Sign in or register
for additional privileges

Rearranging Notions of the Digital and the Physical

Keywords of the 21st Century

Frerk Hillmann-Rabe, Lina Boes, Vanessa Richter, Katrin Schuenemann, Malte-Kristof Müller, Philine Schomacher, Elisa Budian, Lara Jueres, Authors

You appear to be using an older verion of Internet Explorer. For the best experience please upgrade your IE version or switch to a another web browser.

Black box

The term "Blackbox" originates from systems theory and kybernetics. It is referring to a system that is solely analysed throughout its output. Its structure (processes and protocols) are not accessible. In the context of commercial digital media we can say that in favor of usability the technical processes are hidden behind a surface (e.g. a Graphical User Interface). The PC is an example of a blackbox produced for the consumer's convenient handling: You cannot see the working of the protocols and the technical processes behind your computer screen. The same applies to any concept that obscures the procedures going on behind the scenes, like political decision making, global warming and media phenomena.
Comment on this page
 

Discussion of "Black box"

Add your voice to this discussion.

Checking your signed in status ...