Image by Skokie Public Library via Flickr
Digital media sounds like a complex term, but in reality it is quite simple. Digital media is any form of media that is stored or accessed by a computer or other media device that interprets binary digital data as readable information. Television, xvid movies, digital art, and the Internet are all examples of digital media.
Many decades ago, there was no such thing as digital media. Media was all either in print or mechanical (such as a music box.) The invention of the telephone and radio and other forms of analog transmission helped pave the way for future generations having access to nearly every imaginable media digitally. During the 20th century, computers were invented and became a part of our everyday lives. Now, not only can we access all of the classic forms of media like newspapers, books, art, and music in new digital formats, we now have many new and exciting media formats available.
Digital media has lead to many issues regarding copyrights and digital theft. In the olden days, it was very hard for someone to copy the contents of a book and share it with others. Now, with computers in a huge majority of households, this is a very common occurrence. The theft of digital music has made a big impact on the recording industry, with sales of compact discs going down nearly every year.
The companies that own digital copyrights have tried to put guards into place to help prevent their works from being stolen and illegally distributed. There is only so much that consumers will deal with as far as this goes, and when these preventions keep them from being able to fully enjoy their legally owned products with open source software like Ares Galaxy and xvid codec, consumers start turning towards illegal means. It is a very fine line that the digital copyright holders walk, trying to protect themselves without alienating the customers that keep them in business.
