RSSMedia's NMT Blog

Go!

2008-04-16T21:17:00.002Z

www.rssmediastudies.co.uk/main/alevel

Materials for NMT are on the above site.

Case Study Example: Videogames

2007-04-24T11:53:00.000Z

There's an example of the sorts of things you should gather for your case study if you're doing videogames on the RSS Media Studies site. Even if you're not doing videogames it might be useful to have a look.

Web 2.0: Everyone's at it

2007-04-23T21:48:00.000Z

It would seem that Web2.0 is now officially mainstream. Useful for thinking about the active audience, as well as the blurring of the line between audience and institution.

Film special effects

2007-04-23T21:43:00.000Z

The BBC has a good article on CGI, focusing particularly on ILM. You would be sensible to gather some quotations about the increase in quality year-on-year, as well as on the possibilities offered by CGI.

Timed essay

2007-04-23T21:39:00.000Z

On Friday 27th April you'll be doing a timed essay, L6 media class:

To what extent are new media technologies changing the way that audiences consume the media?

You've been warned!

My(Money-Making)Space

2007-03-26T20:22:00.000Z

Tela Tiquila has upset MySpace by using the site to promote herself (she's a singer and model) and make money by selling her music via a site not approved by MySpace (MySpace aren't financially linked to it, so why would it be approved?). Perhaps it's a timely reminded the rise of Web2.0 isn't springing from a generally-held belief in the power of community endeavour, but from the opportunity to make loads of cash.

Web2.0 (You've Been Framed)

2007-03-26T20:00:00.000Z

All this talk of Web2.0 extending the opportunities of audiences, democratising the media and engendering greater creativity does get away from the fact that all kinds of rubbish gets posted on YouTube:

Hopefully my demonstration of Wii Boxing allowed students to reflect on the more active and social nature of videogames (not that they haven't always been social, but perhaps in a less obvious way).

3D MySpace and more on case studies

2007-03-19T22:27:00.000Z

Okay, that's a slight simplification, but it appears one of the big hopes at Sony for the PS3 is the Home Network - dubbed by some as a 3D MySpace. It seems that the expensive PS3 is to be used to connect to an online environment where you can interact with others. It's a sign of a few things: games consoles aren't just about games; that new applications, or methods of control are vital to engage more users; that online is the future of consoles; that social networking gets everywhere.

Videogaming is a rich area of investigation for a case study for you NMT exam, but you shouldn't restrict yourself to thinking about games only: a convergent technologies, consoles have to offer more than just games. Develop your thinking around (to name just a few):

the interaction between films and games
new methods of control which have extended the audience reach of consoles
consoles as media centres for a home's digital media
videogames as social entertainment

More on DRM

2007-03-19T22:12:00.000Z

Just because you can restrict usage doesn't mean you have to: are the days of DRM numbered? (Digital Rights Management technologies are used to place restrictions on how files downloaded can be used.) The BBC has a fairly detailed run through the arguments surrounding the use of DRM in music and video files. What's apparent is that there remains a tension between giving consumers what they want and 'protecting' content copyright (or is that revenue?). Researching the ways in which both audiences and institutions have adjusted to the online distribution of media would be excellent preparation for this summer's exam.

New Media Technologies Quiz

2007-03-19T22:07:00.000Z

There's now a second new media technologies quiz on our main site - http://www.rssmediastudies.co.uk/main/nmt-quiz-2/ Have fun!

Oh no you don't

2007-03-13T20:14:00.000Z

Viacom aren't happy with YouTube's rather relaxed approach to copyright, so they're reportedly planning to sue Google (the owners of YouTube) for $1 billion. Other institutions have embraced the video site as a way of engaging with an audience which is watching less TV; perhaps Viacom are posturing in preparation for talks about licensing content on YouTube? As the music industry discovered, audiences will get what they want, even if it's not offered legitimately, so working with NMTs is arguably the best bet.

Student blogs

2007-03-12T22:07:00.000Z

I've finally updated the list of student blogs on the right. You can use the links to see what other students are writing / researching. As you'll soon discover, the students who want to do well are posting much more frequently than the others...

User-generated content

2007-03-12T21:25:00.000Z

Here's an interesting discussion of the problems of user-generated content in videogames. It is very specific to videogames, but the issues are fairly universal when applied to other NMTs which encourage the audience to become contributors and producers.

Current TV

2007-03-12T21:15:00.000Z

YouTube on proper TV? Former American Vice-President Al Gore has launched a TV channel in the UK (Current TV) which will include a high proportion of viewers' productions. He says he hopes to 'democratise' television - I'm sure you've heard me use that word before and it's good to hear someone else use it! You can watch some programme clips on the official website, as well as find out more about the service which is intended to re-engage the 18-34s with TV by embracing the Web2.0 trend towards an active, participatory audience experience. Fingers crossed it doesn't turn into 'You've Been Framed'...

TV: #1 case study material?

2007-03-08T21:28:00.000Z

The amount of news about TV developments (particularly internet delivered TV) means it's perfect for your consideration as a case study. It's getting towards the time for deciding on a case study - you'll need at least one - and TV (digital as well as internet and mobile) seems to be the best bet for a rewarding and fast-developing focus for your research. It also brings in multiple technologies, so means you'll end up probably only needing one case study.

To start you off, Joost is one development worth investigating. The BBC's link to YouTube is another.

Get a life

2007-03-08T21:13:00.000Z

Virtual worlds are very popular, largely owing to the freedoms they allow; in Second Life for example, you can be whoever you want to be (and do just about anything!). The problem is that nothing can escape big-business. So, to stick with Second Life, the place is filling up with adverts and even a casual internet search will reveal loads of media institutions (like the BBC) and companies developing a presence in the online world. The BBC has a good article on the future of MMOGs (massively multiplayer online games), and of course a big part of that is going to be the bringing into the mainstream of online gaming in virtual worlds, as well as the appropriation of the concept for all sorts of uses (mostly to sell you stuff, although perhaps to do other things too, including teaching).

Loads on videogames

2007-03-06T20:58:00.000Z

Where to start (there's so much recently)!

The BBC have a useful article which goes through the evolution of videogame controllers. It might seem a bit frivolous but remember that the controller is the means of interaction with the videogame system. Traditional controllers, especially the bigger and more fiddly ones of recent years, are said to favour male gamers; the Wii's popularity should come as no surprise given the way in which it allows no gamers to play with the more straightforward and familiar remote control shaped device.

Videogames are bad (useful for thinking about the effects theories).

No, they allow all sorts of exciting collaboration (useful for thinking about the role of collaboration and community in the world of NMTs - the term Web 2.0 would be justifiably applied in this instance).

Finally, Wired.com has a great article about the use of digital distribution of videogames, which includes lots about the benefits of NMTs to institutions.

Next next generation a long way off?

2007-02-26T21:09:00.000Z

Many criticise new media for the rapid rate of development, arguing that consumers are being forced to an endless upgrade cycle which is both expensive and environmentally disastrous. For videogames hardware at least, it looks like there could be some stability, forced on the industry by the difficulty in turning development into profit. Given that videogames are worth more than cinema box office takings don't feel too bad for them.

Yet more on the end of TV

2007-02-26T21:06:00.000Z

That's the box in the living room - TV programmes are more pervasive than ever thanks to another download service, this time from BitTorrent.

YouTube: healthy for TV?

2007-02-19T20:06:00.000Z

The Guardian today has a very perceptive article about the ways in which YouTube (and by extension other web2.0 services) is helpful to TV (an by extension traditional media in general). Make sure you read it!

Handy guide to DRM

2007-02-19T19:41:00.000Z

The terrific Wired.com has a very useful guide to understanding DRM. Make sure it's top of your 'to read' list!

'Wii are not to blame'

2007-02-19T19:33:00.000Z

According to a blog, research has suggested that investigations into the links between violence in videogames and violence in real life have been flawed. 'Of course there isn't!' the gamers amongst you will be shouting, and you could be correct. However, take a careful look at who 'presents' the blog. The irony is that one of the things they criticise is publishing bias...

You(on the)Tube

2007-02-18T21:03:00.000Z

The BBC has a useful article gathering some thoughts on the impact of the Web2.0 flagship site YouTube. There was a time when getting on TV was a big deal - now anyone can get on...

More on mobile phones

2007-02-18T20:58:00.000Z

According to BBC's Click Online programme music is the important development feature of mobile phones, particularly in terms of online music and portability. It's fairly obvious really - music has long been seen as a portable media; think of Walkmans, radios in cars and iPods. Unlike the TV idea, institutions should see a lot of mileage in pushing the music agenda.

New formats: money for old rope?

2007-02-12T20:39:00.000Z

One advantage for NMTs for institutions: sell old stuff in a new format. It's not really new: think of past music formats, past film formats, videogame technology, mobile phone technology.

The above link, about the return of 'old' music to the charts, contains useful statistics and quotations for your exam, so get reading!

Mobile TV: flogging a dead horse?

2007-02-12T20:29:00.000Z

Do consumers really want TV on their mobiles? Are they willing to put up with high costs and variable quality is a more significant question, it would seem. The signs are promising: YouTube, on-demand content from virtually every channel on the planet and constantly improving technology; such developments should mean we're more receptive to mobile TV. But then again, why bother in an on-demand world? It's not like the old days of handheld TVs so you could watch important programmes away from home. These days, there's no more of the 'miss it miss out' culture of the past. Watch it +1, or in a catch-up slot, or from your Sky+ box, or on YouTube. Mobile TV doesn't look so special in that context.

However: MySpace on your mobile could mean a contract is the only way you'll keep up with your phone costs.

Support charity: buy a newspaper?

2007-02-12T20:14:00.000Z

The oldest newspaper in the world is to be an online only publication I discovered last Wednesday, when a colleague (Mr Hillyard) email me the link to the Wired item. Today, as it's half-term I walked to the local shop and bought a newspaper, which on reflection seemed pointless given the availability of the content online. However, like books, newspapers are old technology, and yet they are, also like books, enduring; despite spending too much time online, handling and reading a printed newspaper is pleasing to me. Having said that, I read all my news online six days of out seven; perhaps printed pages are more of a pleasure from the past, especially when you consider the rise in mobile internet content.

More on DRM

2007-02-12T20:05:00.000Z

The Guardian on Thursday had a detailed exploration of the possibility of major online distributors of music (although the principle will be extendible to other media) dropping DRM. The idea of letting users own content that is free of restriction is clearly something that is going to provoke all kinds of debate. To this end, Warner Bros have declared the dropping of DRM to be 'without logic or merit'. If the industry does follow the urgings of people like Steve Jobs and drops DRM, you can be sure Warner will follow suit - especially if it means they're losing revenue as a result of a principled stand in favour of DRM technology.

DRM: Holding back legitimate downloads?

2007-02-07T21:00:00.000Z

Steve Jobs has called for an end to the use of DRM (digital rights management) in the music files sold online. It could be that this will remove one of the major obstacles to downloads rendering CDs obsolete; at the moment the CD format allows high quality audio that you can use as you wish (including copying, sharing, editing) - unless there's some sort of DRM used on the disc. Whereas DRM on CDs is rare, it's the accepted practice with downloads from legitimate sites. Some, like Steve Jobs, it would seem, think that preventing consumers freely using something they've paid for is unfair and hampering efforts to increase the take up of digital downloading.

Whether the music industry will agree is another matter; only once Napster forced them did they submit to the idea of online distribution. Downloads make sense in terms of a mainstream format for the majority of users (portable, instant, easy to store to name just three), but the majority aren't giving up on CDs - could it be the perception of the risk of formats that aren't universally playable and that are limited in either time, or number of uses? Imagine being told some of your CDs would only play in a certain brand of player! Or that you could list to the CD on just a few of the CD playing devices in your home!

Read about DRM in Wired magazine (the article linked here is from 2001 but it still contains relevant ideas, if not up-to-date examples).

Internet safety day

2007-02-06T19:52:00.000Z

At the risk of sounding all Daily Mail, you should read about the fourth internet safety day. The purpose of the day is to raise the profile of information concerned with how to stay safe on the internet. I would always encourage students to take full advantage of the opportunities offered by the internet, especially social networking sites (even the school-time-wasting MySpace has the potential to be a powerful tool for self-development); safety, however, is a serious business so read all about it!

My(chance-to-break-into-the-industry)Space

2007-02-06T19:47:00.000Z

How does £1 million sound for your next film's budget? MySpace is running a competition to find the UK's hidden directing talent. Aside from being a great chance, it could be seen as a good example of the ways in which NMTs are capable of facilitating greater creativity and collaboration. Whilst there's no guarantee of quality, the volume of moving image work now being produced thanks to low cost production technologies indicates an eagerness on the part of people to create as well as consume media.

Pirates of the multiplex

2007-02-06T19:37:00.000Z

Partly as a follow-up to my post on the people's medium - video - here's an article that explores the camcorder / DVD pirate film debate. It's fantastic for statistics - perfect for your exam - so make sure you read it!

They're taking over!

2007-02-04T22:30:00.000Z

It would seem computers really are taking over the world: music teachers can be replaced by internet applications, listening to you playing and offering guidance. Is this a good thing, or a bad thing? There are organisations out there already bringing into question the need for so much direct teaching given the possibilities offered by computers.

The 3D browser mentioned in the article (3B) is also worth a look.

Give niche a chance

2007-02-04T22:25:00.000Z

Bob Geldof's production company is to launch a TV channel focused on world peace (You'll need to register to follow the link, but it's free); you see, not all internet and multichannel distributed channels are trash. It's also a useful example of how internet TV 'channels' can challenge our perceptions of what constitutes TV broadcasting.

(No)You(Don't )Tube

2007-02-02T23:50:00.000Z

YouTube is a great idea, and clearly there's enormous potential for the sort of delivery methods and user-interaction in evidence. But, what sounds too good to be true often is: some, in this case Viacom, think YouTube (and parent-company Google) are breaking copyright laws, or at least turning a blind eye to the activities of users. As we saw with the original Napster, if people want something they'll go about getting it, and if it's not offered legitimately then that's too bad. The music industry took years to catch up; will the TV people make the same mistakes by attempting to stifle something there's an enormous appetite for? You'd think a royalties deal would be a sensible approach...

It's not April today, is it?

2007-02-01T20:22:00.000Z

Recently there have been exciting devlopments in videogames, with the launch of the powerful Xbox 360, the innovative Nintendo DS and the plain marvellous Wii; however, Dell's plans are surely a joke?

BBC's iPlayer: the end of TV as we know it?

2007-01-31T20:24:00.000Z

There's clearly a bit of a theme developing in my recent posts: TV is doomed. Well, TV as we know it anyway. Plans for the BBC's iPlayer seem to be progressing and ITV, Sky, C4 and Five are all offering downloads of some programmes. All this surely brings into question the chances of SkyHD taking off in the way that Sky Digital did; portability seems to win out over image quality (although the image quality of many downloads is impressive). And, to use some jargon: on-demand downloads are taking audience fragmentation to its furthest extent. It also (as I explored last year, so use the archive links on the right) brings into question the concept of scheduling.

Who do you want to be?

2007-01-30T19:37:00.000Z

The popularity of MMORPGs (Wikipedia definition) continues to increase, and there's much you could investgate in the context of NMTs. They allow all sorts of uses, like social interaction, creativity, media consumption (the BBC's plans for a children's online environment are worth a look) and entertainment. To many, the freedom to be who you want to be, through the creation of an avatar, is what's so appealing. Don't like being a thirty-something teacher in the Midlands? Then become a teenage girl and live a life of non-stop partying. Or change your nationality, or personality, or even your species. The point is, you can become just about anything.

There's a fair amount of suspicion of videogames in general amongst those sections of society that aren't involved - even though these groups are often more relaxed about the far more passive experiencve of TV viewing. To be fair, though, there are some disturbing aspects to what happens when people are allowed to recreate themselves as they wish in a virtual world. The Sims Online used to have an unofficial online newspaper, the Alphaville Herald, which reported on all kinds of subversions of the game including evidence of organised crime, and brothels catering to virtually all sexual preferences. The site has now become the Second Life Herald, and it continue to report on the goings on of the more risqué areas of Second Life. It also includes interviews with characters / users and could provide you with lots of useful insights into the motivations of users.

The Register has a column today by a Second Life user which points to a more worrying aspect: the lack of racial variation in the so-called perfect world of Second Life. If you look at the whole column it provides some useful explanations for the lack of black inhabitants. This sort of consideration of the influence of social background on NMT usage patterns is important as it will allow you to write about issues relating to NMTs in a more sophisticated manner.

More on the dinosaur that is TV

2007-01-29T20:05:00.000Z

Apple's iTV, basically a set top box which will allow video files from an iPod to be played on an HD TV, is further proof that internet distribution (in this case via iTunes) of TV and film content is the future. It's convergent technology (combining two or more technologies), high quality and on-demand, all favoured by audiences.

All isn't rosy in the TV downloading garden, though, if some of the comments on the digitalspy.co.uk forums are true. Even after uninstalling the software needed to use the Channel 4 4OD service, your internet connection will continue to be used as part of 4OD's peer-to-peer network. And if people complain about the current TV licence fee, they're not going to be pleased about the fairly high price when buying per-programme. What's going to take some getting used to is having to use different players for different channels - surely an integrated solution like Apple's iTV will prove attractive, if the content available through iTunes is strong enough.

The People's Medium

2007-01-28T20:31:00.000Z

There's a great article today at wired.com about video, especially video cameras in the hands of the masses. Video might be forty years old, but the recent proliferation of cheap, high quality digital video devices - including camcorders but also cameraphones, webcams and still cameras with video capabilities - means the technology is still very relevant to your studies. When 'ordinary' people are given the freedom to create and share, amazing things can happen - just look at YouTube.

The Wired article describes video as "the peoples' medium", and other than on the use of the apostrophe it's difficult to disagree. As you read the article remember that you should be looking for examples of how technology alters the media experience of audiences and institutions; as you'll see as this terms' work progresses, where NMTs are concerned, the division between the two groups is getting harder to define given the rise of the productive/creative/truly interactive audience.

It Could Be You(Tube)

2007-01-27T23:58:00.000Z

YouTube has been in the news quite a bit recently, what with facilitating the release of the first four hours of season 6 of 24 and episodes of The Simpsons before they were aired on TV. Today's news is perhaps more important in terms of your exam: people adding content to YouTube will get paid - perhaps only a few pence / cents, but the principle is a significant one. For example, News Corp. didn't buy MySpace so a load of school kids could comment each other whilst at school; there's loads of money to made out of it (or at least there ought to be, they just need to figure out how). Shouldn't the people creating the content - however embarrassing some of it may be - get some of the rewards?

No doubt in future posts I'll have a go at leading you through the debate on the role of amateurs in mainstream media so watch this space.

TV: obsolete before HD has caught on?

2007-01-26T20:45:00.000Z

With Channel4 and the BBC both advancing steadily into internet distribution of TV content, and with YouTube continuing to provide the moving-image entertainment required by a whole generation, and with the BBC's plans for a virtual world in the style of Second Life (complete with 'TV' programmes), you'd be forgiven for thinking TV as we know it is doomed. And if Joost, a new peer-to-peer TV delivery system takes off, living room layouts all over the world (okay, the western world) will have to be reconsidered... Given that the creators of Joost were involved with KaZaA - which you've probably herd of - and Skype - which you have definitely heard of - it's got more than a good chance of changing the world.

It's true that in the digital world audiences are becoming more and more fragmented; by definition, personalised content can't be delivered to huge audiences, after all. To suggest that TV is not going to last is a fairly daft thing to propose, though. 30% of homes are still watching terrestrial TV, and official statistics suggest in early 2006 almost half of homes didn't have internet access. What do these people do with their time?

Haven't we heard this before?

2007-01-26T20:25:00.000Z

Apparently the copy protection on HD-DVD has been cracked, in theory allowing the copying of 'certain titles'; surely no one is surprised? As technology advances it seems institutions are keener than ever to protect their revenues, often pursued despite the threat of alienating consumers (as Sony discovered in 2005). The region coding on DVDs and copy-protected content, often using DRM (digital rights management) technology, are highly disputed technologies: if you buy a CD the music is open to manipulation by you (copying, lending, remixing, for example), and many feel justified by this perhaps because of the physical ownership the CD format represents. Technically it's illegal, but who's really going to care if you remix a few songs for your own use? The music industry, if the use of ever-tighter security technologies are anything to go by. However, formats like WMA and AAC both allow the tight control of the uses of the music bought by consumers, in ways such as how many copies can be made, what devices can play the music and even how long the music will be playable.

A question you need to consider (even though there's no easy answer, as always): just because this type of control is possible, is it a good idea? Clearly there will be strong arguments on both sides, and you need to contemplate them given the twin focus of this unit - audience and institutions.

Promises, promises

2007-01-25T21:28:00.000Z

The run up to the new media exam has already started in class and online, with L6 students having set up blogs. For the past three years I've researched alongside students (blogging for the last two), guiding them as to what they should be looking out for and encouraging them to stick with their own research, and this year will be no exception.

My original plan was to set up a new blog on our server (we got full control over the hosting of the site last June) but then Blogger came out of beta and I fancied giving it a go. And it's easier than moving everything.

Here's the but>>> But, I've got loads on the go at the moment and I know I need some motivation so here's a promise to my L6 class: I'll post everyday (or the equivalent) between now and the exams. Question is, keen L6 class, will you match it?

Where Have You Been?

2006-11-27T21:08:00.000Z

I've been busy for the past few months transferring the main media studies site to a new system (WordPress) so updates here have been slim to say the least!

However, the blogging is going to start again soon, but probably on our own server rather than here.

You can have a look at the new site here: www.rssmediastudies.co.uk

Three very useful articles

2006-06-03T20:31:00.000Z

Do we really need gatekeepers? That's a very simplistic view of the rise of media content created by 'ordinary' people. Of course, the 'citizen media' is still mediated, it's just that the traditional institutions may not always be doing the mediation. Links below are from the Technology section of the Guardian. You're spoilt, you really are.

'Citizen media': a helpful article.

Challenges to traditional models of production and consumption: another good article.

The dangers of getting carried away: a third very useful article.

Media literacy

2006-05-26T21:34:00.000Z

It's worth taking a wider look at why you're studying new media in the first place:

The culture secretary, Tessa Jowell, has frequently referred to the challenge of equipping people to handle an ever-wider array of media sources as one of the most pressing facing society. "I do not exaggerate when I say that media literacy in its widest sense is as important to our development as was universal literacy in the 19th century," she said this year. "Then, the written word was the only passport to knowledge. Now, there are many more. And the most insidious digital divide is between those equipped to understand that and those who aren't."

Whilst we may treat the comments of politicians with suspicion, you'll surely agree with Tessa Jowell after studying new media for the past six months. Literacy in a digital world means more than just words. Read the full article, linked below, or risk being media-illiterate!

Studying the media is the future, especially if you're a girl. Boys, you're restricted to fiddling with videogames.

Not so grassroots

2006-05-26T21:18:00.000Z

The Guardian has a really useful article which questions many of the assumptions made about the music industry in the digital age. Most importantly it debunks the myth that the Arctic Monkeys used MySpace to promote themselves.

The power of social networking, whether it's MySpace-type sites, Flickr-type sites, Blogger-type sites, YouTube-type sites (you get the idea), is an important consideration if focusing on the internet for the NMT exam. As I said in the previous post, there's a view that the internet, in partciular broaddband, is, well, the future of everything: relationships, learning, government and certainly entertainment. The seemingly democratic nature of it all is brought into question when you look even a little more closely at ownership: Rupert Murdoch owns MySpace, Google owns Blogger, Yahoo owns Flickr. Not so social any more?

Digitally divided

2006-05-26T20:30:00.000Z

There's a risk when studying new media technologies that we quickly become advocates for all things new without giving proper consideration to the negative effects. The BBC has a short news article on a trial analogue switch off, in which it was discovered that particular groups in society had the biggest problems when faced with switching to digital TV. The elderly and those facing financial difficulty are both affected.

NMTs are more accessible to younger and more affluent members of society, so those claims for the democratic powers of blogging, self- web-publishing, podcasting and so on should all be considered in the context of a society in which only 10 million people have home broadband access. When you're using the technology, it's sometimes difficult to image those that aren't. Switching off the analogue signal will happen, but it may leave a significant minority experiencing exclusion, rather than the promised riches of a multi-channel, interactive platform.

(Mac + Intel)Windows=?

2006-04-06T21:58:00.000Z

The Windows on a Mac fuss recently has got a bit silly, but YouTube has a video which offers a lighthearted view of it all.

Sofa sales to fall?

2006-04-06T21:50:00.000Z

Does anyone watch TV on a TV any more? The internet is fast becoming a platform of choice for many, something which will increase dramatically once the BBC's iMP (integrated media player) service is rolled out. Mobile TV is also in the news recently, (and here and here)and with iPods now playing tiny video, the days of widescreen, HD TV seem numbered (okay, probably not, but the two movements do seem contradictory). The trend to mobile, on-demand, time-shifted, condensed (in every sense) is certainly worth exploring as it has implications for traditional TV and audience consumption.

Cashing in on MySpace

2006-04-05T09:19:00.000Z

The importance of MySpace seems to grow every day. I've already posted information about the MySpace service (as well as other social networking sites) and its role in the new media landscape. Yesterday The Guardian's Technology blog had a useful post about Rupert Murdoch's plans to develop the money-making potential of MySpace. One criticism of NMTs could be the extent to which all good ideas end up forming a central part of someone's next commercial move. Aren't the best things in life supposed to be free?

Crazy?

2006-04-03T21:39:00.000Z

A download more popular than CDs? It certainly looks like the reluctance to make the switch from purchasing physical items (CDs) to virtual (MP3s and similar) is disappearing. This is useful as it is further illustration of the way in which NMTs are changing audience consumption habits.

And as an update to a previous post, there's even more rapid change with film.

Newspaper killed the radio star?

2006-03-28T21:32:00.000Z

If The Guardian are now offering daily podcasts (including a media-specific one) where does the newspaper end and the radio broadcaster begin? The newspaper's decision to construct a recording studio in its offices states very clearly how seriously the new venture is being taken. This is further illustration of the way in which NMTs are providing institutions with opportunities to diversify their output. Other examples to consider are the crossovers of gaming and film as well as TV/mixed interactive content.

Essay question

2006-03-28T08:00:00.000Z

To what extent are new media technologies more interactive for audiences than traditional media technologies?

This should be blogged by midnight 31st March. Answers shouldn't take much more than 30 minutes, should include plenty of examples and make reference to the key concepts.

Film downloads: not on iPods, though

2006-03-23T19:47:00.000Z

Universal are trialing permanent downloads as a way of satisfying the demand of audiences for films to be made available over the internet. Music downloading has proved the potential for digital distribution, although the decision to restrict the downloads to PCs and Windows seems odd; without those fancy iPods, would Apple has exceeded 1 billion downloaded tracks? Now iPods are doing video, a potentially huge audience is going to be frustrated...

Yet more on social networking

2006-03-23T19:22:00.000Z

It used to be the case that anyone using technology was a friendless geek who was helping contribute to the destruction of society as we know it. Not anymore: if you've got an internet connection and your age ends in '-teen' then the chances are you're social networking. Sites to investigate in particular are bebo and myspace. Just watch you don't get hooked.

Online of course now doesn't have to mean on a computer: 3G phones seem to make a difference to users' social and media habits - which includes production as well as consumption. (The last link has some very useful statistics.)

Sony is hoping for a bit of the network action when PS3 is launched, further evidence that the future of media is online, even if TV is still the dominant medium.

Key concepts

2006-03-14T21:14:00.000Z

The 'Key concepts' post has been updated.

Digital media 'empowering users'

2006-03-07T12:17:00.000Z

The BBC has a detailed report on the Financial Times Digital Media conference which puts forward the view that the expansion of technologies such as blogging and cheap video editing has resulted in a shift in traditional attitudes to the media. This is very useful for considering the impact of NMTs on both audiences and institutions. The argument comes back to the same sticking point, though: there will always be a place for professionals who are good at what they do; anyone can produce media texts which can be accessed by a wide audience but that's no guarnatee of quality.

Look at me, look at me

2006-03-06T21:58:00.000Z

Last Thursday The Guardian had a useful article on social networking. Anyone who's spent much time online will know that forums, blogs and personal websites make up a large proportion of the internet's content. (As one student said to me: 'If you're not on myspace you're no one.') No longer is your social contact limited to those who live in the same street (okay, the same town or city); the internet has allowed communities to be constructed around interests rather than geography. Given the passive nature of TV watching its surprising that it's still seen as more acceptable than online gaming an chatting online. The navel-gazing encouraged by the possibilities of personal web publishing is difficult to ignore, however.

A bit too much reality?

2006-02-26T21:10:00.000Z

Here's a useful opinion column on the drawbacks of the Xbox 360's photo-realistic graphics capabilities. You may have experienced a similar reaction going from a 12 inch portable TV to a 42 inch plasma screen!

Digital animation

2006-02-26T21:03:00.000Z

Wired has an excellent feature on recent uses of digital animation, very useful for thinking about how new media technologies are helping institutions be even more creative / entertaining / profitable. The pictures are nice, too.

Is the tide turning?

2006-02-26T20:51:00.000Z

Recent news suggests that the era of music (and films) for free is coming to an end. And here, here and here. The widespread acceptance of legitimate online sources of music, in conjunction with the high-profile pursuit of illegal downloaders, is making inroads in a cultural attitude that has proved stubborn: once Napster (the original) set the precedent for free music, even a relatively low 79p per track has seemed steep to many (although several times this is acceptable for ringtones...) If you've followed the links above you'll know Scotland has a digital pirate on every street; it's most likely the same could be said for all developed nations. Perhaps a 100% legitimate digital world is a little way off at the moment.

Dial-up's 'terminal decline'

2006-02-21T20:14:00.000Z

Broadband connections in the UK now account for 64% of all connections, up from just 1% in 2001. Speeds are also rising dramatically. These changes are important to you in terms of your new media technologies exam because of the increased capacity for online activity: faster downloads of music, film and TV; on-demand services like NTL:ondemand, which could mean the arguments about future DVD formats become fairly pointless; in general all moving towards a situation where internet connectivity is as commonplace (and as relied upon) as electricity.

It could mean a rise in nostalgia for the beeps and whistles of dial-up modems (please don't pay for this!)

Student blogs

2006-02-19T20:21:00.000Z

On the right you'll find links to this year's student blogs. You can use them to supplement your own research into new media technologies and share ideas using the comments system. You are part of a learning community now!

If your blog isn't listed and you want it to be, use the 'contact us' link on the right. Students from other schools researching new media technolgies are welcome.

The cost of new media

2006-02-13T13:36:00.000Z

Or should that be 'the crazy cost structures of new media'? Emily Bell argues in today's Guardian that a world in which films on FilmFour are free (soon to be a free channel) but the first few seconds of a song - as a ringtone - costs £3.50, is a nonsense. She's got a point. Just goes to show: some people will buy anything.

Music on the internet

2006-01-31T21:15:00.000Z

The Guardian has a useful article on how the internet can be used to promote bands. It appears that whilst websites themselves don't break new bands, they do help to build a fan base. In the case of the Arctic Monkeys, P2P networks may have been more significant in making them the fasting selling debut band - in terms of albums - ever. Perhaps P2P isn't killing music.

The article also has some useful statistics.

In2Movies

2006-01-31T19:40:00.000Z

Warner Bros is to start using P2P network software to distribute movies and TV programmes over the internet. Despite the huge popularity of iTunes, the distribution of mainstream films has yet to take a decisive step into online distribution, so could this be it? Well, perhaps not. Initially the service will only be available in the German language.

New films will be made available to registered users of the service from the day they are released on DVD in the German language.

"Our initial efforts will focus on the German market, but in the months ahead we will leverage this technology to better serve markets around the world," Mr Tsujihara added.

The above is from an article on the BBC news site. For 'leverage this technology' read 'make sure once English language versions of films are released the copy-protection mechanisms work'. That said, it does mark a devlopment which could render the arguments over the HD-DVD and Blu-Ray DVD formats pointless; if films are offered on a similar model to Napster To Go, on-demand distribution may become the future.

Update: past exam questions

2006-01-29T23:37:00.000Z

The past exam questions page has been updated with the essay questions from January's paper.

Research sources

2006-01-29T19:35:00.000Z

You should aim to be researching steadily for the New Media Technologies unit; a grasp of longer term devlopments will serve you better than a night-before snapshot. To this end you should make regular visits to the following:

You should be following developments, collecting statistics and finding examples of how new media technologies are changing the habits of users and producers.

Of course, there are lots more, so use the link on the right to let us know what you think.

Digital = 'normal' TV?

2006-01-29T19:27:00.000Z

10 million Freeview boxes and 8 million Sky subscriptions: the UK is voting to go digital. You may refer to channels 1-5 as proper or normal TV, but that's not going to be the case for long. As with the cultural shift occuring with digital music, the same is true of TV.

You're probably getting bored of this by now...

2006-01-29T19:11:00.000Z

First they say it's not going away - the illegal downloading of music - then they say the prosecutions are working. If you're basing your research on music and the internet you should be prepared to read no end of this type of to-ing and fro-ing.

Regardless of the statistics on illegal downloading, the more important issue longer term is that a cultural shift is occuring. Users are embracing the intangible nature of digital music; legal and illegal routes to digital music are undoubtedly the future, helped by the mainstream acceptance of Apple's iPod.

digital democracy

2006-01-28T23:49:00.000Z

I've written before about the democratic nature of new media: blogs, user comments, personalised content, on-demand media, bedroom producers etc. Wiki (as most famously seen at Wikipedia) is perhaps the ultimate in this. Put simply, anyone can edit a wiki site. This can lead to high levels of collaboration and accuracy, but it can also lead to grumbles about the potential for shifts in existing practices and a usurping of traditional roles (can the man on the street really be as good a journalist as the professionals?) Too much freedom can also have more damaging repercussions.

In the past I've used blogs to help my students record the development of their new media case studies but I'm now considering using wikis. At the moment I'm favouring the free seedwiki, but if you know of a better option I'd like to hear about it. Alternatively, if you're using wiki let me know.

radio playlist BAD ringtone GOOD

2006-01-28T23:46:00.000Z

Apparently the marketing of new music is more likely to be done using ringtones rather than advanced radio play. Presumeably artists will also adjust to the digital age: the first eight seconds will be far more important than a chorus for a start.

(un)serious listening?

2006-01-28T23:11:00.000Z

According to researchers, the trend in modern life to make a commodity of music (portable MP3s, often downloaded for free, music as ringtones, here-today-gone-tomorrow culture) is creating apathy amongst listeners; people don't get excited about music anymore, they say.

Whilst this may have some validity, the number of listener passionately sharing their views in blogs, in customer reviews at online stores, and on dedicated fansites (to name just a few) suggests music is still held in high regard. Some people even need special clothes these days to accommodate their lust for music.

The download culture is having an impact on the buying of albums (many prefer to get just the songs they like via download), however. Those that moan about this may like to reflect on the healthiness of the singles culture of the 50s and 60s. Also, downloads don't necessarily equal the demise of the album: long unavailable material is becoming available again thanks to the low overheads and wide potential audience of digital distribution.

Blogging and Gaming

2005-09-27T18:58:00.000Z

Radio 4's Shoptalk has had two excellent programmes on new media technolgies in the past few weeks. First there was a programme on blogging and then a very solid overview of the issues surrounding gaming. And they're archived!

(Proper) interactive TV?

2005-09-27T18:54:00.000Z

Will the TV of the future look like this? Channel 4 are going all out for interactivity in November with the programme 'Dubplate Drama', so watch out for more on this experiement in using new technologies to produce something genuinely 'new'.

Music and the internet

2005-09-27T18:49:00.000Z

The BBC has a fairly detailed article on the changes to the music industry brought about by the internet. This also coincides with the release of software to help downloaders go straight by removing the 'unwanted' filesharing software on their systems. The music industry's future is online - so long as everyone pays.

Moving images but no TV in sight

2005-08-30T20:16:00.000Z

The Sony PSP can play really crisp video from a UMD (Universal Media Device - only for PSPs?), encouraging some to ask if it is the first true mobile entertainment device.

And, you won't need a TV to receive BBC television in the near future. A quotation from Mark Thompson, the BBC Director General, should be your guiding principle when considering the future of broadcasting in a digital world :

We believe that on-demand changes the terms of the debate, indeed that it will change what we mean by the word 'broadcasting'.

What does a schedule mean if viewers can access what they want when they want? What if they're viewing on something other than a TV? The BBC has some points worth considering on the subject, with plenty of statistics. In fact, it has a tremendous resource on broadcasting's past, present and future.

It looks increasingly like the future of TV won't need a TV set... unless it's HD ready, of course.

Democratic, lazy, or just a great money-spinner?

2005-08-30T20:11:00.000Z

The summer's bombings in London obviously attracted massive press attention, but the coverage itself has also come under scrutiny. The use of pictures from mobile phones (still and video) was both dramatic and an excellent example you could use in your exam to demonstrate how new media technologies are changing production practices. It's understandable that TV news channels in particular will use the 'citizen content', particularly in the absence of professionally captured material. It's also a way of making the news more immediate and responsive; no longer is it necessary to wait for a news crew to get to an incident when ever person there (give or take) has a mobile phone, enabling them to communicate images, video and sound almost instantly. The Tsunami of last Christmas was another event that was reported using amateur footage. The rise of the amateur is newsgathering is one trend you should research further; it fits into the pattern of many NMTs and the role they play in allowing everyone the chance to contribute to all aspects of the media. This is refered to as the democratisation of the media. (Wired had some excellent material on the subject in its July edition.)

All of this is a good thing, you might think, but is it really? The day after the first London bombings Radio 4's The Message (sadly not archived) had a lively discussion about the use of amateur material such as mobile phone photographs. There is surely weight in the argument that if it's impossible to respond instantly with professional crews, why bother? Why not let the 'citizen journalists' do the hard work, saving the costs involved in news gathering. Given the amount of news often needed to fill 24 hours of broadcasting, why not rely on the potentially limitless material that can be provided? To many, this is a dangerous viewpoint, eroding the professionalism of the industry; really sharp knives are widespread, but we're not all surgeons. To rely on such material is further evidence that news is becoming more reactionary, often failing to seek out stories because it's cheaper not to.

Your viewpoint on this issue may be swayed by the promise of cash, however.

Sharing isn't always the right thing to do

2005-06-27T18:43:00.000Z

The ruling today by the US Supreme Court puts back peer-to-peer networking significantly. Whilst Sony weren't responsible for the illegal copying performed by users of Betamax machines in 1984, the creators of file-sharing networks are responsible for illegal activity conducted over their networks. Is this a case of corporatism versus creativity, or is it unfair to stereotype 'the men in suits'? If the statistic of 90% of peer-to-peer network traffic being illegal activity, perhaps the judges were right? Incidentally, on Saturday the Guardian had a detailed article on the perils of letting your children loose on file-sharing networks, with some useful statistics.

Digital plumbers

2005-06-27T18:37:00.000Z

The BBC seem intent on pushing the idea of digital plumbers - people who will sort out the wireless configuration of your home. Such an idea is a signal that wireless networks - and the possibilties of digital media distribution around the home - are becoming mainstream.

Legs and thumbs

2005-06-24T09:44:00.000Z

A while ago we had news of 'Xbox leg' (okay, it wasn't called that, but it should have been) and now there's news of 'Playstation thumb'. As silly as these stories sound, they demonstrate two things: playing video games can be dangerous; and video games also have the ability to hold the attention of youg people, so often said to have very short attention spans. As reported before, videogames really are good for you.

It's all about TV

2005-06-21T18:07:00.000Z

Despite all the things you can do with new media technologies, from interacting with others socially, to sharing information, to deciding the future course of tv programmes etc etc, it seems the ultimate purpose for all new techs is to show TV programmes (well, perhaps not allnew techs). As well as BSkyB using broadband for TV, and video on mobiles, Microsoft are developing their own version of BitTorrent software. This is a welcome return for peer-to-peer networking software, so much maligned after Napster, KaZaA and BitTorrent to name just a few. Amongst other things, TV programmes can be downloaded and watched on-demand, and with American programmes often long before they're aired in the UK. If you haven't come across BitTorrent, there's a good article on the Guardian's website. The principle is very similar to previous popular versions of peer-to-peer software: users can share whatever is on their hard disc, or can locate material others have put on the internet. The only problem is that much of the shared material is copyrighted... and as parents are now starting to realise, this can be expensive. Of course the concept of being able to access virtually any TV programmes and films on-demand is a very attractive one; users will continue to break the law until a legitimate and comprehensive service is available, regardless of a few high-profile court cases. Music downloading has been transformed over the past two years or so, not as a result of legal action but surely as a result of the ease of use of services such as the iTunes store; users will pay if given the option. With broadband rates soaring in the UK, the demand can only grow.

Freeview 1/3 of Digital TV

2005-06-10T20:13:00.000Z

Freeview is now in 5 million homes, giving it around a third of the digital tv market. Clearly Sky isn't the only player in digital tv revolution, probably a relief to the government who are hoping to switch off the analogue signal: if Sky's virtual monopoly of the platform had continued questions would have been asked about the legitimacy of a switch off.

More on podcasting

2005-06-09T11:09:00.000Z

Wired has more news on the replacement of radio DJs with podcasts. It offers lots of excellent examples of how the radio industry is changing as a result of new media technologies. The obligatory mention of Apple's iPod is in there, showing that even if other (arguably better) players are on the market, the iPod is culturally the most significant.

Pro-ams

2005-06-07T21:07:00.000Z

Radio 4 had a useful edition of Shop Talk this afternoon about the rise of the 'pro-am', the amateurs who crossover into the professional world. The second half of the programme had a discussion about Wikipedia and then the modding of videogames, both strong examples of new technologies bringing a more democratic flavour to the media. The programme was marred by reference to the Crazy Frog phenomenon and how that too arose from a keen amateur... You can listen to it here.

Tartan podcasting

2005-06-05T23:02:00.000Z

The BBC has news of a podcaster offering 'tartan rock' - apparently it's ignored by mainstream media outlets, which is why it's a great example of how technologies like podcasting can be a challenge to traditional media institutions and a democratic force. Listen here.

Online gaming

2005-06-04T20:47:00.000Z

Disney are looking to exploit online gaming as both a revenue stream in its own right and as an advertisement for its theme parks. Given that gaming is good for you, and that the next generation of console games are certain to come ready to plug in to you broadband connection (or not plug in if you invest in wireless - extra with an Xbox 360), it looks like the South Koreans had it right all along. Or perhaps not.

Crazy

2005-06-04T20:40:00.000Z

If you're responsible then you should be ashamed. This is clearly what happens when songs can be downloaded in the privacy of people's homes; the 'add to basket' button never smirks at your choices, does it? To put a positive spin on the whole thing, it at least demonstrates that mobile phones are so absorbed into mainstream culture that a ringtone of all things can be the best selling single. Next they'll be making films based on videogames...

Gaming is good for you (yet again)

2005-06-04T20:27:00.000Z

I've posted about this before, but it keeps coming up in the news. Playing videogames is good for you - surely this is close to getting an official seal of approval? The Guardian's Jim McClellan explores the proposition further, finding lots of evidence that gaming is being put to good educational use. Here's the book by Steven Johnson that's caused the recent fuss.

Digital cinema

2005-06-04T20:14:00.000Z

George Lucas' 'War of the Worlds' is the focus of a piece on Wired about digital cinema production. The article is detailed about hardware and also explores the implications for mainstream Hollywood - very useful for thinking about how institutions benefit from new media technologies. Given the recent news about digital projection technology, it looks likely that the days of using film to make films are numbered. Steven Soderbergh is also in on the act, making digital films that can be released at the cinema, on DVD and on TV at the same time. The rhetoric refers to consumer choice, but someone somewhere must think there's money in it. One thing is clear: cinema's future is digital.

More Xbox 360

2005-06-04T20:03:00.000Z

Wired magazine has an excellent article on the forthcoming Xbox 360. It examines the evidence that Microsoft will beat Sony this time, and that the console is a 'trojan horse', taking over the living room and allowing Microsoft to be at the centre of digital enertainment of every type. The BBC has a handy guide, including video! It's sure to take over the world when you see the range of fronts (sorry, 'faceplates') you can buy - more to come soon, no doubt...

Surely nothing can defeat the iPod?

2005-05-24T21:51:00.000Z

The Wall Street Journal has an interesting article, with lots of good statistics, on whether mobile phones with storage space will replace the iPod. Common sense says that yes, given high speed mobile internet access and plentiful storage space, mobile phones are the sensible choice of the future for portable digital music. Then again, paying up to £309 pounds for the same thing at the moment doesn't seem logical either, but lots of people don't agree.

Channels 4 everything

2005-05-24T21:45:00.000Z

Channel 4 are apparently going to be offering content on every conceivable platform in the future, which is nice (but will probably cost). It's a useful example of how media institutions have to engage with technology if they are to ensure that some of the audience time and attention being lost to new entertainment sources (the internet, games consoles, mobile phones etc) is regained for the once mighty TV. Or, failing that, they make some money, even if no one watches their TV output.

So that's why they do it

2005-05-24T21:40:00.000Z

3G looks like it might earn some money, even if it's nothing like the amounts paid for licences to operate the services. Even BT look like making money as a result of the massive recent expansion of broadband services. You didn't think these operators have invested heavily in high speed connectivity just so you could download music, films and TV programmes illegally, did you?

Now there's even less chance of escaping

2005-05-24T21:36:00.000Z

If you thought switching off your TV, not using the internet and never going near a newsagents would protect you from Big Brother you were wrong: mobiles will have video content from the new series. Now you can indulge in stage-managed ennui wherever you go.

Podcasting goes mainstream

2005-05-24T21:32:00.000Z

It looks like the service that finally brought legitimacy to music donloading is to bring podcasting firmly into the mainstream. Apple's iTunes will soon include podcasting support, enabling users to automatically have their favourite podcasts uploaded to their iPod. Is this big business finding ways to exploit the growth of a technology, or just a handy addition to the company's software?

Xbox 360

2005-05-13T21:41:00.000Z

Lots of sites are covering the XBox 360 launch on MTV including the BBC. They also have video of the new console. You should be on the look out for lots of information in the coming weeks.

Is this why girls aren't gamers?

2005-05-11T11:32:00.000Z

The University of Derby are keen to recruit female programmers in order to help cater for a growing number of girls (and women!) who are fed up with boys' often brainless shooting games. You could use this as an illustration of the relationship between audiences and institutions: are girls less likely to be gamers because the games created at the moment favour boys?