Numerical Representation
From What's new, new media?
Numerical Representation, relates to the representation of all new media objects as digital code. Either created on the computer or by converting pre existing work into digital form. The term originates from Lev Manovich's 2001 book The Language of New Media. Numerical representation (which according to Manovich, is only one part of the larger concept of digitization) in combination with Modularity are the two key principles of new media Manovich believe are responsible for the other three; Automation, Variability, and Transcoding.
Along with Modularity, Numerical Representation renders "all media programmable." That is to say that new media objects are able to be described mathematically, and that new media objects are subject to algorithmic manipulation.
