Studying the Live Cross-Platform Circulation of Images With Computer Vision API: An Experiment Based on a Sports Media Event

Authors

  • Carlos d'Andrea Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil
  • André Mintz Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil

Keywords:

digital methods, cross-platform, computer vision, media event

Abstract

This article proposes a novel digital methods approach for studying the cross-platform circulation of images, taking these as traffic tags connecting topics across platforms and the open Web. To that end, it makes use of a computer vision API (Google Cloud Vision) to perform automated content-based image searches. The method is experimented on with an analysis of the circulation of pictures shared on Twitter during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Final Draw ceremony. The proposed approach showed high potential for overcoming linguistic and geographical barriers in Internet research by its use of nonverbal objects for cross-linking online content. Moreover, the analysis of the results raised important questions about the opacity of the employed API mechanisms and the limitations imposed by platformization processes for cross-platform endeavors, calling for continued reflexivity in derived studies.

Author Biographies

Carlos d'Andrea, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil

Professor of the Social Communication Department and the Communication Graduate Program at the Federal University of Minas Gerais.In the 2017/2018 academic year, visiting scholar at the Media Studies’ Department at the University van Amsterdam (UVA), The Netherlands (CAPES Foundation postdoc scholarship, Process 88881.119913/2016-01). His current empirical research (also funded by CNPq and Fapemig) is about the political controversies triggered by the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

André Mintz, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil

PhD candidate of the Communication Graduate Program of the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil, supported by a scholarship of Capes Foundation. Researcher of Intermedia Connections Research Group (NucCon). Holds M.A.s in Communication, from the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil, and in Media Arts Cultures, from the consortium formed by Aalborg University, Denmark; Lodz University, Poland; and Danube University Krems, Austria.

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Published

2019-04-14

Issue

Vol. 13 (2019)

Section

Articles

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