So, this week was another reading which I didn’t mind so much. I quite enjoyed the first half of Rizzos’ article as I felt it to be relatable and I could see examples within my own life of how IQ, Youtube and the iPod are changing networking. Admittedly, the second half of the reading was slightly more tedious, and I struggled to understand her exact explanations of the changing notion of flow, overall I found this to be a good reading.
Rizzo takes the 3 case studies of Foxtel IQ, Youtube and the iPod and efficvely uses them to demonstrate the shift in traditional media networks. Each of the media types essentially enable a new level of interactiveness with the media, i.e. IQ allows one to record and view television at their own discretion, Youtube allows for one to view at their own discretion, form playlists and upload, and the iPod does this plus completely undermining the spatial factor of media, as it can be taken everywhere. Media is no longer temporal place that you ‘tune into’. but rather a spatial place that you visit, or even take with you, based on your own schedule and convenience. One point I felt interesting that was presented by Rizzo is the fact that these new digital environments, through the use of the playlist, are not in fact anti-social, but quite the oppisite. She shows through Youtube, how people are actually linked, as they can share playlists and access people who have similar interests based on their creations. Moreover, I thought about how most videos have loads of comments – this is just another way how people can interact and form networks within the digital environment of Youtube. I also thought, in relation to Rizzos’ notion of flow, of how when one opens Youtube.com the home page will have videos ‘recommended for you’ by the server, based on your previously viewed clips, demonstrating the notion of flow.
The play list is definitely a commonly used tool within todays media environment as it enables a new level of customization. This is particularly true in regards to the iPod, as I know myself, I have a play list (of music and videos) for nearly every occasion – gym, sleep, schoolwork, long car rides, which are each based off the most relevant flow for the particular task I am undertaking. This new notion of flow, as defined by Deleuze and Guattari as based upon connections that a certain playlist forms (i.e. the flow of which hyperlinks you follow when surfing the web create connections based upon your interests) opens a whole new door for digital networks, as the flow of playlists enables people to create networks based upon similar intersts. For example, I can become part of an online network on Youtube when I find a particular playlist uploaded by another user which suits my interests. Examples of the older notion of playlist flow (that is, television where programs ‘flow’ into one another so the viewer is in for a night of viewing) are definitely still alive and well though. I think a great example of this is on Tuesday nights America’s Next Top Model is followed directly by Gossip Girl on Fox8, which are undeniably aimed at the same demographic, encouraging them to stay tuned. Similarly, on Monday nights on Arena, Project Runway is followed directly by Models of the Runway (a spin-off), which persuades fans not to shut off the tv, but rather keep viewing a whole different show.
I am very obsessive when it comes to music playlists on my iPod. Seeing as I have a fairly long bus ride to and from university,the night before I always create a playlist, entitled something like ‘Wednesday Bus’. I usually use this as an opportunity to catch up on songs I haven’t heard in a while. But in relation to the flow between content and activity, playlists for any form of exercise usually feature more beat driven or propulsive music.
I like what programs like Foxtel iQ can do for you in creating an environment where the television is something interactive and exists whenever we need it rather than based on strict scheduling. I also believes that it serves a diiferent purpose than previous changes in similar technologies, like VCRs. I’m sure lots of people used VCR for the similar reasons they would use iQ (to watch a show they could watch live, at a more convenient time). But I, personally used the VCR as a way of storing programs. I have at least 35 tapes filled with episodes of “The Simpsons” (all labelled Simpsons 1,2,3, etc). I don’t know about the storage capabilities or rules surrounding iQ, but I don’t think that is a focus of this particular technological innovation. (This isn’t very relevant, but I felt like mentioning it).
-Nick Hayes