What Is New Media?

My interpretation of New Media coincided with a definition I found at: http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/N/new_media.html

It states new media is, "A generic term for the many different forms of electronic communication that are made possible through the use of computer technology." I feel new media refers to all the technological forms of communication people have with one another via computers. This includes the online social networks, like Facebook and Myspace, the cell phone apps that allows you to locate yourself (like those for the iphone), the twitter application, etc. People are able to connect and make new friends through new media, they are able to share their insights, knowledge and experiences (ie., blogs). New media provides speed and ease in communicating. People are able to spread news more quickly through all the technology that makes up new media. People are able to make purchases, sell items, consult, and inform through new media. People are able to get the latest reviews, gossip, trends, information on hotspots, the goings on around town, etc. It's a way in which people can be connected to their world without having to travel far or waiting around for the information to get to them.

Online Consumers in the Age of New Media

For the term project I will be working with Annie Hiciano, and our topic will be "Online Consumers in the New Media Age." Our focus will be on online shopping which we believe is a part of new media because it's part of the new pop culture. Although online shopping has been around for a while, it's a lot more mainstream in that people now have access to shopping and purchasing items from various markets without leaving the comfort of their homes. As technology improves, the access to shopping without physically going to a store is increased. We will be providing a comparison between online shopping when it first began and what it is like today as well as what retailers are doing to adhere to this trend. We will also be talking about the pros (which would include great online selection of products, good deals through price comparison, and no need to travel) and the cons (such as having to wait for merchandise to arrive, paying shipping fees, and the inability to try things on).