Creating a mind map for ‘what online video is’ was a much more difficult task than first anticipated. Firstly, it’s clear that everyone has a different idea of what they initially think of when presented with the term ‘online video’, and even then when ideas are shared and the term is brainstormed, its very difficult to bring ideas together in a way that demonstrates an understanding of what online video is. It became clear that it is a very broad subject that covers many things, and whilst it it easy to be specific in describing one kind of online video, it is consequently easy to forget about the broad scope of the term. We ended up focussing on four categories: affordances, purpose, avenues and format, and yet the idea of traditional media making its way online was a predominant idea discussed in the group that did not necessarily make its way clearly into the mind map due to it being a whole new topic. It was the idea I found most interesting though – that online video is emerging as a more broader and respected media form, and is a platform that provides opportunity for all kinds of media, traditional and contemporary.
