The first principle is numerical representation. This means that everything we see on a computer is based on numbers. These numbers form images, websites, and other programs. If I were to look at the underlying base of a computer game then it would be made up of a mathematical pattern to create it. This could be a pattern based on the number of pixels that make up the landscape of the video game. The numbers are what give the video game the order and organization it needs.
The second principle is modularity. A program or a website is made up of certain modules or parts. These parts can be modified and changed. You cannot delete these modules however, or the entire system does not work. When I think of modules, I think of the International Space Station. It has multiple modules that are used for science, engineering, or other things. These modules have a similar shape and size. What makes them different is how they are used in the overall function of the space station. All of the components work together and without each module, the station wouldn't work.
Principle three is automation. This has to do with an industrialized approach. Automation basically means that there are certain parts or components that are automatically generated. This could be something like components or templates on blogs. You could have a template for a comment section or one for a posting feed. These templates have already been formatted so the user can easily select and plug them into their blog or website. They don't have to make it from scratch.
Variability is the next principle. This deals with the idea that code is changeable. It's not static, things can be changed and altered to a certain extent. There are some basic components that cannot be changed or deleted, but they can be customized. For example, lets say you want to change the font size on a level 1 header. You can do this through customizing a CSS page. It still has the basic and necessary code for a level 1 header, but the font has been customized. Variability also deals with the idea that things on the internet are changing all the time. Nothing is really set in stone.
Transcoding is the final principle. This kind of has to do with the first principle in that everything that you see on a computer screen is coded for. The code is the basis for computer programs. This also has to do with the idea that things are being stored in computer databases. This means that a person could basically go look up anything and find it online or in some sort of computer database. An example would be the article databases available at school that are rooted in computer code.
I think transcoding is the principle that is changing our culture the most. We can now just look up information online at any time. This hasn't really been the case. You would have to go to a library or memorize things in order to convey or learn knowledge. Information is more readily available than it has been. This is really changing and shaping our culture into a computer culture.
I didn't think of transcoding as being so important before reading your post. Now that I think about it, I can see why you would pick that. I will be sitting at the dinner table with my family and when we aren't sure what something means or want to prove a point we will look it up on our phones. So, the way that you describe transcoding shows how it is changing our world.
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