Showing papers on "Digital media published in 2003"

New Media: A Critical Introduction

Abstract: This is a Second Edition of a book first co authored for 2003. The book offers students conceptual frameworks for thinking through a range of key issues which have arisen over two decades of speculation on the cultural implications of new media .

Media recording device with remote graphic user interface

Abstract: An apparatus for processing digital media signals, comprising a digital processor for controlling the apparatus; a graphic user interface, having a wireless remote control providing a command input to the processor; a network interface for transmitting digital information from the processor to a remote location over a communications network, the information identifying a digital media signal for desired reproduction based, at least in part, on an input received from the remote control; and an output, controlled by, and local to, the processor, for transferring the desired digital media signals for reproduction thereof.

Communicating Global Activism

Abstract: Many observers doubt the capacity of digital media to change the political game. The rise of a transnational activism that is aimed beyond states and directly at corporations, trade and development regimes offers a fruitful area for understanding how communication practices can help create a new politics. The Internet is implicated in the new global activism far beyond merely reducing the costs of communication, or transcending the geographical and temporal barriers associated with other communication media. Various uses of the Internet and digital media facilitate the loosely structured networks, the weak identity ties, and the patterns of issue and demonstration organizing that define a new global protest politics. Analysis of various cases shows how digital network configurations can facilitate: permanent campaigns; the growth of broad networks despite relatively weak social identity and ideology ties; transformation of individual member organizations and whole networks; and the capacity to communicate...

New Media: An Introduction

Abstract: Introduction to New MediaTwenty Key New Media ConceptsApproaches to New MediaTen Key Contemporary New Media TheoristsSocial Newtowrking MediaParticipatory Media CulturesParticipatory Media CulturesCitizen JournalismCreative IndustriesThe Global Knowledge EconomyInternet Law, Policy, and GovernanceConclusion

Digital Media

Abstract: The major in digital media (DGMD) is designed to prepare students to excel as ethical, innovative media producers and creative professionals. Such opportunities exist in commercial radio and television, documentary and narrative film-making, public broadcasting, corporate media, and associated emergent technology industries. Courses emphasize the hands-on creative use of video and audio in the development of informative and entertaining media content. Through close collaborations with faculty, students acquire a broad understanding of media history, theory, and practice as they critically examine the role of Digital Media in a global world. Recent DGMD alumni have gone into a variety of careers including producing, sports casting, radio promotions, media management, casting, on-camera presentation and performance, film and corporate video editing. Students interested in broadcast journalism should select journalism as a major, with a minor in digital media.

Method and apparatus for the free licensing of digital media content

Abstract: A system and method for displaying digital media files (566) with compulsory advertisement files is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes a user interface (500), a media file decryptor (582), an ad manager (514), an intersplicer (518), and a media player (520). The user interface receives input from a user indicating the selection of media files to be presented. The media file decryptor receives and decrypts the selected media files. The ad manager receives and manages ad files from an ad file source. The intersplicer combines the media files with the ad files by providing control signals to the media player, causing the media player to present the ad files with the selected media files. Various embodiments of the invention facilitate the wide distribution of media content in a way that allows the free use of media properties, on demand, with direct consumer exchange capabilities, while at the same time enabling compensation to copyright holders.

Digital media system and method therefor

Abstract: An online digital entertainment system comprises a first server operable to receive authenticating data from a digital media player via a global computer network and confirm the authenticating data, and a second server operable to generate unique public and private keys in response thereto, and sending the public key to the digital media player. The system further comprises a third server operable to generate a unique session key for each streaming request received from the digital media player, and sending the session key encrypted by the public key to the digital media player, and a fourth server operable to stream digital media content encrypted by the session key to the digital media player via the global computer network, the digital media player operable to decrypt the digital media content using the session key and display the digital media content on a television.

Personal inter-home media exchange network

Abstract: A system and method support the exchange of media between friends, family members, and 3rd party media providers over a closed and secure media exchange network. The media may include, for example, digital video, digital audio, digital images, digital data, or any form of digital information.

Information hiding using steganography

Abstract: Due to advances in ICT, most information is kept electronically. Consequently, the security of information has become a fundamental issue. Besides cryptography, steganography can be employed to secure information. Steganography is a technique of hiding information in digital media. In contrast to cryptography, the message or encrypted message is embedded in a digital host before passing it through the network, thus the existence of the message is unknown. Besides hiding data for confidentiality, this approach of information hiding can be extended to copyright protection for digital media: audio, video, and images.

Activation and personalization of downloadable content

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for inclusion of customizable or personalized digital content (132) in digital greeting cards and other digital media, activated at a point of sale (92) or direct purchase over the Internet (90). Methods for customization of the content of a digital audio or video object or objects or material, delivered as a downloadable file(s) or in streaming form, where additional or incidental content has been included based on information provided or incidental content created by the individuals involved in customizing, sending or receiving the material. These methods can be applied to digital content associated with greeting or gift cards sold through retail using point-of-sale activation or for digital audio or video material or objects purchased directly over the Internet. PIN numbers may be used with point-of-sale activation to limit unlicensed access or unlicensed copying to protect intellectual property rights.

Media segmentation using self-similarity decomposition

Abstract: We present a framework for analyzing the structure of digital media streams. Though our methods work for video, text, and audio, we concentrate on detecting the structure of digital music files. In the first step, spectral data is used to construct a similarity matrix calculated from inter-frame spectral similarity.The digital audio can be robustly segmented by correlating a kernel along the diagonal of the similarity matrix. Once segmented, spectral statistics of each segment are computed. In the second step,segments are clustered based on the self-similarity of their statistics. This reveals the structure of the digital music in a set of segment boundaries and labels. Finally, the music is summarized by selecting clusters with repeated segments throughout the piece. The summaries can be customized for various applications based on the structure of the original music.

Parental controls for entertainment content

Abstract: Parental controls for entertainment digital media are provided that allow a parent to restrict multiple user's access to entertainment content. One or more updatable rating definition files with dynamic data are used to define rating levels and content descriptors for a regional rating system. Entertainment content definition files define the rating level and content descriptors for entertainment content. User permission settings define a particular user's access rating level and content descriptors. The rating definition file can be used to compare the entertainment content definition file and user permission settings in determining if a user is allowed access to particular entertainment content.

Personal digital historian: story sharing around the table

Abstract: Recent advances in technology have made it possible to share digital contents. To appear in ACM Interactions March/April 2003 Volume X.2 This work may not be copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any commercial purpose. Permission to copy in whole or in part without payment of fee is granted for nonprofit educational and research purposes provided that all such whole or partial copies include the following: a notice that such copying is by permission of Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.; an acknowledgment of the authors and individual contributions to the work; and all applicable portions of the copyright notice. Copying, reproduction, or republishing for any other purpose shall require a license with payment of fee to Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc. All rights reserved. Copyright c ©Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc., 2003 201 Broadway, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139

Digital media distribution system with expiring advertisements

Abstract: A method and system for distributing “free” media content via a network or the internet, whereby media content files are bundled with advertisements that automatically expire and can automatically resurrect and/or update themselves. The nature of the expiration/resurrection/updating of these advertisements is based on a pre-defined number of impressions, a preset time limit and/or other usage protocols included in the header information of the file which are interpreted and enforced by a media player and/or other software/hardware components The distribution model for this system supports client-server models, peer-to-peer models and other networked models such as digital kiosks. This system supports media content that is linear (e.g. purely audio or audio/visual) and/or non-linear (e.g. interactive games, software, etc.) and this methodology can apply to any compression format of such content. This system can also incorporate appropriate security measures to prevent users from abusing the system.

Method and apparatus for organizing digital media based on face recognition

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a method and an apparatus for organizing digital media, particularly digital photos, using face recognition. According to a first aspect of the present invention, a computer-based method for organizing digital photos comprises: extracting objects of interest from a plurality of photographs; cropping said plurality of photographs to generate images of isolated objects of interest; applying a recognition algorithm to determine the similarity of isolated objects of interest with a reference; displaying a plurality of objects arranged as a function of the determined similarity; and receiving user input to associate said objects with a particular classification.

Personalized content application

Abstract: A personalized media service provides, e.g., user customization of radio channel selections, immediate availability of multiple pre-programmed and/or customized channels, the ability to intersperse different types of content including periodically refreshed information content, availability of personal radio functions on devices such as car audio systems, PDAs, smartphones, MP3 players, etc. Available channels include, e.g., pre-programmed channels selected for the user based on an interest profile, user-owned content, user-specified recorded content, etc. An audio user interface facilitates user selection of programming and user purchase of currently played audio material. An overall radio experience is thus provided that combines the customization and flexibility of digital media with the immediacy and ubiquity of radio. Video materials may also be accommodated.

Security of digital entertainment content from creation to consumption

Abstract: With the advent of digital technologies, many new market opportunities have emerged for content owners, content distributors, and consumer electronics/information technology industries. An essential requirement for developing a thriving marketplace is the protection of copyrighted content in digital form. There are four major stages in the delivery of content to the consumer: (1) capturing on digital media, (2) packaging, (3) distribution to home networks, and (4) transfer to the final audio/visual device within the home network. Entertainment content is of particular importance as it will be in high demand for many years to come. If an end-to-end security cannot be provided in a digital market, there would be no incentive for content creation. Lack of new supplies would result in detrimental effects for all the industries involved in the delivery chain. In this paper, we present the primary means of securing the entertainment content from creation to consumption in an attempt to understand the overall complexity of the problem.

Method and apparatus for real-time transport of multi-media information in a network

Abstract: In one embodiment of a networking module, a first block receives a serial digital media signal, and provides a parallel digital media signal based on the serial digital media signal. A second block, operative with the first block, stores the parallel digital media signal in a corresponding slot in an outgoing frame, and sends the outgoing frame in response to receiving an incoming frame.

Challenges to Public Television in the Era of Convergence and Commercialization

Abstract: The question of whether public broadcasting should be sustained and protected is at the heart of current media policy debates in Europe. The main issue is whether traditional forms of regulation, including regulation protecting public communication and the media's social and cultural functions, are still relevant in the emerging digital media system. In this article, the situation of public television is discussed with reference to the Norwegian experience and the media policies emanating from the European Union. In the article, it is argued that the momentous changes associated with convergence, globalization, and privatization have produced a new set of challenges to public broadcasters and policy makers. Although the range of possible responses is curtailed by an ideological climate that favors market regulation over more traditional forms of cultural policy, it is argued that the situation also creates space for new policies destined to protect and defend public broadcasting.

Automated playlist generation

Abstract: A digital media player. The digital media player includes storage to store media content and a user interface to provide information to a user. The information includes at least one task associated with the media content. The media player also includes a control to allow the user to select at least one task and a processor to perform a task selected by the user.

Media economics : theory and practice

Abstract: With the rapid change in the structure and value of media industries in recent years, understanding the mechanics of such change is crucial to provide insight into the processes reproducing contemporary trends in media economics, rather than simply documenting historical patterns. Editors Alison Alexander, James Owers, and Rodney Carveth have included contributions here that address the concerns of media economics, the techniques of economic and business analysis, and overall characteristics of the rapidly changing media environments, in addition to examining economic practice within specific media industries. The text concludes with a review of changes in international economic practices and in the economics of online media, and considers how the changing technologies will be a factor in economic successes. Essential for study at all levels, "Media Economics: Theory and Practice" is at the forefront of contemporary media economic theory and practice.

Time bar navigation in a media diary application

Abstract: A time bar that is navigable within a media diary application for the purpose of efficiently locating a date associated with a media file. The media diary is an application implemented on a digital device for the purpose of organizing by timeframe the digital media files that exist on the device. The time bar feature provides a means to easily and efficiently locate media files within the diary.

Cash Cows or Entrecôte: Publishing Companies and Disruptive Technologies

Abstract: This article explores the effects of the disruptive technologies and changing markets on publishing companies and asserts the need for firms to establish transformation and transition strategies It argues that the proliferation of analogue media and the development of digital media have induced significant changes in audience and advertiser behavior that challenge the long-term survival of the newspaper, magazine, and book industries I assert that the current strategies of publishing companies to gain economies of scale and scope, to move into cross-platform content provision, and to maximize return across a portfolio of content products will be effective only for the short- and midterm This study explores the point at which new media will seriously harm print media I argue that consumer behavior currently prevents short-term destruction of publishing companies but that it presents serious long-term challenges to their survival I also assert that publishing companies need to prepare strategies for co

Memory Bytes: History, Technology, and Digital Culture

Abstract: Digital culture is often characterized as radically breaking with past technologies, practices, and ideologies rather than as reflecting or incorporating them. Memory Bytes seeks to counter such ahistoricism, arguing for the need to understand digital culture—and its social, political, and ethical ramifications—in historical and philosophical context. Looking at a broad range of technologies, including photography, print and digital media, heat engines, stereographs, and medical imaging, the contributors present a number of different perspectives from which to reflect on the nature of media change. While foregrounding the challenges of drawing comparisons across varied media and eras, Memory Bytes explores how technologies have been integrated into society at different moments in time. These essays from scholars in the social sciences and humanities cover topics related to science and medicine, politics and war, mass communication, philosophy, film, photography, and art. Whether describing how the cultural and legal conflicts over player piano rolls prefigured controversies over the intellectual property status of digital technologies such as mp3 files; comparing the experiences of watching QuickTime movies to Joseph Cornell’s “boxed relic” sculptures of the 1930s and 1940s; or calling for a critical history of electricity from the Enlightenment to the present, Memory Bytes investigates the interplay of technology and culture. It relates the Information Age to larger and older political and cultural phenomena, analyzes how sensory effects have been technologically produced over time, considers how human subjectivity has been shaped by machines, and emphasizes the dependence of particular technologies on the material circumstances within which they were developed and used. Contributors. Judith Babbitts, Scott Curtis, Ronald E. Day, David Depew, Abraham Geil, Sharon Ghamari-Tabrizi, Lisa Gitelman, N. Katherine Hayles, John Durham Peters, Lauren Rabinovitz, Laura Rigal, Vivian Sobchack, Thomas Swiss

Systems and methods for the production, management, syndication and distribution of digital assets through a network

Abstract: Systems and methods are for production, management, syndication and distribution of digital assets through a network such as the Internet or wireless network. Digital media assets are distributed to consumers through a syndicated network of Outlets under control of a central platform. Distribution is format agnostic.

Multimedia and Interactive Digital TV: Managing the Opportunities Created by Digital Convergence

Abstract: From the Publisher: Addressing the issues that managers in the multimedia industry have confronted while developing and implementing this innovative technology, this book focuses on the latest research and findings in digital television technologies. Covered are the major issues surrounding digital convergence including the digital metamarket and new digital media devices and their potential for IT convergence at the macro level. Also addressed are multimedia and interactive digital television and the economic implications of these technologies. Additionally, the managerial implications of interactive digital television are covered, including branding strategies for digital television channels and the critical role of content media management. Author Biography: Margherita Pagani, is currently the coordinator of TV-LAB Research Laboratory on Digital Television and the I-LAB Research Center on Digital Economy. She is also a professor in the Graduate Business School at Bocconi University.