1. Research Into Interactive Media By Adam Gilson

2. Please choose which section you wish to view.Interactive MediaIntroductionTechnology 3. Back Short FilmsViral MarketingPromotional VideosAdvertisingFilm TrailersVirtual Reality ToursUser Generated Content (Web 2.0)GamesE-LearningInteractive Media 4. Back Data Video CaptureFile SizeCompressionAspect RatioDigital Video Formats Streaming MethodsData Transfer RateTechnologyMedia Players Digital Rights Management Systems 5. BackIn this assignment I have been asked to research into the technologies and applications that are relevant to the creation of an Interactive Media Guide.Introduction 6. Back Definition Platforms for Delivery Short Film Festival Example 1 Address is ApproximateShort Films 7. Back Definition Platforms for Delivery Example 1 Shift Happens VideoPromotional Videos 8. Back Definition Platform for Delivery Example 1 Iron Man 3Film Trailers 9. Back Definition Platform for Delivery Example 1 Collage of Web 2.0User Generated Content 10. Back Definition Platform for Delivery Example 1 Coca Cola Christmas Advert Example 2 Tmobile FlashmobViral Marketing 11. Back Definition Platform for Delivery Example 1 Interactive Advert on a Bus ShelterAdvertising 12. Back Definition Platform for Delivery Example 1 Google Streetview New YorkVirtual Reality Tours 13. Back Definition Platform for Delivery Example 1 Grand Theft Auto V TrailerGames 14. Back Definition Platform for Delivery Example 1 EpicMealTime French Toast WalkthroughE-Learning 15. Back Definition How Its Used Advantage / Disadvantages Cable Advantage / Disadvantages WIFI Advantage / Disadvantages Memory CardDigital Video Capture 16. Back Definition How Its Used Advantage / Disadvantages Lossy Advantages / Disadvantages LosslessCompression 17. Back Definition How Its Used Advantage / Disadvantages .avi Advantage / Disadvantages .mp4 Advantage / Disadvantages .3gpDigital Video Formats 18. Back Definition How Its Used Advantage / Disadvantages Download Advantage / Disadvantages Progressive Download Advantage / Disadvantages StreamingStreaming Methods 19. Back Definition How Its UsedData Transfer Rate 20. Back Definition How Its UsedFile Size 21. Back Definition How Its UsedAspect Ratio 22. Back Definition How Its Used Advantage / Disadvantages Flash Player Advantage / Disadvantages Windows Media Player Advantage / Disadvantages QuickTimeMedia Players 23. Back Definition How Its Used Advantage / DisadvantagesDigital Rights Management Systems 24. BackShort films are usually seen as small budget amateur films lasting only a few minutes. Short films can be made by both independent film makers, big budget studios or even anybody with a video camera and YouTube Account.Definition 25. Back The Internet - A large portion of short films are created for the internet. By definition any video on the popular media website YouTube is a short film.Cinema Some short films are created specifically for the cinema by film makers. This has become increasingly popular by animated film creators. However other creators tailor their films specifically for short film festivals, please see that page for details.Platforms of Delivery 26. BackThere is a large following for short films throughout the world. Just like with feature length films, there are a series of film festivals for those who make short films. One of the biggest of which is in Cannes.Short Film Festivals 27. BackAddress is Approximate 28. BackPresentations Presentations are a key part of promotional videos. They can easily be used by management within a company to cheaply and quickly put together a talk for employees or students.Platforms of Delivery 29. BackShift Happens Video 30. BackFilm Trailers are defined simply as a video that advertises an upcoming movie using footage from the film.Definition 31. Back The Internet The internet has become a growing force for promotion over the last few years. As such more and more film trailers have been appearing online on website such as YouTube. This is a very cheap way to broadcast a fil trailer because you rarely have to pay to put them online. However there is always the chance people will skip past them. Not only is the internet cheap, people are more likely to share the trailers they like with their friends thus reaching a much bigger audience. TV The TV provides a captured audience for film makers to show case their trailer to and therefore they choose TV to entice people to go see the film. However TV is an expensive platform to advertise on and so there are always only a small number of showings on TV for each filmCinema The cinema is still the most well known place for people to see film trailers. They are usually shown before a movie starts to wet viewers appetite and get them to go to the showing of that film later on. DVD, CD, Blu-Ray All of these are also usually likely to contain film trailers, this is especially the case for DVDs where just like in Cinemas there are trailers for upcoming films. Once released, these trailers never change which is good because it will always direct viewers to watch those film.Platforms of Delivery 32. BackUser-Generated Content (Web 2.0) Web 2.0 is simply defined as content that a user of the internet can make and upload themselves.Definition 33. BackThe Internet The internet is the main source of Web 2.0, more specifically websites such as YouTube, Facebook and Twitter have been the driving force behind it. The reason for this is that they actively encourage users to upload as much of their own content as they can. Mobile Devices Mobile devices are also leading the way for Web 2.0. The reason is that current gen smartphones are linked to the internet meaning that users can watch, create and play content that they or others created. With the use of smartphones it even allows for users to create and play their own games.Platforms of Delivery 34. BackWeb 2.0 35. BackViral Marketing Viral Marketing is a technique where the marketing is done through word of mouth or by sharing of the advert by consumers.Definition 36. Back The Internet The internet is the main source of viral marketing. Typically a company will release a video, image or sound onto the internet either on its own dedicated website or on a social networking site such as Facebook or Youtube and let consumers share it with their friends. Mobile Devices Mobile devices are also part of this phenomenon because they have access to the internet therefore allowing the owners to access the marketing. They also allow the owner to take a photo and share it if the viral marketing is in the form of something physical like a flashmob.Platforms of Delivery 37. BackThis is a brilliant example of viral marketing. Coca Cola releases a version of this advert every winter and it always spreads like wildfire through the power of social networking.Coca Cola Christmas Advert 38. BackThis is an example of another viral marketing campaign. For this T-Mobile paid dancers to create a flashmob in a busy train station and start dancing. Several people joined in and it was recorded by others who posted it onlineT-Mobile Flash Mob 39. BackAdvertising Advertising can be defined as a method of showing off a product in such a way that the consumer wants to buy it.Definition 40. Back The Internet The internet has become a growing force for promotion over the last few years. As such more and more adverts have been appearing online on website such as YouTube at the start of other videos. This is a very cheap way to advertise a product to customers. Not only this but advertisers can pay websites to target their adverts at the correct audience such as females in a certain location. Google for example will target advertising for what you like to look at on other websites. The internet is a cheap method of advertising.TV The TV provides a captured audience for companies to showcase their products or services. However TV is an expensive platform to advertise on and therefore it is important that adverts are targeted and played at specific times when the best match to their target audience is watching. Such as middle aged women at half 7 when they want to watch Coronation Street.Cinema Cinemas tend to have advertisements on before a film. I suspect a cinema to be a cheaper place to advertise in comparison to the TV as the audience is smaller though they are just as well caught.DVD, CD, Blu-Ray All of these are also usually likely to contain film trailers which are a form of advertising, this is especially the case for DVDs where just like in Cinemas there are trailers for upcoming films. Once released, these trailers never change which is good because it will always direct viewers to watch those film.Mobile Devices Mobiles have long been a target for advertisers. More specifically they tend to advertise on apps that users download. This is a cheap method of advertising that captures an increasingly young and impressionably audience.Kiosks In technological countries such as japan, interactive advertising has appeared on kiosks where they sense who is coming near and attempt to show an advert likely to attract you. For example in some clothes shops there are interactive mirrors that show what customers would look like in certain clothes. Effectively advertising to customers from even the most intimate places as a changing room.Platforms for Delivery 41. BackInteractive Advert on a Bus Shelter 42. BackVirtual Reality Tours These, usually online, tours allow users to look around a location without actually visiting.Definition 43. BackThe Internet The internet tends to be the most common place for virtual reality tours. The most commonly used of which is Google Streetview where users can walk around a street almost anywhere in the world. Housing companies also tend to use this interactive feature to show off the insides of houses. Its done through the stitching together of large panoramic photos to create a 360 degree view.Mobile Devices Most smartphones have access to these websites or indeed their own apps which allow them to access this content.Platforms of Delivery 44. BackGoogle Streetview New York 45. BackGames A game is defined as an activity that a person undertakes for fun.Definition 46. Back The Internet Certain games can be found an played online. These games tend to be free and small. Mobile Devices Mobile devices have come a long way in recent years but have had games on them for years. They started out as small games like those usually found online. However since the invention of smartphones have blossomed to become a big business of interactive media with literally thousands of different games available to users. These games range from 2D platform games such as Mario to massive 3D metropolises like GTA San Andreas which is available on mobile devices. DVD, Blu-Ray These are what most people think of when somebody says games. Games on disks are usually played by either PCs or consoles. These games too have expanded in recent years to become a massive business. Recent games such as Grand theft Auto V have given players access to locations the size of real cities to play with how they like. Games are big business and are the pinnacle of interactivity.Platforms of Delivery 47. BackGrand Theft Auto 5 Trailer 48. BackE-Learning The definition of this is described as the act of learning something via the internetDefinition 49. Back The Internet The internet tends to be the main place that E-Learning takes place. People can sign up for and take online classes with the OpenUniversity. Other places of E-Learning include YouTube where users can teach each other about things such as cooking. One user might create and share a video where they take viewers how to cook a meal. Mobile Devices Mobile Devices link in heavily with the internet here as they allow users to access E-Learning sites on the move meaning that in theory it can take place anywhere, anywhen.Platforms of Delivery 50. BackStuffed French Toast ELearning 51. BackDigital Video Capture Is the method of transferring a video from recording device to the computer.Definition 52. Back The process of capturing digital media from a camera can happen in any of a small number of ways: Firewire / cabled capture One of the easiest ways to capture media is to connect the device to the computer via a cable and transfer it that way. This is either done through software provided with the camera at purchase or through accessing its memory through the computer and copying the files across. Suitable for those wanting fast downloads to computer. WIFI An increasingly popular way to get content off a camera is via WIFI or even in some cases an inbuilt 3G option. This usually uploads the content to a remote server such as Dropbox for the user to access later. This is suitable for those on holiday and allows the user to delete the data off the camera as soon as its uploaded. Memory Card Certain cameras will take memory cards such as SD Cards and will save the data onto those which can be removed and inserted into a computer to download the data off. Suitable for use at events where you constantly need to be recording but dont have enough space on a single card.How Its Used 53. BackAdvantagesDisadvantages Inbuilt software makes transfer easier Usually faster than other methods Camera is unusable while plugged in Cables can be lost Have to actually be at the computer to useAdvantages / Disadvantages - Cable 54. BackAdvantagesDisadvantages Can be done anywhere there is an internet connection Somewhat secure Dont have to be anywhere near the PC Data in the cloud is safe even if something happens to camera Requires an account online If used a lot may incur costs for the required amount of storageAdvantages / Disadvantages - WIFI 55. BackAdvantagesDisadvantages Can hot-swap the cards allowing for continued recording even while one card is being downloaded Can download the data off a card then erase it to gain more space Cards can be lost Cards can become damaged Need to be at a computer to download contents of card. Cards have small capacity.Advantages / Disadvantages Memory Card 56. BackCompression This is what is done to make file sizes smaller in the conversion process.Definition 57. BackCompression comes in two distinct types. Lossy and Lossless. Lossy This is where the compression of a file makes it smaller through the removal of data. The sections it removes are small enough not to be too noticeable, depending on the file type. This type of compression is usually used for anything that will be put online. This is because a smaller file downloads and streams much quicker than a larger one and as such a lossy compression is needed at the loss of some quality Lossless This is where the file is compressed but without the loss of anything from the file. These files are usually bigger as a result but however do tend to be much better quality. These are usually used in cases where file size isnt too much of an issue but quality is. Such as on DVDs or Blu-Rays.How Its Used 58. BackAdvantagesDisadvantages Much better quality Bigger file size Will take longer to download or streamAdvantages / Disadvantages - Lossless 59. BackAdvantagesDisadvantages Small file size Easier to stream or download online Quality suffers as a reusltAdvantages / Disadvantages - Lossy 60. BackDigital Video Formats The format of a video defines what player will be able to play it and how good the quality will be.Definition 61. Back .mpg An ageing video format designed to compress VHS-quality video down using a Lossy compression method. .mp4 A common video format often used on the internet to stream video and audio. Often uses a Lossy compression method. .mov A video format used by Apples Quicktime player. Usually considered as a Lossless format. .avi A windows based video format used quite often nowadays. Provides decent quality video and audio .wmv A windows exclusive format used by its Windows Media Player. Originlly designed for streaming. Offers decent quality compession .flv A flash video, this is what files become after being exported from Adobe Flash. This is the internet standard for videos. .swf Another Adobe Flash format, these files can contain animation or moving objects and are often used within apps. Offers lossy compression .3gp A mobile format, this uses lossy compression to make files as small as possible for mobiles. .asf A format designed for streaming media over the internet. .asf files can also contain metadata for details about the video for use during streaming.How Its Used 62. BackAdvantagesDisadvantages Good quality Reliably used across all systems Larger file sizes mean longer downloadsAdvantages / Disadvantages - .avi 63. BackAdvantagesDisadvantages Decent quality Good for streaming Small file sizesAdvantages / Disadvantages .mp4 64. BackAdvantagesDisadvantages Good for use on phones that dont have 3G Very small file sizes Loss of quality.Advantages / Disadvantages .3gp 65. BackStreaming is where something is downloaded from the internet.Definition 66. Back Downloading Downloading is where a file has to be downloaded completely before it can be accessed. Progressive Downloading This is where the user can access and view the file while its downloading. Steaming Streaming is virtually the same as Progressive download, the user can view the file as it downloads, except the file doesnt actually download. This is generally used for online video sites such as YouTube.How Its Used 67. BackAdvantagesDisadvantages Usually faster than the other two methods. The file can be accessed any time after initial download. File cannot be accessed while downloading File only downloads as fast as the users internet connectionAdvantages / Disadvantages - Download 68. BackAdvantagesDisadvantages Can view file while it downloads. Download speed depends on users connection Can only view as much as has downloaded.Advantages / Disadvantages Progressive Download 69. BackAdvantagesDisadvantages Tends to be faster to buffer than to download the full file. File buffers as you watch it meaning less interruption Dont actually get file.Advantages / Disadvantages - Streaming 70. BackThe data transfer rate is used to measure how fast data is transferred from one location to another.Definition 71. BackWhen you download things off the internet, the item is downloaded at a certain speed. Speeds are measured in a scale known as Bits Per Second (bps). Whats the scale: 1000 bits = 1 kilobit 1000 kilobits = 1 megabit 1000 megabits = 1 gigabit (All are measured as per second)How Its Used 72. BackFile Size The file size is how big the overall file is. Usually in MB or GBDefinition 73. BackThe size of a file defines many factors. Firstly a smaller file usually means lower quality content because it needs to fit into a smaller package. However, bigger files take longer to download / copy. Therefore a balance is needed.How Its Used 74. BackAspect Ratio The definition of this is described as the width and height of a video.Definition 75. BackAspect ratio is the relationship between the height and width of the video. It is usually expressed as two sets of numbers separated with a colon. Such as (8:5). It used to be used to describe the size of a video feed. However nowadays it has fallen out of use due to modern TVs and films all being made to roughly the same aspect ratio.How Its Used 76. Media Players Media Players are defined as the program or app that plays the mediaDefinition 77. Back The most common media players are below. Flash Player This player created by Adobe runs in browsers meaning that video can be played within the browser itself and not need another player to run. Windows Media Player This is the player designed by Microsoft to be the Windows based video player. It runs all major formats, however has in recent years been overshadowed by other players depending on what the user has installed. QuickTime Player This is the Apple standard media player. It works exactly the same as the Windows one except it is optimized for Apple Products.How Its Used 78. BackAdvantagesDisadvantages Works in browser Works on all platforms Works with many types of files Less secure than the system own ones Needs regular updatesAdvantages / Disadvantages Flash Player 79. BackAdvantagesDisadvantages Pre-installed on windows machines Opens virtually any file format Doesnt work well with browsers other than Internet Explorer. Clunky and annoying on occasionAdvantages / Disadvantages Windows Media Player 80. BackAdvantagesDisadvantages Pre-installed on Apple machines Easy to use Plays nearly any file format Optimised for only Apple products. Unstable on other Operating SystemsAdvantages / Disadvantages QuickTime Player 81. BackDigital Rights Management (DRM) DRM is designed to stop people copying media and sharing.Definition 82. Back DRM is used in several ways for different media type. DVDs tend to just lock the contents of the disk making it near impossible to copy the disks. For games however the content can be locked in that way or through the use of locking features within the games and forcing users to use single use codes within the games making sale of the games pointless. Companies are finding other, less invasive ways to have DRM. A games company called Valve sets the DRM as its games program locking the games to an individuals account. Meaning that the user doesnt notice the DRM and making it less intrusive.How Its Used 83. BackAdvantagesDisadvantages Stops pirates copying the media Allegedly saves the production companies money Users consider it invasive and patronising Massively unpopular. Doesnt really stop pirating of mediaAdvantages / Disadvantages - DRM