The bounds for new media are set by five "principles of new media" present in most new media objects, which "should be considered not as absolute laws but rather as general tendencies of a culture undergoing computerization"
"Lev Manovich sites the five principles of New Media as Numerical Presentation, modularity, automation, variability, and transcoding. It is the second category, modularity, with which I seem to take issue" Blog entry, in which the other takes issue with Manovich's "modularity" category.
The definition of New Media further explains Manovich's 5 principles by giving visual examples and summarizing the principles. The combination of visuals and the summary helps you understand the principles.
Great input on why today's society shouldn't have to suffer like past generations have to suffer. Media literacy is pertinent for those to succeed in the future.