Manovich argues that a new media is not something fixed once and for all, but something that can exist in different, potentially infinite versions. For example, Microsoft offers SharePoint as part of its suite of applications to business users. As one of those business users, I spend a lot of time using Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc. However, collaborating with many people on a team becomes difficult since we cannot all work on the same file at any point in time.

With the new Co-Authoring feature in SharePoint, Microsoft allows up to 100 people to work on the same document or file at the same time, and periodically synchronizing each user’s version with the main document. At the end of the day, we have a complete document that was revised by every team member, thus, reduced the turnover period for creating a document or file.

Additionally, that document is then synchronized to the company’s servers which can be accessed through a computer, mobile device,  or a browser; the same document accessed in different ways, allowing for the creation of many more versions.

Manovich also argues that if the logic of old media corresponded to the logic of industrial mass society, the logic of new media fits the logic of the postindustrial society which values individuality over conformity. In industrial mass society everyone was supposed to enjoy the same goods – and to share the same beliefs. A case in point is that of the example of SharePoint in business. Everyone shares the same goods(in this case, files) and the sharing of their beliefs (opinions).

I think Manovich does a thorough job of outlining the “Principles of New Media, ” but more importantly making the content applicable to the present day where technology is very dynamic.