Old media is largely analogous (film) with the newer contemporary form being largely digital (binary digital encoding).

Analogous media of the past refers to  media that is consumed in a physical medium such as discs or tapes etc. Lately, with the advent of digital technology, media has allowed consumers to view many diverse media types through a non physical form. This has recently led to a streaming culture where media is not owned by consumers but rather streamed / rented to them for a monthly fee with examples including Netflix, Spotify and Hulu.

 

The race towards a streaming culture in the west is something which is relatively modern. In 2005 the web / internet was transformed to be more friendly towards individuals rather than larger corporations and intellectuals; this was known as WEB2. Because of this, inventions such as social media and video streaming were allowed to be created, to meet people's demands for a simpler way to consume media. Before this radical change the web at large could only be used by a relatively small user base largely consisting of scientists / financial advisers etc. WEB2 enabled the web to be more personalised for the average person, allowing data to be collected on figures such as interests and watch times to personalise content that was created.

The shift also created opportunities for new companies to be born with Google, Facebook and YouTube being some of the first and most successful examples still around.
 

Societies have always been shaped by the medium. This has been a rule that has been followed more recently with the creation of the digital media sector. This is shown by the fact that media is now starting to be segregated depending on the platform that they are displayed on. This is largely seen with the rift that has started to occur between streaming and terrestrial forms of media. Terrestrial forms of media largely tend to be event driven, engaging with audiences through activities such as sporting and recreations of events, with most content displaying similar patterns within their structure. This contrasts with the streaming driven media which is known to be more diverse with its programming, allowing for more different types of shows to be created hoping to catch a certain section of the user base.  Terrestrial television is starting to come up against this as less choice means that a fewer percentage of the overall audience is left satisfied compared to that of the streaming counterpart. The streaming model allows for most users to find a particular programme in an instant that they will most likely enjoy.

 

New technology is always shaped and determined by our old technologies. Technology is designed to evolve the ways in which we experience media with most technological advancements easily being traced to an older more primitive counterpart . A stark example of this would be the invention of tablets. Whilst they may seem like new thin and light computers, creations such as the iPad have roots that can be traced back to ancient times, with people sharing messages in villages and towns etched in stone tablets. The modern day equivalent to this enhances that experience with the aids of social media and the ability to access the aforementioned WEB2 services.

 

During this exercise we came to the conclusion that most time spent consuming media is conducted through the new form of media. Streaming services, social media services and gaming exceeded traditional forms of media such as Newspaper articles, terrestrial television and radio entertainment services significantly.