The document discusses the various hardware, software, and online tools used by the author at different stages of their media project. During research, planning, and construction, the author utilized Photoshop, Blogger, YouTube, Dafont.com, Slideshare, Prezi, Google, Glogster, Final Cut Express, Garage Band, PowerPoint, a scanner, Canon video camera, tripod, and SLR camera. They found these technologies effective for tasks like editing images, documenting work, researching trailers, font selection, and video/audio editing. The author felt most skills developed over time, and technologies like Photoshop, Final Cut, and PowerPoint reinforced each other well for the project.

1. How did you use new media technologies in the construction, research, planning and evaluation stages? By Shahriyar Choudhury

2. Throughout my research, planning and construction I have used a range of hardware and software for my media package and each hardware and software has played it’s part. I am going to explain how and why each hardware, software and online tool used was very effective and how I may have developed my skills.

4. Blogger Blogger is different from all the other online tools that I have been using because it was like a personal diary to me and this is where I show evidence of all the work I have done throughout research, planning, construction and evaluation. Blogger enabled me to upload powerpoints, prezis, videos and my media packages and this has also been very effective with ease of use. I have used Blogger before therefore I was familiar with what it contains and I already knew how to use it therefore I didn’t have to develop any new skills. I believe using Blogger is the best way to document any plans for production or any updates about anything because this is the online tool that shows evidence that you have carried out efficient research and development in all areas.

11. Final Cut Express Final Cut Express is the software which was required the most because this is where the filmed footage was captured into and then with the shots being edited and soundtrack being added I had completed my trailer and had exported it as a movie file then uploaded directly to YouTube. Final Cut Express was used for the construction of my film trailer and film animatic during my research and it is a software which only applies to Apple I-Macs which is why I had to use my time effectively. The usage of Final Cut Express had also enabled me to create an animated logo which is shown within the start of my trailer. I have used a range of tools within Final Cut Express such as adding different forms of intertitles to break up the shots in plain text and typewriter format for a more dramatic and intense effect. I also used the fade in fade out tool because it injected professionalism and it also signified my chosen genre. I also used the pen tool because it enabled me to heighten the sound so it was loud enough for the audience to hear and the pen tool also enabled me to increase the volume of my background music. I had also used the rendering tool in order for my trailer to be in a working condition where it can be viewed or else some files see to go offline. When I created a soundtrack using Garage Band for my animatic I had uploaded it straight into Final Cut Express and I had also used the same soundtrack for my final cut of trailer although I had to crop bits of sound out in order for it to match the camera shot which is why Final Cut Express is so effective because it is an industry software which is used by professional film producers. The image below shows me using Final Cut Express for when I added soundtrack into my film trailer.

13. PowerPoint PowerPoint has been an essential software because it enabled me to respond to a few tasks including this question in a different way which also uses a range of media skills because images could be inserted and easily annotated which I believe makes PowerPoint essential. This software links to slideshare (online tool) because once PowerPoint is complete it needs to be uploaded into the blog via slideshare. I have used PowerPoint many times in the past for educational purposes and I have also developed all the skills that are required to use it. However, I used it on normal PC’s and Apple I-Macs therefore there were differences such as the way you have to use finder on Apple I-Macs to search it and on a normal Windows PC the PowerPoint window is always available on the start up. The image below shows that I have used PowerPoint and it also shows the skills that I have developed by inserting images and analysing it for a more effective responses and it also enhances the usage of media technology. Slides that I created within PowerPoint are shown.