Interactivity
Phew! as hard as i tried...i could not keep the answer for question 1 short! I shall make another attempt for question 2...2. Manovich questions the usefulness of the term interactivity, suggesting that “once an object is represented in a computer, it automatically becomes interactive. Therefore, to call computer media ‘interactive’ is meaningless – it simply means stating the most basic fact about computers.” In contrast, in “What exactly is Interactivity?” Chris Crawford proposes a much stricter definition of interactivity. Compare these differing views, with reference to your own experience of interactive media systems.
Firstly, to recall Crawford’s definition of interactivity. Interactivity in his view is a cyclic process in which two actors alternately listen, think and speak. (Input, process, output.) He was also careful to point out that interactivity is not about reacting or participating.
Manovich, on the other hand, points out that anything that is represented in a computer is naturally interactive. He was referring to both physical interaction as well as psychological interaction.
First and foremost, i must add that the use of the computer is not necessary interactive. If we are just reading something online, there is only a one way flow of information to the reader. Therefore, it is certainly not always a two way thing. It lacks the two actors which crawford states is necessary for interaction.
On the other hand, if the definition of interactive here is referred to as the psychological interaction or the impact that the media system has on the mind (which is however, a one way flow) then computers can be considered as interactive.
I suppose that there has to be a compromise drawn such that interactivity is not only defined by one and only one meaning. The definition of interactivity, in my opinion, should nclude the influence that two actors may have on one anohter as well as, the the thought processes involved. In a way, this psychological aspect as suggested by Manovich may be a subset of the definition put forward by crawford where the actors take time to think and draw our own conclusions.
posted by shamanthayan @ 10:21 AM
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