Everything That Can Communicate Will: Aspects of Digital Asset Alignment and Management

Abstract

The concept of aligning and managing digital assets is a reaction to the evolution of digital production and digital networks. The understanding of this evolution is rooted in experiences in library and museum communities, the digital solutions and design disciplines, the communications and entertainment industries, and law. Aligning and managing digital assets is predicated upon the notion that everything that can communicate will and, in a sense, begins to approach what neuroscience has been telling us for quite some time — that everything actually does communicate in some way or other. There are a number of levels of digital assets. Digital assets are created and maintained in support systems architecture, in digital production tools, in digital content development, in taxonomy development, in user destination designs, in audience interactions, and in legal monitoring. Being digital means everything can be accounted for, everything can communicate, everything has value, and everything can last. Acquiring, merging, or divesting a digital enterprise requires comprehensive digital asset management at every level.