Streaming SemiotiX

Information consumption modes are changing at an increasing pace. Brief sentences, graphs, images, and short paragraphs are caught on the fly on mobile phones and tablets. Keen eyes quickly discriminate what is relevant and what is not at the time of exposure. The time available to ponder and digest streaming information is limited but bits and pieces nevertheless accumulate to modify the cognitive landscapes of the users. From longform to bricolage.  No reason to lament the current conditions brought about by a technology that distributes information at higher and higher speed.

In any case, this is how knowledge has always been naturally constructed, albeit more slowly, through haphazard experiences, instant events, and shards of socialized discourse. Statistics tell us that most readers spend two to three minutes glancing at the reports we publish in SemiotiX. Some reports, though, draw their attention after reading the first few lines or glimpsing at an illustration. It is always possible to “like”, “tag”, “share” or otherwise save for future reference the occasional piece that smugly fit into one’s current concern or research.

SemiotiX has been so far an information bulletin published online three to four times a year during the last decade. It was distributed as serially numbered journal issues. It is doubtful that this mode of communication is still adapted to today’s circumstances. Scrolling down a whole issue, let alone scanning the contents, takes time. It is not cost effective from a semiotic point of view.  It is a relic.

This is why SemiotiX will now live stream. Reports will be accessible as they become available, first in the form of brief, informative summaries which will include links to the live archives where the corresponding full articles and reports can readily be found.  The first stage of this development is being implemented by using the resource of our Facebook page. Just “like” us if you want to make sure that you are always warned about new contents and remain on top of things.

Going forward, we are aiming at a dedicated page which is fully responsive, that is it appropriately fits any device, be it a mobile phone, a tablet or a desktop browser, allowing full readability and functionality. Any article posted on the site would present an overview, and potentially lead to an extended version, that is either published on the site or elsewhere. All articles would allow for direct or indirect referencing that would never expire, for the purposes of derived or related scientific work.

 

Editorial Team:

Paul Bouissac

Tom Wysocki

Zbigniew Roguszka

Associate Editors:

Josh Berson

Gwen Bouvier

David Machin