Exploring a semiotics of new media

New technology is transforming our world by providing new mediating and communicating opportunities. Expert critical opinion highlights that these new media are essentially a reformulation of older media that have been transformed by integration with computers. Arguably, these transformations in media result in transformations of the familiar signifying systems that surround us. Thus, a semiotics of new media must be explored in order to understand how we interact with these new media sign systems. In proposing a semiotics of new media, this thesis re-evaluates the basics of semiotic theories and their application in numerous older media domains. The specific problems of interaction with new media are considered, then a solution is proposed in relation to notions of embodiment and semiotic theory. A semiotic model is then developed that focuses on interaction and user interpretations of new media sign systems. An argument is also put forward from an embodied/semiotic perspective for a methodological approach that employs the strengths of both. Empirical studies are conducted that explore the model and ascertain the suitability and robustness of the model when applied to new media systems, such as; mobile phones, the Photoshop desktop application and a novel virtual environment. The critical analysis reveals that the elements in the presented model are indeed relevant. Moreover, the embodied/semiotic method of analysis successfully highlights aspects of participants meaning making activities during new media interactions. This thesis contributes to an understanding of how users make sense of their interactive encounters with new media sign systems from a semiotic perspective. The semiotic model and the embodied/semiotic method of analysis presented here, are the result of a wide-ranging exploration of semiotic theory in relation to HCI and new media. It is expected that this thesis will be used as the basis for further exploration and future work in this field.