The document discusses different types of digital media, including "hard copy", "softcopy", "hard video", and "softvideo". It defines softvideo as using computers for all aspects of video production, publishing, and consumption, allowing for interactive, nonlinear video works. The document suggests softvideo challenges existing ideas of what video is and could lead to new forms of collaborative, networked video experiences that take advantage of the web's capabilities. However, most current online video like podcasting maintains traditional linear forms without utilizing the web's interactivity.

1. video blogs &
softvideo
(videoécriture)
mediamatic
amsterdam | 2006

2. rmit university | mcd studio
adrian miles
amsterdam | 2006
mediamatic
the past
Most models of online video are not
interactive
• they appropriate the browser as a defacto TV
• in 2002 I criticised current practice for using
broadcast models when the web is ‘middlecast’
• podcasting is middlecasting but it is still defacto TV
• interactivity can and should be within the video

3. rmit university | mcd studio
adrian miles
amsterdam | 2006
mediamatic
hard copy
hard copy is when we use a computer to
produce old media
• digital is used to facilitate production
• these affordances are removed or diluted post
production (once the work is published)
• eg word processors
• the affordances of the software are intended to help
get stuff onto old (dead) media

4. rmit university | mcd studio
adrian miles
amsterdam | 2006
mediamatic
softcopy
softcopy is when we use the computer to
write (produce), publish and distribute
content
• in softcopy the affordances of the digital are
preserved after publication
• eg hypertext and blogs
• here the affordances of the tools are about
developing, inventing or creating new possible media

5. rmit university | mcd studio
adrian miles
amsterdam | 2006
mediamatic
hard video
in film and video production the digital
‘revolution’ is a hard media revolution
• the tools facilitate production (in all facets)
• once published the work becomes ‘hard’
• it assumes a temporally constrained, linear media
form
• the work ‘occupies’ time
• the contributions that digital technologies offer
production are largely removed for the user

6. rmit university | mcd studio
adrian miles
amsterdam | 2006
mediamatic
softvideo
softvideo is where there is where the
computer is used for production,
authoring, distribution and consumption
(use)

7. rmit university | mcd studio
adrian miles
amsterdam | 2006
mediamatic
softvideo artefacts
this allows for video works that are
• performative
• open
• variable
• linked (temporally and spatially)

8. rmit university | mcd studio
adrian miles
amsterdam | 2006
mediamatic
poses questions
such a practice causes us to rethink what
we think video is, or could be
• where is montage?
• how long is the work?
• where does a video begin, and end?
• new relations between montage (temporal) and
collage (spatial) are formed

9. rmit university | mcd studio
adrian miles
amsterdam | 2006
mediamatic
softvideo architecture
`
video
video
video
video
sound
sound
sound
sprites

10. rmit university | mcd studio
adrian miles
amsterdam | 2006
mediamatic
softvideo affordances
not only might this cause us to reframe
what we think video is in networked
contexts, it might allow
• video that knows it has been quoted
• video engines that show embedded video
(intertwingled video)
• new forms of collaged collaborative works
• video that dynamically assembles content

11. rmit university | mcd studio
adrian miles
amsterdam | 2006
mediamatic
the new kids on the block
podcasting, and most video blogging,
maintains a closed form
video remains mute in relation to the
network
it breaks (or at least ignores) the
granularity and affordances of the web
this helps account for its adoption (we
have not had to do very much very
differently

12. rmit university | mcd studio
adrian miles
amsterdam | 2006
mediamatic
imaginary futures
as I mentioned yesterday, video on the
web today is in a similar position to
writing on the web in the mid 90s
• confusing distribution with new media
• remember ebooks?

13. rmit university | mcd studio
adrian miles
amsterdam | 2006
mediamatic
in the kitchen
I would now like to show you a ‘how to’
and some sketches of what I have been
talking about

14. rmit university | mcd studio
adrian miles
amsterdam | 2006
mediamatic
http://hypertext.rmit.edu.au/vlog/