Electronic media

Not to be confused with Electronic publishing.

A screenshot of a web page. The computers to store, transmit, and display the web page are electronic media. The web page is an electronic medium.

Graphical representations of electrical audio data. Electronic media uses either analog (red) or digital (blue) signal processing.

Electronic media are media that use electronics or electromechanical energy for the end user (audience) to access the content. This is in contrast to static media (mainly print media), which today are most often created electronically, but do not require electronics to be accessed by the end user in the printed form. The primary electronic media sources familiar to the general public are video recordings, audio recordings, multimedia presentations, slide presentations, CD-ROM and online content. Most new media are in the form of digital media. However, electronic media may be in either analogue electronics data or digital electronic data format.

Although the term is usually associated with content recorded on a storage medium, recordings are not required for live broadcasting and online networking.

Any equipment used in the electronic communication process (e.g. television, radio, telephone, desktop computer, game console, handheld device) may also be considered electronic media.

History of development

Transmission Wire and transmission lines Telegraph 1795–1832 Facsimile 1843–1861 Telephone 1849–1877 Coaxial cable 1880 Fiber Optics 1956–1970 Wireless Radio 1897–1920 Satellite 1958–1972 Free Space Optics 1960s Internet Downloading 1969 (first protocols for transferring files ) Live Streaming 1996 (RTP protocol) Display and output Information Processing 1940s (Term) Galvanometer 18 Telegraph Sounder 1844 Telephone Receiver 1849–1877 Light red 1801–1883 Neon 1893–1902 Teleprinter 1910 CRT 1922 Radio/television tuner 1894–1927 Speaker/Headphones 1876–1928/1930s LED/LCD 1955–1962/1968 Laser light show 1970s Computer Monitor 1950s/1976 (for PCs) Large Electronic Display 1985 HDTV 1936 (Term) 1990s (Standards) HMD 1968–current

Electrical Signal Processing Capture 1745 (Capacitor) Analog methods of Encoding 1830s (Morse code) Electronic Modulating 1832–1927 Electronic Multiplexing 1853 (TDM) Digitizing 1903 (PCM telephone) Electronic encryption 1935–1945 Online routing 1969 Electronic programming 1943–current Electronic information storage Recording medium Punched card and paper tape 1725/1846 Phonograph cylinder and disk 1857–1958 Film 1876–1889 Magnetic storage 1898–2003 RAM 1941–current Barcodes 1952/1973 (UPC) Laser Disc 1969–1978 Compact Disc/DVD 1982/1993–current Content formats Content (media) 1877–current Audio recording 1877–current Video recording 1952–current Digital file formats Database content and formats 1963–current Interactivity Control panel Input device Game controller Handheld Wired glove Brain–computer interface (BCI)

Uses

Electronic media are ubiquitous in most of the developed world. Electronic media devices have found their way into all parts of modern life. The term is relevant to media ecology for studying its impact compared to printed media and broadening the scope of understanding media beyond a simplistic aspect of media such as one delivery platform (e.g. the World Wide Web) aside from many other options. The term is also relevant to professional career development regarding related skill set.

Primary uses of electronic media

Journalism News Commerce Marketing Advertising Barker channel Digital signage Graphic design Education Professional training Science Engineering

Fine art Digital art Digital photography Experimental music Video Industry Corporate communications Business presentations Telecommuting Software interfaces Computer simulations Virtual reality

Entertainment Movies Music Television Video games Government Infrastructure Communications Transportation Public services Community bulletin board Military Nonprofit services