The first chapter deals about the five general tendencies of what new media is for the author. Indeed, new media is not just about converting media into a digital representation, even though communication tools had evolved in the same time of computers so we can talk about computerization of media.

First, with the numerical representation of media, through a digital code and an algorithm system, individuals are able to describe the data mathematically. Converting continuous data into a numerical representation is called digitization. Digitization involved both sampling and quantization.

The second characteristic of new media objects is the modularity. They are composed of independent parts, like pixels or text characters. In programming, subroutines or functions are assembled into larger programs which enable multimedia applications to publicate content following the same structure.

Automation in a consequence of the 2 first principles. The author identifies « low-level »  automation, such as Photoshop programs which can automatically correct picture quality, like contrasts or colors. He also identifies « high-level » automation of media creation, like artificial intelligence projects where softwares can replace human creation.

Closely connected to automation, new media is also characterized by variability. A media object has now potentially infinite versions which can be constantly modifiated by a computer.

Finally, cultural transcoding is a consequence of computerization of media while the « computer layer » and the « cultural layer » influence each other.

So the author, by providing his personal interpretation of what new media is, shows that media are now a medium where expression and creativity borders can be pushed and challenged constantly. Thanks to digitization and to all that computers can do, media has become more and more interactive. But the author points out the fact that because information has become more interactive, while readers become actors of their own way to access news, we are also more and more “pre-programmed” with the principle of hyperlinking.