ELMS 2.0 Prototype Glossary

digital qualities

2d

the work's critical use of 2d space is a core component of its message; should not be used simply to identify works that exist in 2d space

3d

the work's critical use of 3d space is a core component of its message; should not be used simply to identify works that exist in 3d space

algorithmic

an algorithm plays a large part in the creation and/or selective display of the work's content

animated

the work includes significant 2d or 3d animation

application

a standalone executable program meant to be experienced on a digital device

artificial intelligence

artificial intelligence plays a large part in the creation and/or selective display of the work's content; typically, the work goes beyond the use of standard algorithmic computation to include some form of machine learning

ASCII

features prominent visual elements created from text, using the set of ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) characters

augmented reality (AR)

makes use of techniques that overlay digital information onto the physical world in some way, usually via a mobile device or wearable

avatar

engages critically with digital avatars and avatar usage in digital environments, such as virtual worlds and video games

blog

short for 'web log'; the work makes use of a blogging platform to craft and deliver content

code work

a type of creative writing which 'in some way references or incorporates formal computer languages (e.g. C++) within the text'

ELC1

collaborative

the work invites and/or facilitates collaboration between several people and/or parties that results in some or all of its content

combinatory

the work uses a program that 'accesses and presents data...and then through algorithmic processes, modifies or substitutes the data'

Scott Rettberg

data

the work's content constitutes or is based on data structures and/or data processing in a significant way

database

the work makes use of a database in its production and/or display of content

ephemeral

the work makes use of programs or platforms that intend certain content to be ephemeral, such as timed, self-deleting content

email

the work makes use of electronic mail in a significant way

generative

the work's main content was generated in whole or in part by an autonomous system

glitch

the work's content makes use of intentional glitching of intended computer processes, programs, and formats

hypermedia

the work makes extensive use of hyperlinks to form connections between various media objects

hypertext

the work makes extensive use of hyperlinks to connect discrete sections of text (lexia)

illustrated

the work combines image and language in a way that evokes the practice of illustrated text

immersive

the work uses one or more technologies that engages the user on multiple sensory levels to create an effect of immersion

Instagram

the work makes use of the Instagram platform and its specific affordances for content creation and/or distribution

interactive

users engage with the work via non-trivial interaction, such as making choices or entering input

internet (pre-web)

the work exists within or makes use of pre-web internet structures

kinetic

the work 'relies on [a poetics of]spatiotemporal transitions with expressive literary, visual and aural layers'

Álvaro Seiça

liveness

the work emphasizes its own immediacy and authenticity as delivered over a network

locative

the work involves real physical locations to the extent that elsewhere it cannot be experienced as intended; often involves locomotion

microcontroller

the work makes significant use of a microcontroller such as a Raspberry Pi or Arduino Uno

mobile

the work makes significant use of a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet computer

multimedia

the work makes significant integrated use of a variety of media, such as text, image, sound, and video

networked

the work makes signicant use of decentralized communication involving multiple interconnected nodes

projection

the work makes significant use of projection hardware and software to display and/or enable interaction with its content

site-specific

the work is created to be experienced in a specific environment, such as CAVE

slideshow

the work makes significant use of slideshow software such as Keynote or PowerPoint

social media

the work makes significant use of social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok

spreadsheet

the work makes significant use of spreadsheet programs such as Excel

tracking

the work makes signfiicant use of hardware and software that tracks the user's biometrics, such as facial characteristics, fingerprint, or heart rate

virtual reality

the work makes significant use of virtual reality (VR) hardware and software

virtual world

the work exists within a virtual world such as Second Life or Minecraft

visualization

the work makes significant use of hardware and/or software to visualize nonvisual content

web

the work is made specifically for experience on the world wide web

genres

artist's book

a work of art that utilizes the form of a book, often with critical reflection on that form

audiovisual

the work makes use of aural and visual modes working in concert

blog

short for 'web log', a genre of writing for the world wide web

cinema

the work makes use of traditional and contemporary cinema techniques

code poetry

a type of poetry that intermixes classical poetics and the syntax/structure of computer code

collection

a collection of works

commentary

the work's content in large part concerns impressions or critique of another work of art

documentary

a work, usually video, that attempts to 'document reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction, education or maintaining a historical record'

OED

drama

a play, traditionally for theatre, movie, or television

environment

a work that constitutes an environment for the user to experience, such as certain CAVE installations or VR experiences

ephemeral media

a work that is engineered to be accessible only for a short time, usually a matter of hours or days

essay

a short piece on a particular topic

fiction

a narrative not based on real persons and/or facts

film

a long-form fiction or nonfiction work expressed through moving images, usually with sound

game

an interactive work for one or more users that includes both win and loss states

image

a static visual representation of something

Instagram

a work that makes deliberate use of Instagram's affordances and cultures of use to create meaning

installation

a work that occupies a space that users encounter physically, often by moving about the space

instrument

a work that invites users to remix and/or create content themselves using provided resources

interactive fiction (IF)

software simulating environments in which players use text commands to control characters and influence the environment

Wikipedia

interview

a work that records one or more persons' questions and one or more persons' answers

literature

a work of language art

memoir

a personal account of events in the past

microfiction

a work that includes one or more pieces of very brief fictional writing; brevity is often considered a meaningful constraint

model

a work that includes physical or digital (3D) objects that evoke a sense of materiality

music

a work of aural art

narrative

a work that features an account of events (a story)

net.art

a work that makes deliberate, often critical use of the web browser and its affordances as a medium

radio

a work of aural art transmitted by radio waves and/or influenced by a tradition of radio production

remix

a work that combines and/or transforms existing media elements in a significant way

satire

a work that makes use of 'humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues'

Oxford Languages

scholarship

a work that engages a research question or topic using established scholarly methodologies; usually subjected to peer review

serial

a work distributed over time as parts of a whole

sculpture

fine art concerned with the production of figures in the round or in relief, either by carving, by fashioning some plastic substance

OED

short story

a short written narrative; may be applied to other media if they meaningfully evoke the literary genre

showcase

a nonperiodical collection of works by a variety of authors

sound

a work that makes use of aural media

soundwalk

a work that documents the aural experience of an environment as traversed by the artist

survey

a work that makes use of a questionnaire or quiz that solicits user input across several questions

text

a work composed of written language

theory

a scholarly argument for a particular approach to texts and/or other media

tool

a work that provides the means for a user to create an original product or experience

toy

a playful or game-like work that lacks win and loss states

video

a work that makes use of moving images