Week 7 Submission Readings

The Language of New Media- Manovich

Manovich discussed throughout the reading the idea of HCI- human computer interface; the idea of how Humans are affected and how the affect computers and media.

Computers became a source not only of as a typewriter but a source of new media and a way distributing information and ideas to a larger audience.

Manovich argues that the design of computer interface and organisation derived from pre-existing designs already pre-established design ideas. This can be seen today with document organisation on computers, with files still designated by their name or number and in an order similar to that of a library. Also the save icon on most documents is still in the symbol of the floppy disk. This helps in my understanding of design by explaining the different interactions and formats of design on computer and technological interfaces. If I was to ever design documentation or interfaces, the understanding of this design idea is important.

This can be seen with the organisation of the documents on your computer. This also attached to the idea of Isotypes and universal language. With people of all languages needing to understand this for of organisation and documentation.

The reading itself is an example of digitization or liberation, with its re-purposing of pages and form to suit that of the reader.

Manovich also talks of a ‘liberation’ of media with such designs as books now digitized and accessible to mass audiences. They are also modifiable and able to be transformed into annotated form. This is idea is seen with the reading itself. With a mass amount of students able to access, annotate and interpret a single piece of media. The physicality of the design however is somewhat lost as well as the permanency of its design, as it is able to be in a way destroyed to suit the audience.