New Media Technologies
The questions a and b refer to passages that are no longer available to download but it gives you an idea of the kind of standard that will be required. The questions 3 and 4 are the essay type that you should practice.
2 (a) In what ways does the passage suggest that the mobile phone is important to a young
person?
(b) Using your wider knowledge of new media technologies, discuss how far young people’s
use of media technology differs from that of their parents.
3 To what extent do new media technologies make people more creative? [45]
Or
4 How much do media industries benefit from new media technologies? [45]
2 (a) In what ways could the Nokia 7700 phone be described as an example of ‘convergence’? [5]
(b) How far does all new media technology need to be as portable as the Nokia 7700? You should refer to examples from your wider studies in your answer. [20]
3 To what extent are digital technologies beneficial to audiences? [45]
Or
4 Discuss the extent to which media industries must introduce new ideas in order to compete. [45
]
2 (a) In what ways is this battle similar to that over video in the 1970s? [5]
(b) The next generation DVDs will be able to store much more material than current DVDs. How far are issues of storage and/or compatability significant for other new media? [20]
To what extent are new media technologies changing the way that audiences consume the
media? [45]
Or
4 Discuss the way media industries develop and promote new media technologies. [45]
2 (a) What impact do the loyal consumers appear to have on Apple’s development ? [7]
(b) The passage suggests the iPod could become an ‘all-in-one’ device. Explain how another technology with which you are familiar can be seen as an ‘all-in-one’. [20]
3 To what extent do new media technologies increase interactivity for audiences ? [45]
Or
4 Discuss why media industries invest in new media technologies. [45]
Monday, May 26, 2008
Long road site
Have a look at the slide shows on here, they are very good and have just been updated.
http://longroadnewmedia.blogspot.com/
Have a good look at this site, you will also be able to find links to other students blogs, see what the competition have been up to!!!
In particular look at the work of Bill Thompson who is a big cheese in New Tech writing. He has a good slideshow here, all about the concept of Web 2, remember that?
The latest idea in new tech that as the means of production are now in the hands of the audience rather that the institutions. This is due to the digitisation and minaturisation of technology, software has developed and is cheaper than ever and it can all be shared via the internet. Social networking sites means that audiences can bypass institutions and share ideas and creations ( innovations such as links, widgets and embedding makes this really easy) with like minded others, globally, this is a revolution!!
http://longroadnewmedia.blogspot.com/
Have a good look at this site, you will also be able to find links to other students blogs, see what the competition have been up to!!!
In particular look at the work of Bill Thompson who is a big cheese in New Tech writing. He has a good slideshow here, all about the concept of Web 2, remember that?
The latest idea in new tech that as the means of production are now in the hands of the audience rather that the institutions. This is due to the digitisation and minaturisation of technology, software has developed and is cheaper than ever and it can all be shared via the internet. Social networking sites means that audiences can bypass institutions and share ideas and creations ( innovations such as links, widgets and embedding makes this really easy) with like minded others, globally, this is a revolution!!
The Gadget Show: Channel 5, 8pm Monday
Last chance to watch it before your exam, you may get some really up to date info to make your response stand out from the crowd!
Gadget Show, Monday 8pm, Channel 5
Last chance to watch The Gadget Show before your exam, you may get some really up to date info to make your response stand out from the crowd!
Microsoft Surface - The Possibilities
You need to consider not only, convergence, divergence, multiplatform delivery but also implications for the future.
Look at this video for Microsoft's latest innovation. After the success of Apple's ipod and expansion into itouch and iphone, Microsoft need to diversify and think of 'lifestyle solutions', not just spread sheets and word processing, which they are in danger of being typecast as.
Multiplatform delivery
Multiplatform delivery is the concept that forms of media are produced to be consumed through a variety of platforms.
eg. the film 'Transformers' available as DVD, Blueray, Nintendo DS and Wii games, PSP, PS3 games, mobile downloads etc
Radio eg Russell Brand's show transmitted via analogue radio, digital radio, over the internet live, as a pod cast to download onto computer or MP3 player or via the BBC's listen again service, iplayer)
Media Institutions are diversifying more and more to offer their products to audiences in ever more diverse and audience friendly ways. This is how the situation of narrowcasting has come about. It is becoming rarer for a product to be broadcast and for the whole audience to consume it at the same time and in the same form. Audiences have far more power now, not only to participate in the creation process but also to chose how, where and when they will consume it.
eg- if you miss a TV programme you can:
1. save it to your digibox ( Sky + for example)
2. use the watch again facility through a digital provider such as Virgin.
3. Record it to VHS or DVD if you have a DVD recorder
4. Watch it via the internet BBC iplayer 7 day catch up, ITV's 30 day catch up, Channel 4's 7 day catch up plus, 4 on demand
5. Some of these services allow you to download their content onto video equiped MP3 s and PSPs, so you can literally watch it, whenever and wherever you like.
eg. the film 'Transformers' available as DVD, Blueray, Nintendo DS and Wii games, PSP, PS3 games, mobile downloads etc
Radio eg Russell Brand's show transmitted via analogue radio, digital radio, over the internet live, as a pod cast to download onto computer or MP3 player or via the BBC's listen again service, iplayer)
Media Institutions are diversifying more and more to offer their products to audiences in ever more diverse and audience friendly ways. This is how the situation of narrowcasting has come about. It is becoming rarer for a product to be broadcast and for the whole audience to consume it at the same time and in the same form. Audiences have far more power now, not only to participate in the creation process but also to chose how, where and when they will consume it.
eg- if you miss a TV programme you can:
1. save it to your digibox ( Sky + for example)
2. use the watch again facility through a digital provider such as Virgin.
3. Record it to VHS or DVD if you have a DVD recorder
4. Watch it via the internet BBC iplayer 7 day catch up, ITV's 30 day catch up, Channel 4's 7 day catch up plus, 4 on demand
5. Some of these services allow you to download their content onto video equiped MP3 s and PSPs, so you can literally watch it, whenever and wherever you like.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Sample essay 2
New Media Technologies «(Grade A sample essay answer)
What benefits to audiences do digital technologies appear to offer?
Digital technologies can offer a number of benefits to audiences; the type of benefit will depend upon the technology used. In recent years developments have meant that there are a number of new medic technologies available to the public, all have benefits but most if not all have negative points as well. In order to answer the question I will examine a number of technologies and discuss their advantages and disadvantages to the public/user.
A detailed paragraph that explains exactly what the candidate is going to do, it also mentions the fact that there are disadvantages as well as advantages.
Firstly the Internet; the Internet is a system by which computers are linked globally allowing users to access information from sources hithero unreachable to them. The format that this is most commonly known as is the World Wide Web (WWW) this presents sites in a format that is visually pleasing and user friendly, this digital technology has allowed people with common interests to contact each other and form communities online. This could take the form of message boards for radio shows, as found on BBC radio sites or in newsgroup. This process has been helped by e-mail (electronic mail) which make it possible for an individual to send computer files across the globe quicker than any letter. This allow friends and families to communicate across. continents, it can also be used by businesses and has been used to send rushes from the latest Star Wars picture from Australia to the United States, this is due to the film being shot on Digital Cameras and has allowed the special effects team to remain in the us and rushes con be sent between locations.
The speed of the Internet also benefits individuals as it is possible to stay up to date via online news services, this is only one of the services provided by the Internet, others include online holidays, food shopping and banking all of which can be accessed from home, This is a benefit to the home user, however there are problems there may arise, as well as, a total lack of censorship which cart be seen as a real problem, there also the download speed. With a normal phone line and a 56K modem newer sites that use Flash can take a long time to download as can film trailers and music clips. There is on alternative - broadband however this is more expensive £25+ per month but it does mean that you are permanently connected and can download sites and files quicker. As broadband take up increases then the true potential of the Internet can be realised.
The candidate is extremely knowledgeable about the subject and is using up to date examples to illustrate points made. He also gives both the advantages and disadvantages that the Internet has.
Another technology that is closely linked to the Internet is MP3 (MPEG audio layer III), these ore compressed audio files that can be downloaded from the WWW or swapped via P2P sites (peer to peer file sharing sites) such 05 Lime wire or' gnutella These: P2P sites mean that users can swap music files with each other. This means that users can get free music from other people and then either download them onto an MP3 player such as on
i-pod or burn them onto a CD. There are advantages for the audience but disadvantages for the record companies as they receive no money and copyright is broken. However it is hard for them to track individuals as P2P sites have no central server and users cannot be traced. This is one digital technology that benefits the. Audience rather than institutions, it is also one technology that has been developed by individ1Jals rather then record companies, this in itself shows how audiences/users can develop user-friendly digital technologies,
Again the candidate is demonstrating a depth of knowledge and also showing how the technology affects both the audience and institutions. This paragraph also highlights how this technology has benefited the audience more than the industry, something that requires a sophisticated understanding of the topic.
A digital technology that has been institution drive-n is Digital Television, this does appear to offer the audience benefits as there is a wider choice of channels often broadcasting specialist programmes, for example MTV Base. focuses on R’n’"B music and serves a niche audience. As well as this, digital TV offers users interactive content and users can access selected web sites such as Domino Pizzas and Abbey National. There are however disadvantages, the choice of channels may be too great, the interactive content is limited. this is evident on Sky Sports football coverage. It offers alternative commentary and a 'player cam', though these may be used to begin with, the novelty and the limitations soon become clear and viewers will prefer to allow the ,editor/ director to make their choices for them. As well as this the Internet content is limited to sites approved by the. Provider. Finally the user must pay for this service and at £29+ it is expensive so the user has to pay for the benefits if they want them.
This paragraph details how an institution-driven technology tan appear to offer benefits to the audience but may not turnout to be so wonderful in practice.
Though there are disadvantages to new digital technologies, the benefits of some outweigh these for the majority of users. As well as the technologies discussed, consumers have benefited from mobile phones. DV cameras and games consoles, though these developments hove been in part institution-led, the user has still benefited and overall the benefits digital technologies offer outweigh the negatives.
Overall the candidate has shown himself to have a depth of knowledge about the subject and has used a number of suitable case studies to illustrate point. He has also balanced the arguments by using contrasting case studies and is able to evaluate the relative merits of a number of technologies in a sophisticated and concise manner.
NMT Sample essays
How far has new media technology changed audience leisure patterns ?
1000 word essay using some of the technologies so far discussed and used. Note how it follows through an argument and each paragraph links to the next. It sticks to the question and gives a few actual examples to support points made. It covers a range of areas but does not try to cover everything.
You might consider how you could use other technologies to answer this question and also how you could use the same material and adapt it to answer other questions.
The growth of new media in recent years has created many more opportunities for audiences to consume and indeed to create media products. This essay will look at the ways in which this might be seen to represent a change in audience leisure pursuits.
For young people, the expansion of internet access, particularly broadband, has led to a boom in downloading music files. Peer to Peer sharing (P2P) began with napster and has recently continued with a host of illegal programs. It is not uncommon to find people with thousands of music tracks on their computers which they have downloaded for free. In the last few months, this has been further fuelled by the growth in sales of MP3 players. The iPod has become cheaper with the arrival of the iPod mini, though at well over £100 it is still expensive. Rivals like the Creative with similar capacity have also become popular and all these players, with huge storage capacity mean that instead of the Cd walkman with its one disk has been almost replaced as people now like to carry their whole record collection round with them.
The record industry is attempting to strike back with the random selection of users who the BPI has threatened to prosecute, with in many cases parents settling out of court to pay compensation for the illegal downloading. However, as with all new technology, once it is out there it becomes increasingly hard to stop. The other route taken by the industry is to encourage legal downloads; sites like iTunes have licensed the sale of millions of tracks and most recently the growth in legal downloads has been recognised by their inclusion in the sales charts alongside conventional CD sales in shops.
Sharing itself could be seen as a change in leisure patterns, but it could be argued that it is merely an extension of home taping which the industry also accused as athreat back in the 1970s. Its scale (you can download dozens of tracks in a couple of hours) and the fact that you can get music from other people’s computers all over the world (rather than just your mates) is what marks the MP3 boom as different. It could also be said to offer different opportunities in that downloaders might come across music and artists they have previously not heard or access otherwise unavailable material, thus perhaps extending audience tastes in unexpected ways.
One step on from MP3 file sharing is the creation of podcasts, which is an even more recent innovation. This could be seen as a mix of MP3 collection and broadcasting, since it involves the creation of a sort of radio programme, which could be music, speech or a mixture, created by anyone with appropriate (usually free) software and access to the internet. In creating your own podcast, you can share your taste still further by uploading it to either your own or a ‘collective’ website, such as Podcastalley, where others can listen or even download to their own MP3 player for later listening.
Although again there are issues of copyright infringement potentially here, it could also be seen as a good example of the way the web opens up the possibility of more ‘democratic’ media use. Audiences can themselves become producers relatively easily and if they find an audience for their podcast may quickly become well known and see their audience snowball. This is particularly the case where sites showcase a top 10 or top 50, so that those near the top tend to generate more listening and may gain publicity outside the site and become ‘cult listening’ as in ‘Yeast radio’ whose quirky transsexual DJ got newspaper coverage and picked up listeners as a consequence.
The notion of the consumer becoming a producer is ever more likely as technology becomes cheaper and easier to use, particularly via computer software available free on the web. It is possible to create professional-looking products very quickly and though they may not compete with the mainstream distributed product they can nonetheless gain a strong niche audience via search engines and online communities. An example is the fashion for blogging. With over 8 million bloggers in the USA and an increasing number worldwide, covering all manner of topics from personal diaries and hobbies through to political news, there is a huge potential for audience leisure time to shift away from pure consumption to active production. I found setting up a professional looking blog from a template at blogspot.com very easy to do and was quickly able to link to sites and pictures and even upload my own pictures to a free host, Flickr.
This is also the case with movies, as no longer need the home video be purely a tool for recording birthday parties and probably only boring your relatives with hours of aimless footage. Programs like iMovie and the cheap price of DV camcorders (now as little as £300) mean that people can shoot footage and edit it to a good standard (the same program was used to edit the recent documentary ‘Tarnation’ which did well at the Sundance festival on a budget of $200 and is now on general release in the UK). It is even possible then to upload your finished film to short film websites where it can reach an audience. Programs like iCritique, which is used to display films made for A level Media at my college, further allow feedback from remote audiences and I am able to say with confidence that some of our films have been viewed by people as far away as Australia.
So yes, New Media technologies are impacting upon audience leisure time- maybe not everyone yet, but certainly for many people giving them the chance to see, hear and find out about new things and to produce media texts from blogs to podcasts to movies to themselves find an audience.
1000 word essay using some of the technologies so far discussed and used. Note how it follows through an argument and each paragraph links to the next. It sticks to the question and gives a few actual examples to support points made. It covers a range of areas but does not try to cover everything.
You might consider how you could use other technologies to answer this question and also how you could use the same material and adapt it to answer other questions.
The growth of new media in recent years has created many more opportunities for audiences to consume and indeed to create media products. This essay will look at the ways in which this might be seen to represent a change in audience leisure pursuits.
For young people, the expansion of internet access, particularly broadband, has led to a boom in downloading music files. Peer to Peer sharing (P2P) began with napster and has recently continued with a host of illegal programs. It is not uncommon to find people with thousands of music tracks on their computers which they have downloaded for free. In the last few months, this has been further fuelled by the growth in sales of MP3 players. The iPod has become cheaper with the arrival of the iPod mini, though at well over £100 it is still expensive. Rivals like the Creative with similar capacity have also become popular and all these players, with huge storage capacity mean that instead of the Cd walkman with its one disk has been almost replaced as people now like to carry their whole record collection round with them.
The record industry is attempting to strike back with the random selection of users who the BPI has threatened to prosecute, with in many cases parents settling out of court to pay compensation for the illegal downloading. However, as with all new technology, once it is out there it becomes increasingly hard to stop. The other route taken by the industry is to encourage legal downloads; sites like iTunes have licensed the sale of millions of tracks and most recently the growth in legal downloads has been recognised by their inclusion in the sales charts alongside conventional CD sales in shops.
Sharing itself could be seen as a change in leisure patterns, but it could be argued that it is merely an extension of home taping which the industry also accused as athreat back in the 1970s. Its scale (you can download dozens of tracks in a couple of hours) and the fact that you can get music from other people’s computers all over the world (rather than just your mates) is what marks the MP3 boom as different. It could also be said to offer different opportunities in that downloaders might come across music and artists they have previously not heard or access otherwise unavailable material, thus perhaps extending audience tastes in unexpected ways.
One step on from MP3 file sharing is the creation of podcasts, which is an even more recent innovation. This could be seen as a mix of MP3 collection and broadcasting, since it involves the creation of a sort of radio programme, which could be music, speech or a mixture, created by anyone with appropriate (usually free) software and access to the internet. In creating your own podcast, you can share your taste still further by uploading it to either your own or a ‘collective’ website, such as Podcastalley, where others can listen or even download to their own MP3 player for later listening.
Although again there are issues of copyright infringement potentially here, it could also be seen as a good example of the way the web opens up the possibility of more ‘democratic’ media use. Audiences can themselves become producers relatively easily and if they find an audience for their podcast may quickly become well known and see their audience snowball. This is particularly the case where sites showcase a top 10 or top 50, so that those near the top tend to generate more listening and may gain publicity outside the site and become ‘cult listening’ as in ‘Yeast radio’ whose quirky transsexual DJ got newspaper coverage and picked up listeners as a consequence.
The notion of the consumer becoming a producer is ever more likely as technology becomes cheaper and easier to use, particularly via computer software available free on the web. It is possible to create professional-looking products very quickly and though they may not compete with the mainstream distributed product they can nonetheless gain a strong niche audience via search engines and online communities. An example is the fashion for blogging. With over 8 million bloggers in the USA and an increasing number worldwide, covering all manner of topics from personal diaries and hobbies through to political news, there is a huge potential for audience leisure time to shift away from pure consumption to active production. I found setting up a professional looking blog from a template at blogspot.com very easy to do and was quickly able to link to sites and pictures and even upload my own pictures to a free host, Flickr.
This is also the case with movies, as no longer need the home video be purely a tool for recording birthday parties and probably only boring your relatives with hours of aimless footage. Programs like iMovie and the cheap price of DV camcorders (now as little as £300) mean that people can shoot footage and edit it to a good standard (the same program was used to edit the recent documentary ‘Tarnation’ which did well at the Sundance festival on a budget of $200 and is now on general release in the UK). It is even possible then to upload your finished film to short film websites where it can reach an audience. Programs like iCritique, which is used to display films made for A level Media at my college, further allow feedback from remote audiences and I am able to say with confidence that some of our films have been viewed by people as far away as Australia.
So yes, New Media technologies are impacting upon audience leisure time- maybe not everyone yet, but certainly for many people giving them the chance to see, hear and find out about new things and to produce media texts from blogs to podcasts to movies to themselves find an audience.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)