The principle of variability stood out to me in the way Manovich described it. He explains that digital objects exist in multiple versions allowing for customization, interactivity, and adaptability. This is what makes digital media so different from traditional forms like books or films—which are fixed, but digital content is always changing. A website isn’t just a static page; it updates, personalizes itself to users, and shifts based on external inputs. This flexibility makes digital media feel more alive, constantly evolving with the people who interact with it. A great example of variability is social media. No two people see the same exact feed, because each algorithm is tailored to that person’s interactions. Each experience is unique for everyone, making the platform feel more personal. Video games even do something similar to this where they’re able to generate different environments, interactions and storylines depending on the choices of the player, creating distinct experiences per user. Artists experiment with randomness and manipulation to create visuals that are never exactly the same twice. This goes against the normal idea that artwork has a single and final form. Variability is what makes digital media so fluid and interactive. Instead of simply experiencing a single, final piece of media, we are shape it and adapt it in real time.