The reading this week was by our very own lecturer Adrian Miles. He discussed the concept that is ‘Network Literacy’. Opening with an anecdote about a girl going to the library to borrow a book. This takes many steps. With the emergence of the Internet however, we have a much easier solution – just Google it.
Network literacy is, in a nutshell, having the knowledge to be able to participate as a peer within the emerging networks that are now the product of the Internet, and to have as ‘deep’ an understanding of the logics or protocols of these networks as we do of print.
All kinds of media, whether it be web pages, blog posts, photos or videos are weaved and interconnected throughout such networks. Where print literacy is a purely two way relationship, network literacy can grow and expand, extending itself between consumers through collaboration.
This is an interesting topic which I’m sure we will learn more about – this subject is Networked Media, of course.