Designing Digital Media Objects on the Basis of Affordances（Digital Essay 2)

Digital media objects have revolutionized the human landscape in multiple ways. One of the key areas that have been impacted heavily by the introduction of the digital medium is communication. Additionally, digital media objects have shifted away from the initial legacy medium. The main distinction that arises between the two media regarding their formation is that the digital one is made up of electronic bits. Therefore, designing digital medium is primarily based on four affordances set out by Murray. An analysis of the iPhone reveals how the integration of the four affordances into its design has enhanced effective interaction between the user and the smartphone.

iPhone is procedural due to its ability to conform to a particular action requested by the user (Murray 51). Specifically, conformity is achieved through the use of executable guidelines embedded within the smartphone (Murray 51). For instance, iPhone is characterized by a complex set of programs that can be executed to perform a wide range of functions. In fact, users can input and edit data into their phones. The image below provides an example of the iPhone executing a user’s command.

Participatory affordance is illustrated by the incorporation of users in controlling the device. Specifically, iPhone encompasses multiple features that are necessary for human use. The phone allows not only users to control but also manipulate it. For instance, the operator can decide the appropriate content he/she desires from the gadget (Snickars and Vonderau 23). The user also determines various operations he/she intends to conduct using the device. Therefore, being in control of the gadget enables a person to manipulate it to fit his/her use and needs.

Management and manipulation of the device are dependent on its applications. Devices that possess multiple applications provide the user with a greater degree of flexibility in managing it. Participatory affordance is the most important amongst the four in designing the iPhone. As a leading brand, the product provides users with a unique experience which is achieved through the participatory affordance. The image below depicts the home screen layout of an iPhone device. The home screen page avails multiple applications to the operator. For instance, the mail service enables a user to receive and send emails using the device. It suffices to mention that use of emails to communicate has also increased social media participation.

Regarding spatiality, iPhone offers its consumers both physical and information spaces (Snickars and Vonderau 34). For instance, when a user navigates Google maps he/she engages physically with the device. Furthermore, during map navigation, the operator can make sense out of the information presented. These operations can be enabled through specific features such as zooming in and out (Snickars and Vonderau 36). Another feature incorporated into the device to avail physical engagement with the user is the camera, whereby the representation of images taken is also physically associated with the operator.

The device can store information in various formats; hence, discharging the encyclopedic affordance. It is important to bear in mind that iPhones are accompanied with different storage capabilities such as 8 GB and 16 GB capacities. Storage of information is dependent on its respective storage capacity. The device also incorporates various applications that serve as databases for specific information. For instance, a user can access music in the iTunes stores. The device further incorporates cloud storage through iCloud. The image below depicts textual storage of information in the device.

Digital media objects are designed based on the four mentioned affordances put forward by Murray. Each affordance is incorporated at specific levels of the design process. Depending on the digital medium being designed, the significance of each affordance varies. In this case, the iPhone device is largely designed on the basis of participatory affordance to improve the user experience.

-Works Cited

Murray, Janet H. Inventing the Medium: Principles of Interaction Design as a Cultural Practice. The MIT Press, 2012.

Snickars, Pelle and Patrick Vonderau, editors. Moving Data: The IPhone and the Future of Media. Columbia University Press, 2012.