Overview reflection

For the past few months in pertaining subject, I have learned a lot in terms of principles and elements of design. What should be looked into and what not. This assessment has also taught me a lot on how the Internet could be unreliable at times and that we should always keep to our principles. I have gained experiences and knowledge in terms of designing to pursue my studies. As a matter of fact, this subject is one of the most enjoyable subject I have ever encountered in my last one and half years in Taylor's PJ.

Last but not least, enjoy my other posts although it may not be very credible, but I hope that with this given information, it could help you in your research or studies.

Carpe Diem!

Manipulation of photography

Back in the years, photographs could not be edited in any kind of form. It is film based that could only be developed after using the whole role of it. In today current era of cameras, the production of digital camera is increasing. Digital camera enables you to capture whatever picture you like and it is not necessarily needed to be develop. After transferring it to your computer, unwanted pictures could be discard and photographs could be edited through liable photo editors, Photoshop.

“Photography we see in films, books, and periodicals is often stunning in its design, import, and aesthetics. It may also be fake, enhanced, or manufactured by emerging digital technologies that have transformed”. (K.Browser, 1998) This is because of the ever growing media of photo editing. Photo editing enables you to blur out unwanted objects in your photograph and enables you to enhance the color quality.

What you see in photographs may not necessarily be real. Photographs can manipulate your vision towards it.

Example,

Before and After


Now, you can clearly see how photographs are manipulated through photo editings. It gives a more vibrant color only to convince your eyes that it is real.

Although being said that the enhancing of a photograph is not necessarily bad, but in terms of reporting news, photographs go through photo editings to give a greater exageration on the current issue.

Indonesian weekly apologizes due to the 'imitation' of the Christianities.

The Indonesian weekly sincerely apologized to the media about the 'imitation' of Leonardo Da Vinci's last supper. They claimed that it was not to disrespect the Christianities. To compensate for the 'imitation' of Leonardo Da Vinci's last supper, in the weekly Tempo magazine, the Indonesian weekly would further extend their apologies to avoid protests against this act.

The image on the cover of the book is indisputably obvious that it is a portrayal of Leonardo Da Vinci's last supper. Not much of explanation could be done because it clearly looks like it was either by mistake or purpose. In media, research should be nicely run to avoid controversies like this. According to Shriver (1997), signs from different countries do not share the same meaning. The cause of this problem is mainly because of cultural differences. Taking in account to other countries cultural differences apart from yours is essential.

Suharto's: Tempo Setelah Dia Pergi

Leonardo Da Vinci - Last Supper

The media should pay more attention to issues like this that are obviously a very sensitive issue once it involves religions.

Reference:

1. Schriver, K.A 1997, 'The interplay of words and pictures', Dynamics in document design : creating texts for readers, p. 361-441, Wiley Computer Pub, New York.

The Blogging Revolution

Anthony Loewenstein wrote a book about the blogging revolution in six different countries. As a whole, the article talks about how Internet a very poisonous and highly influential medium around the globe. We rely so much on the Internet that some of us tend to lose our values we hold against ourselves. In Havana, Cuba, the only people that have access to the Internet are the middle class people. Anthony Funnell commented, “blogging and the internet is a great democratiser” Therefore in these countries especially Iran still holds a great value of themselves that is not easily influenced even through media. The government of Cuba only allows very few webpages to be accessed by the community. Intranet is an offline community where websites that are approved by the authorities can only be viewed.

I would very much agree that media is a poisonous medium that tends to brainwash the community with information. Perhaps in Malaysia, the freedom of speech and the censorship is highly governed. It is hard to access to websites that particularly criticizes about the Muslims, as we are an Islamic country.

In my opinion, the revolutionary of blogging is hazardous to the country. We are bound to obtain false information and most of us are gullible toward the Internet such as Wikipedia. Webpages such as pornography and crimes are mainly prohibited in some countries due to their high rating of censorship. This is so to avoid unnecessary criminal activities or unwanted crimes.

Reference:

1. Melbourne University Press, 2008, The Blogging Revolution, retrieved on 16 November 2009, http://www.abc.net.au/rn/mediareport/stories/2008/2351985.htm

The new Facebook uplift left some devotees furious

In this article, AFP reports, Facebook users are furious about the new changes in layout in terms of new application. Marc Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook has been changing the layout, adding new applications, chat spaces, notification and advertisements without warning. Year by year the layout of Facebook were changed over the night without notifying users of the maintenance. It left many Facebook users furious after having to encounter new changes; some found it hard to navigate through, some thought it was a good change.


In my personal point of view, at the beginning when Facebook had a major facelift it got me furious on how to navigate and where were the placements of some tabs. After a long run, it became much easier, although the old layout was rather simple and plain. New applications like games, chats, notifications, photo sharing and what not are entertaining and it keeps you updated on your family and friends with one click away. Others are still furious about the new 'News Feed' and 'Live Feed'.

Old Layout

New Layout

I'd like to propose that the editor of Facebook to start sending out short notifications a day or two before a new facelift again. New changes should be done in the 'Notification' tab. Changes that enables us to block unnecessary notifications from our friend's list. As mentioned by Grunwald (2009), the main principles of a good website design is to make your site easy to navigate, know your intended audience to maintain close relationship with the users.


Reference:


1. Australian IT 2008, 'Facebook makeover leaves some devotees fuming', Australian IT, viewed 12 November 2009, <http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,24328928-15318,00.html>.


2. Grunwald, JR 2009, Five principles of a good website design, Martin Luther College, viewed 14 November 2009, <http://www2.mlc-wels.edu/jgrunwald/site.html>

Current Trends of Media Publishing

The growing of Internet and Media has been escalating over the past years. It is hardly seen an individual carrying large stumps of books/magazine/newspapers. Despite that, print media still carries a large withstand amongst the online media. Online media has made it easier for an individual to obtain information over the net. News ranging from political nwes to celebrity gossips and even e-books could be obtained through search engines on the Internet.

As you can see, many campaigns have prioritized Facebook, Twitter and Youtube as one of their main mediums in advertising. It is rarely seen someone passing out flyers even before advertising it over the mentioned mediums.

Example,

Twitter.com

Facebook.com

Youtube.com

It is an amusing spread of media by publicising it in different mediums. Merging these three mediums are one of the smartest and evergrowing mediums in terms of passing out a message.

Online Media vs. Print Media

The methods of designing online media versus print media is very different. It is very different in designing an online media as compared to print media.
I will be focusing on two principles of designs.

Online Media: Blogs, Webpages, Vlogs, Moblogs

Print Media: Magazine, Newspaper, Fact Sheet

Headings

The main part of a context is usually the headings that captures readers' attention. IT has to be big enough, colored and catchy. According to Reeps (2006), "Headings are organizational cues that alert readers to the sequence of information in a document." Headings on print media are rather big with vibrant colors to capture the reader's attention whereas on online media, headings are usually blend in with the context, it is does not stand out from the context to capture readers. Navigating on online media is much easier compared to print media. In online media, an empty tab will be placed on the top right hand corner of the screen that enables us to find information easily, whereas in print media they are classified into respective subjects that could only be found through the header and footer. (Topic and Page No.)

Layout

In print media, the layout of the content is nicely fit into an A3 size paper (2D). Images in print media are vaguely seen whereas in online media, images are clearer with better pixels. The layout for an online media determines on the theme itself. News and Advertisements are nicely fit on to the webpage(1D). Colors that are used in print media are rather dull compared to an online media. Online media colors are more vibrant and it easily captures the reader's attention.

It is hard to say which media is most popular, but many a time, people still prefers the old school way of print media. Because it more reliable compared to an online media where it could be fake/corrupted. The other difference of online media versus print media is that online media provides the scrolling experience than in print media of flipping pages (Nielson, 1999).

Example of Print Media. (The Star)

Example of Online Media. (The Star)

Reference:

1. Nielsen J 1999, Differences between print design and web design, online, retrieved 5 November 2009, fromhttp://www.useit.com/alertbox/990124.html



2. Reep, Diana C. 2006, ‘Chp 4: Principles of Document Design,’ in Technical Writing, 6th ed., Pearson Edu, Inc., New York, p.173-190.

Blogging Community and It's Methods

Blogging community is a community that is created with people who share the same common ground. According to Denise (2009), "The blogosphere is already a community." As mentioned by White (2006), "the term ‘online community’ implied a community who interacted online within some bounded set of technologies".

Creating a blogging community is easy. These communities already exist; all you have to do is create a blog (Blogspot, Xanga or Wordpress) relating to your type of blog. For example, if your main idea of a blog is posting up vlogs (Youtube) live from your bedroom; the community of vlogs, already exist.

As of creating a blog, links, comments, tags, postings could all be generated. Blogging about sensitive issues would only go against the government and drive your readers away.

Three types of blogging community:-

• One blog centric - Communicate and create a relationship between the writer and their audiences
• Topic centric - Shares the same interests that are grouped together
• Boundaried - A social networking tool of a collection of blog hosts

The types of blogging community fall under the segregated topics you blog about, eg: Politics (http://chedet.co.cc/chedetblog/), Musics, Photography (http://www.sixthseal.com), Fashion (http://www.cheeserland.com) and many others.

Reference:

1. Denise, 2009, How do you build community?, retrieved on 13th November 2oo9, <http://www.blogher.com/how-do-you-build-community



2. White. N, 2006, Blogs and Community - launching a new paradigm for online community? 11th edition, http://kt.flexiblelearning.net.au/tkt2006/edition-11-editorial/blogs-and-community-–-launching-a-new-paradigm-for-online-community

Different Classification of Blog Genres

There are many types of blogs that are segregated into different section fields. Many bloggers blogs about various kinds of topics. Some blogs specifically into a specified topic. Alike books and magazines, they are classified into different categories for kids (cartoons, comics), teenagers (gadgets, fashion, love stories) and adults (cars, house and politics). These are the few topics that could be found over the net:-

• Fashion and Style
• Food and Beverages
• Photography
• Sports
• Travel and Holidays
• Music
• Humour
• Politics
• Technology and Gadgets
• Cars
• Music

and many more.

Here are the type of blogs that are classified respectively to the contents and blogging methods.

• Blogs: Most bloggers that are found in the blogosphere uses this content as one of their methods in sharing ideas and experiences. Example: Blogspot, Xanga, Wordpress. These few websites are easy to create to share with friends and publics on their daily live experiences. It is also usually used as an online diary.
• Vlogs: In other words, video blogs that is usually found in Youtube. Bloggers posts their live experiences recorded and uploaded on Youtube that could be viewed from all around the world.
• Photolog: Flickr, Deviatart, Fotolog are also known as moblog. Moblog is a blog that enables bloggers to post pictures namely photographers. It is the easiest way to share photographs with simple and short descriptions
• Tumblelog/Microblog: One example of a tumbleblog is Tumblr. Tumblr is one of the most popular methods of blogging. It is a fastform and it supports widgets. Another example of a microblog is Twitter has become one of the most popular way of updating the community (friends and family) about their lives. It is a short and simplified way to post messages on the web. Twitter and Tumblr application could be easily downloaded to your mobile phone.
• Linklog: Are blogs with categorized hyperlinks that made easier for the community.
• Liveblog: Liveblog are usually soccer webpages that updates live on scores. One of the examples are EPL Matches.

Blogger.com - An online diary

Youtube.com (Vlog) Free video sharing

Fotolog.com - Photo sharing with family and friends

Tumblr.com - Blogs live

Audiences or also known as blog readers could only be closely identified by specific topics that are published by blog owners. Blogs are considered as a phenomenal medium in delivering information, the only way to categorised them are by the specific topic bloggers blog about that is easily acquired.

Blogs: Contemporary Phenomenon and Benefits.

Web Logs are one of the growing phenomenon in the maturity of the World Wide Web.
The abbreviated version of a "weblog" is "blog", which is a webpage that enables an individual to update on the chronicle information of their experiences or knowledge namely food, traveling, fashion, photography, technology, sports and much more.

According to Helmond (2008), there are approximately over a hundred million blogs in the blogosphere as of 2008. Over years, blogs have been increasingly growing throughout the nation. Blogs have become one of the most popular and favourable medium around the world in terms of obtaining information, as an interactive opinionative medium and feedbacks from readers. In support to my point, Educause Learning Initiative (2005) mentioned, "blogs engage people in knowledge sharing, reflection and debate, they often attract a large and dedicated readership".

There are few reasons why weblogs are beneficial to the community.

Here are the reasons why:-

• Easy to navigate
• Free
• Wide extended connection such as Wifi (that could be found in most of the places)
• Easy to obtain information.

Reference:

1. Helmond, A, 2008, How Many Blogs Are There?, retrieved on 14 November 2009,



2. Educause Learning Intiative, 2005, 7 Things You Should Know About Blogs, retrieved on 14th November 2009,

Document Design

What is a good document?

As Anderson (1987) states that a good document design is to help readers read efficiently with the emphasis on the critical contents and the encouragement to readers to feel good about communication. (Putnis & Petelin, 1996)

In Schriver (1997) readings, prose and graphics are as one as a part of the body text in order to help readers enhance while reading the text. Kress and van Leeuwen (2006) also stated that texts and images work together. In Figure 1.0, there were only texts but no images. With images, it could enhance the understanding for the readers.

Figure 1.0

In Figure 1.0, is a great example of being too wordy with no image to balance. Utilizing images in slides can help enhance the audiences' understanding. As stated by Reep (2006), proportion is to use equal amount of spaces so that it is not monotonous for readers.

Moving on Figure 1.1, is an example image of the earlier sub topic, but no sub-headings were injected in the slides. We have come to learn that headings on documents are essential to avoid misguided information to the audiences.

Figure 1.1

In Reep's (2006) reading, the principles of design are the qualities that are important to any visual presentation regardless to the topic or the audience. With reference to the principles of a good document, Reep (2006) opines organizing headings are the sequencing of information is the first attraction to readers. Headings are the foremost important substance in a document. It is a head start to audiences on what is about to come (necessary information).

In order to produce a good document design, it must include necessary effects such as italics, bold, underlining on headings or sub headings on documents in order to create a better deciphering. (Nielson, 1997) This is because there are readers who only schemes through and would be beneficial to them as the main points would be obvious. Example, Figure 1.2 shows a great example on important measures in the slides to capture readers' attention. This also means that those that are in bold letters are important information.

Figure 1.2

Reference:

1. Kress, G. & van Leeuwen, T 2006, Reading images. Chapter 1: The semiotic landscape: language and visual communication.

2. Nielsen, J 1997, How Users Read on the Web, viewed 10 September 2009, <www.useit.com/alertbox/9710a.html>

3. Putnis, P & Petelin, R 1996, ‘Writing to communicate’, in Professional communication: principles and applications, Prentice Hall, Sydney, pp. 223-263.

4. Reep, Diana C. 2006, ‘Chp 4: Principles of Document Design,’ in Technical Writing, 6th ed., Pearson Edu, Inc., New York, p.173-190.

5. Schriver, K.A 1997, 'The interplay of words and pictures', Dynamics in document design : creating texts for readers, p. 361-441, Wiley Computer Pub, New York.

Purpose

The purpose of this blog is for those who are interested in the principles of design. It is targeted to those in communication and working adults who can relate and refer to the above subject. Updates on this blog will give out reviews, examples and notes with regards to the issues of publication and design.