MEDIA TECHNOLOGIES THAT I HAVE USED IN THE RESEARCH, PLANNING,

CONSTRUCTION AND EVALUATION STAGES

Research Stage....

The main internet site that I used was Blogger. I used this to not only post all of my coursework on, but also to research previous students work, so that I get an idea of what to do.

I used sites such as Google to research products and find information on existing texts.

I used Survey Monkey to research my target audience. I used SlideShare to present information that I had found. I used YouTube to study existing texts I used my iPod to film my target audience. I used Paint on my Windows PC to upload print screen from the

internet to blogger by saving them as a JPEG document. And for all of these, I used an Apple Mac or my Windows PC

I used all of these media techologies because they are easily available to me, and I find them easy to use.

Planning stage....

I used many similar technologies in the planning stage as I did in the research stage, and for similar reasons, eg Blogger.

I used Survey monkey to collect data from my TA and use it to construct a product that would appeal to my TA.

I used my iPod to take recce shots, and plan the shots I am going to use.

I used programs such as Microsoft publisher and Pages to construct schedules

Construction stage....

I used a Video camera to campture the motion picture for my music video

I used a Sony SLR for the capture of my still images I used iMovie to costruct the music video via the Macs I used photoshop to edit my still images and Mircosoft Publisher

to create my digipak and magazine advert.

Evaluation stage...

I used my dictaphone to create voice recordings. Which I then uploaded to Blogger via Sound Cloud.

I used SlideShare to share my powerpoint presentations of my evaluations.

I used Paint to transfer print screens of my products, into JPEJ documents to them be uploaded to Blogger.

I used my iPod to record reviews of my products.

HARDWARE

The Macs

I used the Mac’s because they are easily accessible to me as they are available at school. I find them easy to use, and they contain lots of great programs such as iMovie and Pages which are create for construction of documents and editing.I used the Macs for my research, planning, construction and evaluation stages.

Windows PC

I also used my Windows PC at home because I also have easy access to it. I find it very easy to use. And although it does not have editing software, it had programs such as Microsoft Publisher and Word to create word document on , and it also has the internet for me to access Blogger. I used my PC in the research, planning, construction and evaluation stages of my cousework.

Scanner

I used the scanner to upload plans that I had draw of the magazine advert and digipak cover to my PC. I also used it to upload the drawing that drew of the musical instruments for the digipak booklet. I then uploaded them to by blog. I used my scanner in the research, planning, and construction stages.

iPod

Although the quality from an iPod isnt amazing, it is good enough for recce shots, etc. It was ideal to use because I always have my iPod with me, it captures colour images and videos, which can easily be uploaded to my blog. I also used it to play music out-loud for me to mime to while filming the video. I used my iPod in the research, planning, construction and evaluation stages.

Dictaphone

I used my dictaphone to record voice clips of analyses of existing texts. I used my dictaphone because it is mine, therefore is available when ever I need it and it produces high quality voice clips, which can then be uploaded to my blog via sound cloud. I used my dictaphone for the research and evaluation stages.

Printer

I used my printer to print out my final products so that my audience could view them as if they were ‘real’ products, therefore having a full understanding of the product. I feel that this makes my evaluation more reliable. I used the printer in my evaluation stage.

Sony SLR Camera

I used the camera to capture the still images for my digipak and magazine advert. I used this camera becuase it produces fairly high quality images, and it was easily accessible because it is my sister’s. Also, she is an expert on how to use it (its too complicated for me!), and she took the shots for me. I used the camera for my construction stage.

Video Camera

I used the video camera to capture the footage for my music video. I collected around 50 hours of footage, and then uploaded it to the Mac, and edited it down to a 4 minute long song. It does not create great high quality footage, however this was easily accessible as school provided them. I used the video camera for the construction stage of my coursework.

Memory stick

I used a memory stick to transfer document/ images/songs from one computer to the other (Mac and Windows). This could be for a few reasons, eg one has better programs for specific task. I used the memory stick in the research, planning, construction and evaluation stages.

INTERNET SITES

Blogger

I chose to use blogger because I used it for AS coursework, and for that reason I am really confortable with using it. I like how it is set out and how you can do so much without having to use HTML (which I hate!). I used Blogger in all for parts of my cousework, the research, planning, construction and evaluation by posting.

Google I chose to use Google

as my preferred search engine as I have always used it. I like its lay out. And I personally feel that it is the best search engine for the amount of sites it contains and the amount of information available. I used blogger in the research and planning stages of my coursework by collecting data.

Survey Monkey I was previously familiar with

survey monkey as I used it for the data collection in my AS coursework. I used it becuase I like how anybody can access my surveys and participate, but only one time, making my research fair and reliable. I posted the link to the survey to the public via Facebook. They then took park, I collected the data and analysed it, finding out information on my target audience. I used Survey Monkey in my research and planning stages. However, I also used the information that I gathered using Survey Monkey in my evaluation stage.

Facebook I used Facebook to

collect images of my target audience, but to also spread the link of my survey so that people would take part. This method worked effectively. I used Facebook in my research and planning stages.

SOFTWARE

Microsoft Word

I used Microsoft Word to create some word documents such as schedules. I used it because I have access to it on my Windows PC and I am failiar with the program so can use it effectively. I used it in the research and planning stages of my coursework.

SlideShare

I used SlideShare because it was recomended to me by a friend. It is easy to use, and makes my blog more interesting and interactive. It also makes my blog less cluttered, as my results are places neatly rather than lots of images and text taking up lots of room. I used SlideShare in my research, construction and evaluation stages.

YouTube

I used YouTube to view existing texts. I also copied links from these YouTube videos to my blog so that I could clearly analyse them. I used YouTube because it is an easy site to use, and has a ridiculous number of videos on its database, so chances are, I will find pretty much any music video...I didnt have any problems finding the ones I was looking for. I used YouTube in the research, planning and evaluation stages.

Sound Cloud

I used Sound Cloud to upload my songs to blogger. I struggled for ages to come up with a solution...but using Sound Cloud is how I managed it. I used Sound Cloud because it is a fairly easy website to use, and no subscription is required. I also used sound cloud to upload my voice clips of analyses from my dictaphone, onto blogger. I used sound cloud in the research and evaluation stages of my coursework.

Myspace

I used myspace to get the link of my original music myspace page which I then used as my ‘artist’s website’ on the digipak and magazine advert. I did this because I wanted my product to be as realistic as possible. You cant get much more realistic! I used myspace in the construction stage of my coursework.

Microsoft Publisher

I used Microsoft Publisher to create documents such as schedules because I find it easy to use, and it contains all the aspects of a software program like this that I need. Eg. To create tables and charts. I also used Publisher to create my digipak and magazine advert. I primarily used Microsoft Publisher in the research and planning stages of my coursework.

Pages

Until recently I was infamiliar with the software Pages. However, it is very similar to Microsoft Word, and I find it very easy to use. I also used this program similarly to Publisher, to create tables eg. Call sheets.

iMovie

I used iMovie on the Macs to edit my music video. I used it because it is the best editing software that I have access to. It is available most of the time (depending if the Macs are busy), and once I got my head around it, it was quite easy to use. I used iMovie in the costruction stage of my coursework.

Microsoft Power Point

I used Power Point to create the document to be uploaded to my blog via SlideShare. I find Power Point easy to use and is readily available on my Windows PC. I used Power Point in the research, construction and evaluation stages.

Photoshop

I used Photoshop to edit the images that I used in my digipak and magazine advert. I used it because it was recomended to me by a friend. I found it hard to use, however it got the job done and overall I was very pleased with my editing. I used Photoshop in the costruction stage in my coursework.