in 1940s and is credited to Alan Turing. In film, the application of digital computing took effect in the 1970s. The use of digital computers in film editing began much later in the 1990s using digital software on computers. Through digital film editing, film shifted to digital file and could be stored in mobile devices like YouTube or physical embodiments like DVDs, Flash etc Digitalization and interoperability Film involves screen writing and film production. Today, computers offer film making the ability for real-time control. In addition, film uses moving images which today are facilitated by digital computers through reliable speed and interactivity. Through the use of modern media, film images, image sequences, text and sounds. As a result, the film can be used in video games and other graphics. This form of data is numerical and can be accessed by computers. For digitized film, random access is offered by digital media enables any frame of the film to be accessed with equal speed. Digitalized film allows two dimensional mapping of time for easy management, analysis and manipulation. Digital computing has also promoted simulation of non-existent realistic world which is applied in special effects of films like Terminator 2, computer games, and virtual reality among others. In order to deliver digital film effectively, the digital delivery system should focus on packages that work on different platforms. In digitalized cinema, the core is the presentation system. This system serves as the server in digital world since it outputs content as synchronous stream4.This implies that digital media must demonstrate a level of interoperability especially with film projector manufacturers. With digital media like television services, interoperability is promote through the bringing together of parties such as network operators, business associations, ministries and regulatory body representatives, broadcasters and other parties. Through digital television, the viewer has the opportunity of direct interaction with the broadcaster through a return channel. Digital communication is bidirectional and this means that the broadcaster in digital television deals with active audience. In addition, Programme video recording or PVR is a digital technology that has provided digital television with the ability to record television programs. This aspect is important to consumers who have two favorite programs yet they are away or have tight schedules and don’t want to be left behind. Interoperability applies in the sense that the PVR technology works with television to store important information. Through digital communication, simulations use real time aspect on film images to demonstrate large scale distributed visualization systems for design. Video games have also been adapted for use in multimedia learning environments. Simulator systems and learning multimedia promote training applications. In such training, the learner is provided with reliable 3-dimensional and mixed content. This could be over the internet or through broadcasting networks. Digitalization and media diversity With the evolution of digital computing and digital communication, digital media has taken new forms such as electronic, paper, and broadcast5. In the presence of numerous modes, media has been made very pervasive that people easily forget its importance to the society and democracy. In the society, media refers to public opinion organs. In this case, media is provided as a part of the personal rights of citizens. This is because the diminution of media freedoms impacts the citizen’s right to receive or impart opinions and freedoms. In democratic societies, the media sector should be active, robust and diverse it terms of content and ownership. Media diversity covers the aspects of ownership and content. Diversity of content implies that media represents the full spectrum of concerns, interests and views of any society. Content diversity should also be made fundamental concept in any included democracy. Content diversity should be facilitated by considerably increasing diversity in the society over time and technological advancement. For instance, international organization’s websites should provide room for access in different languages. This means that at any part of the globe, the website can be accessed and the desired information or content delivered. Media diversity achievement cannot be attained without addressing challenges resulting from international issues of language, geography, and developments in economics and commerce. Media in each nation is subject to local and international market forces. For any government, it is not possible to do everything on its own. In this case, state media is subject to external media decisions. The major aim of international media level is to move from traditional media. Traditional media was vertically integrated while the world is seeking to move towards a disintegrated and internet-oriented media provision model. Digital computing gave rise to the internet. In this case, media diversity includes adapting the use of digital technology like the internet. Pat (2012) reveals that the internet promotes electronic communication which has largely affected the number of publications. With internet publications are stored electronically and can be accessed from online. This means that publications are left to people who have no access to the internet. In addition, the internet and digital media has resulted to the use of social media. Through social media, organizational aspect of advertisement income has been threatened. This is because international advertisers incur little additional advertising costs yet cover international markets. Coupled with the economic situations, media diversity has resulted job losses and merging or disappearance of venerable institutions. With the development of digital and interactive television, television audiences have increased drastically over years. This has brought about the need for increased media content diversity such that the market share is retained. For televisions, different viewers are presented with programs that are considered as generally acceptable. In this case, media companies have been required to rate their programs such that there are those acceptable for family viewing and those acceptable for different age limits. Such program censoring is an effective way of accomplishing media diversity requirements. The media is also prevented from intentionally or unintentionally distributing hatred, intolerance and prejudice6. Media diversity should be used to promote national unity and peace instead of divisions among citizens. Observance of diversity by media is also required to promote media coverage that is inclusive, accurate, sensitive and fair. This way, different groups and cultures of people will be provide with understanding. Media diversity has also resulted to promotion of fair competition. For broadcaster and newspapers, there is no longer a monopoly of information. This is because the internet has provided avenues where such information is available freely. In addition, film production has been required to observe diversity through inclusion of people from different races and ethnicities as well as color. Negative portrayals of people from certain groups are prohibited while encouraging diversity programming and minority employment in film industry. In film production, media diversity affects the production cast, content and context. For films intended for children, the content must accommodate age limits. Conclusion This paper has covered the digital media concepts of digitalization, interoperability and media diversity. With the advent of digital computing that uses zeroes and ones, the media and film industry has changed drastically. The concept of interoperability promotes the use of different systems together to deliver the same objective. This concept is relevant in digital age as the delivery of information requires the association of different bodies. For instance, digital television requires broadcaster, network provides, business corporation among others to come together to promote interactivity. With media diversity, digital media has greatly affected diversity of content and ownership. In some countries like Australia, there have been regulations prohibiting setting up of new radio or television stations as well as FM radio and pay television. This move prevents media diversity since it drives unhealthy competition7. Bibliography Charan, Langton. 2008. Fundamentals of signals. http://www.complextoreal.com/tutorial.htm Chris, Berg. 2012. Media diversity fears are absurd and obsolete. http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/4168622.html Digital deliverance. 2010. The greatest change in the history of media. http://www.digitaldeliverance.com/2010/06/08/the-greatest-change-in-the-history-of-media/ Karagosian, Michael. 2004. Interoperability in cinema. http://mkpe.com/publications/d-cinema/insasia/interoperability_in_dc.php Manovich, Lev. 1996. Cinema and digital media. http://manovich.net/TEXT/digital-cinema-zkm.html Pat, Rabbitte. 2012.media diversity: why does t matter? www.irishtimes.com/focus/2012/rabbitte-media/index.pdf Read More