Ashton and Gaudenzi’s reading discusses the growing production and relevance of interactive documentaries in the last 40 years, since the Aspen Movie App created by Lippman in 1978. Interactive documentaries are defined as a media product with “an intention to document the ‘real’ and that uses digital interactive technology to realise this intention” (Ashton and Gaudenzi 2012, p.126).

Ashton and Gaudenzi outline define and explain four distinctly different types of interactive documentaries as being:

• Conversational – The original form of interactive documentaries – it contains an interactive video reconstruction of an experience. This type of interactive documentary positions the user to be in a discussion with the computer interface and the documentary.
• Hypertext – In this form, the user interacts with pre-existing options. The most structured way to explore the ideas presented by the documentary makers.
• Participative – This type of interactive documentary actively involves the users within the production of the documentary. This relies on the user to create the experience for themselves
• Experiential – The newest type of interactive documentary harnesses mobile technology to combine the movement within physical space to create a digital experience.

Each four of these types of interactive documentary creates a different dynamic between the user, the author and the artifact – each one presents a different construction of reality and proposes a different kind of interaction.

Ashton and Gaudenzi then go onto discuss different peoples thoughts on interactive documentaries, which were presented at two symposiums run exclusively on this topic. Two of the viewpoints I found most interesting were:

• Alexandre Bratchet (Upian) discussed the importance and relevance of a good interface in creating a successful delivery and the creation of meaning. He also stated that participation around a interactive documentary is as valid as participation within an interactive documentary.
• Nick Cohen (BBC) discussed the 90-9-1 model, which is assumed for many modern media forms. This model states that, within any media form, 1% of people are actively creating the content, 9% are viewing and contributing to the content, and 90% of people are viewing it but not actively contributing. Through the creation and viewing of interactive documentaries, this model is becoming less and less reliable, as more people are involved with creating and contributing to content.

In the conclusion of this article, Ashton and Gaudenzi discuss how interactive documentaries allow for new ways to present multiple points of view. Through multiple entry points and storylines, interactive documentaries offer a deeper level and of discussion and engagement with the presented ideas.