Myth Media Meta Three Information Epochs and What

  • Slides: 20
Download presentation
Myth, Media, Meta Three Information Epochs and What They Mean for Broadcasting Dennis L.

Myth, Media, Meta Three Information Epochs and What They Mean for Broadcasting Dennis L. Haarsager Associate Vice President & General Manager Educational & Public Media, Washington State University

n e o e i r t F a m Be r o f

n e o e i r t F a m Be r o f In To s t n a W

But, what kind of free? Free as in free beer? n Free as in

But, what kind of free? Free as in free beer? n Free as in free inquiry or free speech? n Free as in unhindered? n

Entropy n Thermodynamic entropy: ¨ 2 nd Law of Thermodynamics ¨ Energy tends to

Entropy n Thermodynamic entropy: ¨ 2 nd Law of Thermodynamics ¨ Energy tends to disperse unless hindered ¨ Entropy increases over time n Information entropy: ¨ Behaves the same way – it scatters and grows in volume ¨ The math is the same (Claude Shannon developed for Bell System)

Example: Ancestral DNA 12½% 12½% 25% 50% You 250 years ≈ 10 generations =

Example: Ancestral DNA 12½% 12½% 25% 50% You 250 years ≈ 10 generations = 1, 024 ancestors = 0. 01%

Example: Game of “telegraph” Story begins A C D B E … Is passed

Example: Game of “telegraph” Story begins A C D B E … Is passed on … Revealed story usually differs from the original F

Growth in human-generated info Writing invented ca. 3500 BCE n Moving forward to 1

Growth in human-generated info Writing invented ca. 3500 BCE n Moving forward to 1 CE, the Royal Library at Alexandria had 400 k-600 k scrolls n ¨ Let’s assume each was equiv. of 100 pp. ¨ And that they missed 90% of info ¨ Total then is 1 TB worldwide, 3 k. B for each of 300 M persons

Info growth, continued n A 2000 study estimated 12 exabytes total, increasing at 4

Info growth, continued n A 2000 study estimated 12 exabytes total, increasing at 4 exabytes per year ¨A 2002 study estimated 5 exabytes that year alone (37, 000 Libraries of Congress) ¨ Makes 2007 estimate 45 exabytes, 6. 8 GB for each of 6. 6 B people n In 2000 years, population has grown 22 fold, but information person has grown 2 million times

Human intervention Desiring to retain value from information, we humans … n … “hinder”

Human intervention Desiring to retain value from information, we humans … n … “hinder” its free dispersion. n In thermodynamics, we create low-entropy “hindrances” like the head of a match, a balloon or tire, a Thermos®, et al. n With information, we do the following … n

Information epochs n Myth ¨ Metaphor, n story-telling, poetry, music, art Media ¨ One-to-many

Information epochs n Myth ¨ Metaphor, n story-telling, poetry, music, art Media ¨ One-to-many n print, electronic communications Meta ¨ Machine-assisted communications many-to-many

Information epochs n Humans are in an “arms race” against information entropy ¨ Failings

Information epochs n Humans are in an “arms race” against information entropy ¨ Failings of memory ¨ Limitations of dissemination n New epochs build on – not replace – what comes before, but not without change ¨ Death of legacy media – Not! ¨ Death of culture (Andrew Keen) – Not!

Myth: poetry, values Early shall he rise who has designs On another’s land or

Myth: poetry, values Early shall he rise who has designs On another’s land or life: His prey escapes the prone wolf, The sleeper is seldom victorious. Hávamál, The Sayings of Hár translation: W. H. Auden and P. B. Taylor

Myth: poetry, metaphor Full fathom five thy father lies; Of his bones are coral

Myth: poetry, metaphor Full fathom five thy father lies; Of his bones are coral made; Those are pearls that were his eyes: Nothing of him that doth fade But doth suffer a sea-change Into something rich and strange. Ariel’s song in The Tempest William Shakespeare

Media Rock paintings ca. 40, 000 years ago n Cave paintings ca. 32, 000

Media Rock paintings ca. 40, 000 years ago n Cave paintings ca. 32, 000 years ago n Earliest writing ca. 3500 BCE n Johannes Gutenberg (~1400 -68) invents movable type printing in Europe (earlier in Asia), launching mass media n

Mass media A marriage between story-telling and mass distribution n One-to-many architecture permits broad

Mass media A marriage between story-telling and mass distribution n One-to-many architecture permits broad distribution of the same message n The story teller “authority” continues to be king n

Meta In Greek – transcending, going above or beyond n As in metadata –

Meta In Greek – transcending, going above or beyond n As in metadata – data which describe other information in a useful way n Permits granular manipulation and dissemination of information n Permits tracking and acting on to what users pay attention n

“Metamedia” In the meta world, anyone can create and distribute – “authorities” are many

“Metamedia” In the meta world, anyone can create and distribute – “authorities” are many n Good story-telling and comprehensive effort still prevails (only 12 of top 100 blogs are individual efforts) n Machines can learn user histories and respond n

Implications for broadcasters Don’t dig your grave just yet n But don’t rely on

Implications for broadcasters Don’t dig your grave just yet n But don’t rely on the remote control to save you n ¨ Viewers and listeners have many access choices n Good story-telling is important in more than just 30 -minute increments ¨ Does this frame tell a story?

Implications, continued n Embrace the “meta” and social interaction ¨ Engage n in a

Implications, continued n Embrace the “meta” and social interaction ¨ Engage n in a conversation with your audience Manage production for archival value

Contact information Dennis L. Haarsager Assoc VP/GM, Educational & Public Media Washington State University

Contact information Dennis L. Haarsager Assoc VP/GM, Educational & Public Media Washington State University www. haarsager. org/contact n www. technology 360. com n