new media...

this is why i love about new media...

New media technology introduced two major differences in media access. Time and geographic distance are insignificant with satellite and computer networks. The same hardware offers limitless channels of distribution that come without centralized control. These technological changes initiate new culture. McLuhan described this as the "global village" in which electronic communication would break down the barriers and obstacles encountered in traditional media by allowing people to see, experience, and understand more (Fidler, 1997, p.99). Similar to McLuhan, Bolter and Grusin explain that we define ourselves through our media. In traditional media, the audience understands the content from the producer’s point of view. Interactivity allows the user to have controls over how and what content is viewed. Note how even the role of the audience has changed as reflected by the term "user." This operational freedom is significant to our culture because it corresponds, "to various attitudes about the role and value of the individual (Bolter and Grusin, 1999, p. 244)." While media do not determine cultural or individual identity, the technology influences how we see ourselves and the world we live in.