Innovation, Programmable Media and the Human Computer Interface

In this article, the author examines fundamental principles or characteristics (e.g., programmability, modularity, variability) of digital media that make much of today's digital innovations possible. These precepts offer context for understanding the rapid and pervasive innovation currently taking place in society and, more specifically, how this innovation impacts trends in human computer interfaces. A focus of the article will be news-orientated interfaces. This article contrasts traditional informational sources such as newspapers and television news with digital interfaces. Finally, this article makes several observations regarding technology innovation that have bearing on the interaction experience of news consumers. This article categorized these observations broadly as rapid innovation, interaction, social interaction, scale, convergence, and Internet of Things and data.