What is new media?/As We May Think

In Lev Manovich's "What is new media?" Manovich offers a description of what exactly new media is and how it is formed. A rather lengthy article containing in depth analogies and examples, this piece does a great job providing a concrete definition of what defines new media. Though he states that numerical representation, modularity, automation, variability, and cultural transcoding are not laws, they provide the reader with some idea of what makes up new media, and how it is formed. A common them in the piece is the importance of the computer in creating new media; though new media creation is not limited to the computer, the computer is a key tool in creating and spreading a great deal of new media. While the computer cannot be credited with all creation of new media, one cannot ignore its overall importance in the process.

"As We May Think," is an article by Vannevar Bush which was published in 1945; in it, Bush describes the need for some sort of machine to compile human knowledge and resources. Bush names this theoretical device the "memex," and provides several examples of how it would be used, and how it would benefit science as a whole. The most interesting part of this article is the face that Bush wrote it long before the modern computer was conceived; in fact, Bush passed away before the creation of the World Wide Web.

The most prevalant and interesting theme, in my opinion, is the importance of the computer, not only for advancements in science but for creating new media and for simply connecting humans and their thoughts. Though Bush lived before the computer era, he saw the potential for advancement in its creation. Manovich also takes a great deal of time to acknowledge the computer's positive role in our society. The computer allows people all over the world to share their ideas; it keeps us all updated on what is happening in the world. Whether one is using computers for scientific research, or to discover new forms of media, the computer is a vital tool that allows us to work more quickly, learn about things we would never normally have access to, and connect with others to broaden our views and knowledge of the world.