What Makes New Media Different

"A new media object is not something fixed once and for all but can exist in different, potentially infinite, versions" (Manovich, 2002, pg.56)

When copies are made of old media, they are all identical, however this is not the case with new media where many different versions of a piece of media can exist.

As Manovich states (Manovich, 2002, pg.56), variability can't exist without modularity, allowing each element of new media to exist independently. This allows the various individual parts to be compiled in multiple ways to create new things each time with each new media each time with each new combination, each combination can be considered new variations of the same pieces of media.

Variations of media can include several edits of one video or photo. These variations are all from the same source file that has been edited, making them essentially the same despite their minor differences.

As New Media exists as data, it can be transferred and viewed from almost any electronic device and the media we see can be customised for things like browser compatibility or the location found in the users IP address can be used to provide location specific information.

When media made the transition from analogue to digital, the possibility for variability increased. It can be argued that analogue media isn't dead, not yet anyway, ie. groups of camera enthusiasts still use old cameras and develop their photographs in a dark room using the chemicals that digital cameras left behind. It's increasingly uncommon to find analogue media today as digital is more convenient.

Variations can also be created automatically by computers, ie. an image can be matched to the scale of the viewing platform being used by the viewer. This links the idea of automation, where computers can create media with very little human interaction, to that of variation.
All of the aspects mentioned here are important in determining what New Media is, rather than just one of them.

Bibliography
Manovich, L (2002) What is New Media and Principles of New Media from the Language of New Media (Cambridge, Mass :London MIT Press)