IT01_CHAPTER 5

MODULE LIVING IN THE IT ERA – IT01

CHAPTER 5: DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY AND MEDIA LITERACY

Objectives:

• Discuss the meaning of digital technology and media literacy.

• Identify the impact of digital media on society.

• Discover the different challenges of digital media.

Lesson 1: Digital Media

• Definition:

  • Digital media refers to any media that are encoded in machine-readable formats.

  • It encompasses content that is created, viewed, distributed, modified, and preserved on digital devices.

• Components of Digital Media:

  • Data represented in digits and the method of communication (media).

  • Includes text, audio, video, graphics transmitted over the internet.

• Examples of Digital Media:

  • Software, digital images, videos, video games, web pages, websites, social media, digital data, databases, digital audio (e.g., MP3), electronic documents, electronic books.

• Contrasts with Print Media:

  • Print media (books, newspapers) and traditional/analog media (photographic film, audio/video tapes) differ significantly from digital formats.

Social Impact of Digital Media

• Disruptive Innovation:

  • Significant impacts on publishing, journalism, public relations, entertainment, education, commerce, and politics.

• Challenges:

  • New challenges to copyright and intellectual property laws.

  • Emergence of open content movement.

• Era of Digital Media:

  • Signifies a shift to the Information Age, leading to potential paperless environments.

  • Ongoing challenges include outdated copyright laws, censorship, and the digital divide.

History of Digital Media

• Pioneering Concepts:

  • Charles Babbage's early conceptualization of machine-readable codes in the 1800s.

  • Ada Lovelace wrote the first computer program for Babbage’s machines.

• Historical Milestones:

  • By 1986, less than 1% of the world's media storage was digital, compared to 94% in 2007.

  • 2002 marked the point where digital storage surpassed analog.

Lesson 2: Impact of Digital Media

The Digital Revolution

• Exponential Growth:

  • Increase in computing power and storage primarily due to MOSFET scaling (Moore's law).

  • Personal devices like PCs and smartphones democratize access to digital media.

• Cultural Transformation:

  • Digital media’s comparison to the impact of the printing press in society.

  • Shift from industrial economy to an information-based economy, known as the Information Age.

New Media Skills

• Transliteracy and Digital Literacy:

  • Skills needed to navigate, evaluate sources, and create digital content.

  • Importance of understanding both traditional literacy and digital media.

• Concerns:

  • Potential for a digital dark age where older media become inaccessible.

Industry Disruption

• Effects on Various Industries:

  • Significant changes in journalism, publishing, education, and entertainment.

  • Decline in print newspaper advertising revenue (e.g., from $60 billion to $20 billion from 2000-2015).

• Emergence of Citizen Journalism:

  • Users leverage digital platforms to engage actively in content creation.

  • Economic shifts in media production and distribution processes.

The Role of Individual Content Creators

• Content Creation Accessibility:

  • The rise in user-generated content facilitated by the internet and affordable technology.

  • Platforms like YouTube encourage diverse opinions and monetization opportunities for creators.

• Political Implications:

  • Digital media’s role in movements like the Arab Spring and governmental crackdowns.

Copyright Challenges

• Intellectual Property Issues:

  • The ease of sharing and modifying digital content poses challenges for copyright enforcement.

  • Confusion around legal rights for sharing online content (e.g., memes, music covers).

• Open Content Movement:

  • Adoption of open or copyleft licenses to alleviate copyright issues.

Lesson 3: Media Literacy

Definition and Importance

• Media Literacy:

  • Defined as the ability to decode, analyze, evaluate, and produce various forms of communication.

  • Essential for responsible citizenship and understanding the influence of media.

• Skills Development:

  • Key skills include assessing credibility, recognizing symbolism, and discerning logical appeals in media.

Historical Context

• Cultural Relevance:

  • The necessity of media literacy parallels the Ancient Greeks' emphasis on education for democracy.

  • McLuhan's observations on media as a new language underscores the importance of fluency in digital formats.

REFERENCES

• Various sources provided in the final pages, including videos and articles for further information on digital media and literacy.