Coalescent media & the design of computer mediated education

Abstract

This paper presents a model of communication emerging from new networks of interactions between humans and information software created to gather and filter data and information. Coalescent describes the nature and schema of a new medium that emerges from human interactions with networks of information sources. Unlike previously understood media interaction between sources and receivers of information that rely on notions of scale, coalescent communication arises from user interactions with database, information management, autonomous agent, and other software that are both highly personal and massively connected. Coalescent systems provide for augmented cognition and information access in educational, professional, and entertainment contexts offering powerful new tools to the educator, student, and consumer. Different theoretical frameworks will be used to address the concepts and suppositions of this model.