By Scott Snibbe, Special to CNN

Editor's Note: Scott Snibbe is a media artist, filmmaker, computer app developer and researcher in interactivity. Snibbe’s artwork is on display at the Whitney Museum of American Art and The Museum of Modern Art. Some of his large-scale interactive projects have been incorporated into concert tours, Olympics, science museums, airports, and other major public spaces and events.

Snibbe was recently profiled on CNN's new show, "The Next List," which airs Sundays at 2 p.m. ET.

For those of us buying music 20 years ago, the process was much like asking someone out on date. We’d carefully look over an album in the record shop, staring down its cover to imagine how the music on the disc inside might sound.

Then, sometimes after hours of deliberation, we'd nervously take the plunge at the till, glancing up at the clerk to see what he or she thought of our choice in his subtle body language: the roll of eyes, a sneer or a nod. If you’ve never experienced it, go rent "High Fidelity."

After bringing the album home, we’d walk it into our living room, slip the record out of its sleeve, and press it onto the turntable. Now, captive for an hour, we’d sprawl on the carpet before the speakers and let the sound wash over us. While listening we’d hold up the 12” album, getting lost in the cover art as we tried to decipher its codes, then poring over the liner notes and lyrics sleeve for further clues to its meaning. FULL POST