New Media Technologies: Communication Theories COM 300 Kathy E. Gill 3 April 2007

Agenda  Review Reading Assignment Questions Missing! Posts Missing!  Communication Theories More “ New Media ” Discussion Multi-Media: phones

New media (recapped)  Some definitions focus on computer technology, others focus on interactivity  Differences: Audiences not heterogeneous Control shifts from communicator to audience

Communication  A process in which participants create and share information with one another in order to reach mutual understanding (Rogers, 1995).

Mediated communication  What is it? d. mediated. (adj) acting or brought about through an intervening agent; (v) to be in the middle  Why would we study it? We live in an ever-increasingly mediated world

Part one : medium  A go-between/intermediary in the communication binding the sender and receive Considers symbolic and cognitive theories of the psychology of representation Considers theories of meaning in signs and symbols (semiotics)

Part two : mass media (1/2)  Mass communication characteristics: Directed towards a large, heterogeneous audience Messages are transmitted publicly, are transient in nature, and are timed to reach all simultaneously Communicator works for an organization Charles Wright, 1959, from Communication Theories: Origins, Methods and Uses in the Mass Media, 1988, p7

Part two : mass media (2/2)  Mass media communication traditionally encompasses these channels Newspapers, magazines (print technologies) TV, radio (electronic technologies)  Note: “news” v “ads”

Channel  The physical/technical transmission as well as any device needed for encoding/decoding  May encompass advertising channels (direct mail) or news (TV)  One-to-many, one-way channel is typical

So, what is new?  Technologically?  Socially? Your thoughts, based on readings?  Three BIG things:

Concept of scarcity  Gone!  Bits can be shared; atoms cannot  Implications? How does this relate to Bush’s musings about Memex? Does it make it easier or harder to “remediate”? Why?

Constraint of time  Gone!  Time-shifting (Tivo, podcasting, 24x7 tech support via the web … what else?) How do you think that the speed in which we now communicate ( , mobile phones, etc.) has affected our communication?

Constraint of space  Geographical barriers: Gone!  Internet technology lets us “space shift” like we “time shift” – (almost) seamlessly There are environmental benefits from the advancement of technology, specifically from computers. If in the future, all of academia (from grade school & beyond) required only computer-based work, what would your response be to the change? Why?

End Point - Tuesday  We’ll pick up here on Thursday  Multi-media: phones  Lab: Configure time (-8 GMT) Configure comments (require only address, name) Create com300 “page”

New channels  WWW   Videoconferencing  MP3  Electronic publishing  Mobile telephony What do they have in common?

Computer Mediated Communication (1/2) 1.Desktop computers used as tools to influence human cognition and convey messages among people (focuses on the technology, older definition) 2.Any form of communication between two or more individuals who interact and/or influence each other using social software on separate computers linked by a network (focuses on the people)

CMC (2/2)  CMC software has two categories: asynchronous and synchronous (Smith, 1994).

Synchronous  Two or more group members have real-time (simultaneous) communication  Instant Messenging can be synchronous  Face-to-face meetings; video conference; other?

Asynchronous  Allows group members to work individually and “alone”  Provides time/space flexibility  , BBs  Example: virtual teamsvirtual teams

Virtual Teams  Types Temporary (no common history or future) Permanent (common history and future)  Forms of Interaction Face-to-face (meetings, formal or informal) Electronically-mediated (phone, CMC, videoconference)  Context Culture and geography may be similar or different

CMC/Web Characteristics (1/2)  Hardware independent  Software independent IM Not Here Yet, But Close (Google)  Open standards  Information sharing  “Give back” (contribute) to the community

CMC/Web Characteristics (2/2)  A blend of characteristics from “old” media Print Radio Film TV

Print Characteristics  Abstract  Captive audience  Fixed  Linear  Primarily verbal  Reader controls pace

Radio Characteristics  Auditory  Creator controls pace  Dynamic  Linear  “Live” — happening in real time  Transient audience

TV Characteristics  Animated  Creator controls pace  Dynamic  Linear  “Live” — may be happening now  Primarily visual  Transient audience

Film Characteristics  Animated  Captive audience  Creator controls pace  Fixed  Linear  Primarily visual

Web Characteristics  Dynamic  “Live” (maybe)  Multi-media (visual, auditory)  Transient audience  Typically nonlinear  User controls pace and direction

Mass audience no longer  From broadcast to narrowcast  Time-shifting  Accelerates a move foreshadowed by niche publishing

Summary  Mediated Communication is …  Two types are …  Three characteristics of new media and their impacts …

Resources  Effects of Four CMC Channels on Trust Effects of Four CMC Channels on Trust  Glossary of Internet Terms Glossary of Internet Terms  JCMC JCMC