How did you use new media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?

Script for Question 4

Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop is a graphics editing program you retouch, reshape, and completely change, distort, or combine pictures.

I used Photoshop to create my main products for my magazine and poster as well as present other parts of my coursework. In the planning stages it allowed me analyse real magazines and posters to get ideas for my own work.

As I already have used Photoshop in the past for my AS media coursework and by downloading the free month trial from the Adobe website. This meant I had a basic understanding on things such as layering and blending options. This year I broadened my understanding of the programme and learnt some effects the really helped my work such as lighting effects. I give this programme a 9/10 as there are loads of tutorials online to help you.

After Effects
Adobe After Effects is a digital motion graphics, visual effects and compositing app.

I used After Effects to add titles with effects into the horror trailer.

As I had never used this programme before I found it difficult to use and had to use the same titles and save over them to get the effect we wanted. I give this programme a 6/10 as I would have thought it would have been easier to use seeing as I have used Adobe products before.

Premier Pro
Adobe Premiere Pro is a timeline-based video editing software application

I used Premier Pro to create my main horror trailer.

This was the first time I had used the software and at first found it slightly daunting. After a few lessons with it I started to pick up some basic skills which were the foundation for making the trailer. Eventually I was able to add transitions and other effects which helped make the final product more professional. I give this software a 7/10 as it was hard to use and first and I feel that there was still a lot more I could have done to the trailer if I knew how to use the software better.

Blogger
Blogger is a blog-publishing service that allows multi-user blogs with time-stamped entries.

I used Blogger to present all of my coursework.

I had used blogger to present my coursework last year in media so I had some previous use of the service. I found that it was a really creative way to present work as it didn’t limit the ways to publish work. It linked well with other services as you can embed the link so it can be viewed. I give Blogger a 9/10 because it is a simple easy to use service with very few limitations. The only reason is didn’t get a 10/10 is because you have to have an account to use it.


FlipSnack
FlipSnack is a web tool for that created a flipping book creation.

I used FliopSnack to present coursework in a more creative way than just Microsoft word.

FlipSnack is a very creative way to present work which is easy to use as you simply chose the file you want it to use and it does everything for you. It also has some features which I did not use but felt it was nice to have the option. I give FlipSnack 8/10 because it’s a simple web tool that helped to make my coursework more creative.

APPLE MAC
Apple Macs are a line of personal computers designed, developed, and marketed by Apple.

I used Apple Mac when for when using Premier Pro and sometimes Photoshop.

The mac offered a large screen making it easy to see the programme tools you were looking for but also is a quick easy to use computer. I give the Mac 8/10 as it once froze on me when I had a lot of programmes running at once.

Prezi
Prezi is a cloud-based presentation software and storytelling tool for presenting ideas on a virtual canvas.

I used Prezi to present coursework in a creative way that makes it easier to read.

I had used Prezi before when doing AS media and have used it ever since. It makes presenting work creative and I always prefer to use it than using PowerPoint as I feel it is more professional. I find it easy to use and have loads of options you can choose from. I give it a 9/10 as it is a really creative tool but you have to have an account but it is free.

SD Card
An SD Card is a memory card for use in portable devices.

I used SD cards to get images, videos and sounds from a camera to the computer.

I found the SD card easy to use as when you put it into a computer all of your items are ready to be accessed. I give the SD Card a 9/10 as I had to use more than once card to have enough memory

Power Point
Power Point is software designed to create electronic presentations consisting of a series of separate pages or slides.

I used Power Point to present my work in a different way.

I have used power point before and as it is a Microsoft product the tools are very similar amongst the different software’s they offer such as Word. I give power point a 6/10 as I find that it has become a dated over used way of presenting work and there are now much more creative ways to present work.

Slide Share
SlideShare is a Web 2.0 based slide hosting service where users can upload files privately or publicly in a number of ways.

I used Slide Share to share my Power Point presentations onto Blogger.

Slide Share is easy to use and does exactly what it sets out to do. I give this product a 6/10 as it does not really offer any other services but does allow you to publish files privately or publically which I liked.

Snip It
Snipping Tool is an application which allows you to capture screen shots and save them as images.

I used the snipping tool many times when finding posters and magazines I wanted to analyse and getting screen shots of my trailer.

The snipping tool is really easy to use and easy to find on windows and has the option to have it in the toolbar so it can be accessed quicker. I give this application a 9/10 as it helped a lot with saving parts of images I wanted to analyse.

Survey Monkey
SurveyMonkey is a web survey development cloud.

I used Survey Monkey to create an online survey about my magazine, poster and trailer and publish them.

I found survey monkey a simple application to use and helped to gain information for my audience research. I give survey monkey a 8/10 as it is a simple but you need an account to use it and it has a slightly boring template.

Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word is a word processor.
I used Microsoft Word for the majority of my evaluations and analysis.

As I have used Word many times before and find it very easy to use. The only issue I have with word is that it can be boring to use and boring to present which is why I give it a 9/10

YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website.

I used YouTube to analyse horror trailers and also upload my draft and final trailer.

This is the first time I used YouTube to present work but found it easy to do as I use it on a day to day basis. The only issue I had with it was on the college computers sometimes the videos wouldn’t work as a plug in needed to be downloaded. I give Youtube a 9/10.

Zoom Mic
A type of microphone system that allows you to record sounds at a high quality.

I used Zoom Mic to record sounds for my trailer and also to record myself talking for evaluation questions.

I found the Zoom Mic easy to use and it has an SD Card slot meaning it was easy to access my files on the computer. I had no real issues with the Zoom Mic apart from a slightly bad battery so I give it a 9/10.

Normal Computers
I used normal computers at college to do work.

I found that sometimes they would freeze if I had too many applications open and it would also run Photoshop slowly. I give the computers I used a 7/10 as the majority of times they worked fine when using applications such as Word.

Panasonic Handy Cams
Panasonic Handy Cams are hand held cameras which allow you to take videos or pictures.

I used the Handy Cams to record my trailer and take pictures for my poster and magazine. I found it easy to use and it had an SD Card slot meaning it was easy to transfer the files from the camera to the computer. The only fault I had with the handy cams was the quality was not as high as I expected so I give it an 8/10.

Tripod
I used the Tripod to hold the camera steady when recording for my trailer. It was easy to use and was effective because it made the shots look more professional so I give it a 8/10.

WEB 2.0

Web 2.0 is the second stage of development of the Internet, characterized especially by the change from static web pages to dynamic or user-generated content and the growth of social networking. The advantage of having Web 2.0 technologies meant that having a low budget was not really an issue. As we could use the college cameras there wasn’t any cost in making the products. This meant we were able to produce work really easily and without any cost attached. With interactive sites such as YouTube, Blogger and many more I was able to distribute and promote my work in a professional way that again had no cost. I have now become a Web 2.0 creator as I have created, distributed and promoted my work in a professional way.


To Conclude

having consumer technology, equipment and software available really helped to create a professional looking trailer, magazine cover and poster. Although only having a low budget available we were able to use our knowledge of camera work, editing, sound effects and more to create products which fit the norms for effective advertisement in that they attract audiences and use conventions of real media products.