Intro
Interactivity is likely the single thing that most differentiates new media from old media. Although there are other things that make new media different, none seem to have as large of an effect on users as interactivity.
Examples
New media’s ability to be interactive is one of those things that we all know about but it can be hard to define concrete examples. The usual one (at least for me) is improvised live comedy. Comedians can bounce off of what the crowd says and use it to create material, thus having an interactive show. I experienced this myself at the unity week comedy show with Sal Vulcano, wherein he asked students about campus life and made many jokes about their responses.
Another example of interactivity in new media is the concept of feedback. Now, people can actually give their own opinions and criticism regarding media to its creators and possibly see it fixed. This usually manifests either as surveys or comment sections that allow people to voice their thoughts and actually see changes implemented.
More noticeably though, interactivity is very prevalent in digital new media. Pretty much all websites are built around being interactive, with features being accessible in whatever order the user would prefer.
old media just can’t compete
Interestingly enough, it seems as though old media has been transfixed by the idea of being interactive for centuries. But sadly, it simply can not. Concepts like “Choose your own adventure” books and video games with different endings depending on what the player does have existed for a long time, but neither are one-hundred percent interactive. The viewer is still limited to whatever option the creator has allowed them, even if it is still more freedom than the usual piece of media.
There are also concepts like Netflix’s “Bandersnatch” and the film “Sailor of The King” that try to be interactive. “Bandersnatch” is similar the aforementioned video games as it allows the watcher to make different choices for the character throughout. “Sailor of The King” is a more interesting story. You see, two endings were filmed. In every screening, the audience was told to vote which ending they wanted. The winner would then be screened. While this is interactive, it lacks the true limitless potential of interactivity afforded to new media. It is still limited to the two created for the film.
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