transmedia lab

S. Gaultier: 80% of 8 to 14 year olds watch television and surf the Internet at the same time (source ABC+/3D2+ July 2008 ). The new generations consume media simultaneously, they are multi-screen. What kind of programs should we offer this new generation? Transmedia offers the idea of a combined media consumption, but not necessarily a simultaneous one. Crossmedia suggests a multi-screen consumption conceived either one media at a time, either simultaneously. 3D2+ develops virtual worlds where it’s possible to create television shows. The audience sees what’s going on in the virtual world…in which it’s probably participating!

E. Coleman: These days, kids love what “grown-ups” consume. They’re always flicking. They’re attached to content, not channel. Television remains their medium of choice, followed by videogames and the Internet. They have a very rigid activity structure during the day (get up, go to school, eat, homework, fun…) and often, limited leisure time (parental intervention), but a very “free” media consumption (across all media). On the Internet, they’re very present on social networks such as MSN or Facebook. What can that mean for the creation of Transmedia programs? What kind of presence can social networks have in the audiovisual creation?

Debate:

-          The speed of evolution of youth is a problem for the creation of programs destined to them. Even young scriptwriters in their twenties are disconnected from the habits and expectations of teenagers.

-          For sports, particularly football, kids master the media. Rather than watch a match for the whole duration without ever knowing if there’s going to be a goal, they prefer to follow the score and the events of the match live on the Internet, allowing them to do other things at the same time, even if they have to go on Youtube later to check out the goals. Can young people still stay for 1h or 2h in front of a program without being active?

-          Social networks are a way for them to access the info that interests them. They tweet and keep each other informed. They are the first users of the 2.0 web.

-          Sociologically speaking, adolescence is the period where kids detach from their parents to create their own tribe, they are totally in sync with the social networks.

-          Internet, which was perceived as a risk for kids to lock themselves up in their rooms, living in a virtual community, has become a way for teenagers to create their very real community. For example, Facebook is taking over Skyblog for young people. Kids are less interested in “producing” than in communicating with their tribe.

-          Faced with this evolution towards Transmedia, no animation producer has integrated these new uses in their program offer for young people.

-          On the Internet, on Youth sites, games are the most popular offer, followed by networking with friends and watching videos, all that before blogs.

Useful info:

-          See the study made by a young intern at Morgan Stanley: Media & Internet, how teenagers consume media.

-          The Natal interface project from Microsoft wants to make the audience the dialogue interface with its terminal (Xbox). There is no more remote or joystick, the system recognizes movements and identifies the person present. See demo: Microsoft Project Natal.