Properties of the Medium LCC 2700: Intro to Computational Media Intro to Computational Media W eek 2: Properties of the Medium

Film developed by Moving the camera Splicing the film Changing acting to suit the camera …. Intro to Computational Media W eek 2: Properties of the Medium

Properties of the Digital Medium Procedural: Patterns of Rule-Based Behavior Participatory: Patterns of Participation Encyclopedic: Patterns of Labeling, Sorting, Segmentation, Categorizing, and Grouping Spatial: Patterns of Navigation and Boundary Definition Intro to Computational Media W eek 2: Properties of the Medium

Computational Media Are Procedural Computer programs execute code, enact scripted behaviors The behaviors are conditional If monster is nearby then make sword glow. The behaviors are parameterized ( perform greeting-behavior (state-of-mind) (relationship-to-person) ) The behaviors can be replayed with variant inputs 4 Properties: Procedural – Participatory – Encyclopedic - Spatial Intro to Computational Media W eek 2: Properties of the Medium

Conditional, Parameterized, Replay Worlds Spacewar! (1961) Payroll ! http://lcs.www.media.mit.edu/groups/el/projects/spacewar/ 4 Properties: Procedural – Participatory – Encyclopedic - Spatial Intro to Computational Media W eek 2: Properties of the Medium

Conditional, Parameterized, Replay Worlds 4 Properties: Procedural – Participatory – Encyclopedic - Spatial Intro to Computational Media W eek 2: Properties of the Medium

Conditional, Parameterized, Replay Worlds Grand Theft Auto 3 The Sims 2 Civilization 4 Properties: Procedural – Participatory – Encyclopedic - Spatial Intro to Computational Media W eek 2: Properties of the Medium

Computational Media Are Participatory We do not just watch or listen, we act & have an effect We contribute, manipulate, & copy digital objects We make & receive customized versions of digital objects We join virtual communities mediated by digital formats 4 Properties: Procedural – Participatory – Encyclopedic - Spatial Intro to Computational Media W eek 2: Properties of the Medium

Computational Media Are Participatory Wikipedia : distributed authorship of information resource MMORPG Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games Music and videos distributed online Altering of photographs, other digital objects Movement from few news authorities to blogosphere Growth of videogames, passing movies in sales revenues Growth of interactive TV Success of ebay and Craig’s list 4 Properties: Procedural – Participatory – Encyclopedic - Spatial Intro to Computational Media W eek 2: Properties of the Medium

Interactive = procedural + participatory The interactor asks what does it do? what is my role? what will happen if I….? When behavior of computer matches actions of interactor in a coherent way, we create the experience of agency 4 Properties: Procedural – Participatory – Encyclopedic - Spatial Intro to Computational Media W eek 2: Properties of the Medium

Eliza as example of interactivity What made Eliza work? 4 Properties: Procedural – Participatory – Encyclopedic - Spatial Intro to Computational Media W eek 2: Properties of the Medium

Computational Media Are Encyclopedic Encyclopedic in 3 ways: Amount of memory Kinds of media Universal Machine: Representational Power 4 Properties: Procedural – Participatory – Encyclopedic - Spatial Intro to Computational Media W eek 2: Properties of the Medium

CM as Encyclopedic: Capacity 1 book = 100,000 words = 1MB 1 cd-rom = 650 MB=650books 1 gigabyte = 1000 books 100 GB = 100,000 books Internet = ∞ books Google indexing 5 research libraries = 15,000,0000 bks 4 Properties: Procedural – Participatory – Encyclopedic - Spatial Intro to Computational Media W eek 2: Properties of the Medium

CM as Encyclopedic: Convergence of Older Media Forms Hot Norman Storycorps Scott McCloud Reliving Last Night 4 Properties: Procedural – Participatory – Encyclopedic - Spatial Intro to Computational Media W eek 2: Properties of the Medium

CM as Encyclopedic: Binary Code = Universal Machine 4 Properties: Procedural – Participatory – Encyclopedic - Spatial Intro to Computational Media W eek 2: Properties of the Medium

Patterns of Representation Whenever I design a chip the first thing I want to do is look at it under a microscope -- not because I think I can learn something new by looking at it but because I am always fascinated by how a pattern can create reality. Danny Hillis The Pattern in the Stone Intro to Computational Media W eek 2: Properties of the Medium

Spatial Design Navigable space Where am I within the space? What is the extent of the space? What are the proximities within the space? What are the boundaries? How do I enter & exit? How do I get from place to place? 4 Properties: Procedural – Participatory – Encyclopedic - Spatial Intro to Computational Media W eek 2: Properties of the Medium

Zork >down The trap door crashes shut, and you hear someone barring it. Cellar You are in a dark and damp cellar with a narrow passageway leading north, and a crawlway to the south. On the west is the bottom of a steep metal ramp which is unclimbable. Your sword is glowing with a faint blue glow. >north The Troll Room This is a small room with passages to the east and south and a forbidding hole leading west. Bloodstains and deep scratches (perhaps made by an axe) mar the walls. A nasty-looking troll, brandishing a bloody axe, blocks all passages out of the room. Your sword has begun to glow very brightly. 4 Properties: Procedural – Participatory – Encyclopedic - Spatial Intro to Computational Media W eek 2: Properties of the Medium

What is Immersion? Spatial property: boundaries, exploration, being there Encyclopedic property: inexhaustible, detailed, consistent Intro to Computational Media W eek 2: Properties of the Medium

Summary of Key Concepts 4 Properties/affordances of Computational Media Procedural Participatory Encyclopedic Spatial Interactivity comes from maximizing procedural + participatory properties Immersion comes from maximizing the spatial and encyclopedic properties Intro to Computational Media W eek 2: Properties of the Medium