Interactive Media in the Digital Age and Specific Characteristics of Interactive Documentaries

Abstract

The documentary is a form of media presented on a screen through storytelling techniques and methods to make it attractive. The advance in information technology and multimedia technology, along with the emergence of interactive digital media, has led to the fusion of documentary filmmaking with interactive digital technology. This has created a new format known as the “interactive documentary,” which serves as a two-way or non-linear alternative for documentary films created in the digital age. This is another alternative to documentary created in the digital age as a two-way or non-linear medium. The way documentaries are viewed in the 21st century has been transformed by interactive digital techniques, enabling audiences to control the narrative. This presents a new challenge for documentary filmmakers and has become a complex topic for those studying interactive documentaries. It requires a deeper look into the creative process, the techniques and formats used, and even the interpretation of what an interactive documentary should be. A key question is whether the methods for creating audience engagement through interactive documentary and digital techniques can be adapted and applied to other forms of interactive media. Ultimately, these become challenges for documentary filmmakers and researchers to develop the interactive media in the future.