Emerging Digital Media Ecologies

Emerging Digital Media Ecologies investigates the profound ways in which digital media reshapes our cultural, socio-technological, political, and natural landscapes. Through interdisciplinary empirical and creative case studies, the book illuminates the nuances of medialogy, emphasizing the often-underestimated impact of emerging technologies across interactive education, data gathering, visual-data representations, and creative practice. It explores the intersection of the natural and technological worlds, contextualizing our use of natural resources against climate change and sustainable economies.

Divided into two parts, the book delves into the theoretical underpinnings of digital media ecologies and their practical applications. Part One traces the evolution of media technologies, examining their environmental impact and the foundational approaches to understanding media’s complex interconnections. Part Two focuses on contemporary issues such as hyper-personalized media, digital literacy, and the transformative power of Indigenous media narratives.

Additionally, the monograph explores the revolutionary role of artificial intelligence and large language models like ChatGPT in shaping our digital future. It investigates how AI transforms creative practices, data processing, and communication, contributing to the formation of new media ecologies. The ethical implications, commodification, identity formation, and the impact of AI-driven technologies on everyday life are critically examined, offering insights into the future of human-technology interactions.

This book is a crucial reference for scholars, practitioners, and students in digital humanities, media studies, environmental humanities, and anyone interested in the cultural implications of emerging digital technologies and their impact on our environment and society.