Feb 20 2012 02:46 pm

Posted by under Blog Asignment

Manovich’s Transcoding

 

Acccording to Lev Manovich Transcoding is the process by which something is transformed from one form into another. For example, taking media and turning it into computer data. However, once it is transcoded, or transformed, it takes on a different shape digitally while remaining the same visually to the user. Manovich refers to these two different visual planes as the culture layer and the computer layer. The culture layer is what remains recognizable to humans while the computer layer, you guessed it, is digital coding that the computer uses to translate into objects we are familiar with.

In my view, Manovich sees the Transcoding as an eternal process of new media. Manovich writes, “As hardware and software keep evolving and as the computer is used for new tasks and in new ways, this [computer] layer undergoes continuous transformation” (Page 46). As long as new technologies are developed, new office applications, new photo manipulation programs, new flash sites, etc., the computer layer will continue to evolve. The underwriting will become more complicated while new opportunities for the user become available. Visually, the screen will remain the same. The computer screen will still consist of individual objects of information that can be individually manipulated by the user with the aid of the ever-changing programs.


2 Comments »

2 Responses to “Manovich’s Transcoding”

  1. mgershovich on 21 Feb 2012 at 4:15 pm #

    It’s really amazing how this “computer layer” has evolved with computer hardware and software over time. I am not sure what you mean in your last sentence. Can you cite specific examples from your own use of computers that illustrate Manovich’s point about transcoding?

  2. kurkuri2004 on 22 Feb 2012 at 12:47 pm #

    In my last sentence here I tried to say that the change of format implies that the new object can start new conversations with other objects. An example of this transformation is the old web communities such as forums, chat, etc. are evolved into what we call now “social sites”, with a high social impact in our daily lives. This example we can see, how informatics evolution for example API, RSS, Mashup services promotes new “cultural” entities and advanced usages.