What Are the Different Types of Digital Media?
The term digital media refers to any type of media that is in an electronic or digital format for the convenience and entertainment of consumers. Digital media includes anything that is presented in an audio (sound) or video (visual) form that can be seen and heard by others. Examples of digital media can include music files such as mp3, Midi or WMA files, video feeds found on the Internet at popular video websites, and animated flash or graphic design files and images used to create interactive websites and games.
Digital media files are generally accessed by using complex electronics devices that contain digital media receivers or processors. These devices can include computers, mobile devices, video game consoles, projectors, television and radio. Consumers access digital media files mostly for entertainment and educational value, however others are used for manipulation into other forms of digital media, such as movies, albums or websites.
Audio and music digital media files are usually accessed with digital media players, such as mp3 players or radio devices; they can also be downloaded from the Internet on music file sharing websites. Since digital media music files are easy to locate, download and store, this format of music is very popular among music lovers. Digital music files are also easy to share among consumers. This is a lower cost alternative to purchasing large albums or collections of music permanently stored on tapes, CDs and records.
Visual and video digital media is becoming a more popular form of sharing images and information for its quick entertainment value. Video and graphic image media is not only used by regular consumers that have access to affordable digital image and video creation and editing equipment and software, it’s also a format that many businesses are beginning to use. Image and video media files provide interesting and stimulating formats which have many ways of being used for the benefit of promoting ideas, information and entertainment with the public.
Gaming digital media has been available since the first video games were introduced in the 1980’s in America. While this has been traditionally a youthful pursuit, with the introduction of mobile gaming systems and family-friendly video games, this hobby is becoming a staple of many households and is enjoyed by consumers of all ages and abilities. The gaming digital media most often found is either in a physical format which must be purchased at video game retailers, or the more convenient downloadable forms that are found on the Internet.
Written by Tess C. Taylor
