How did you use media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?

1. HOW DID YOU USE MEDIA
TECHNOLOGIES IN THE
CONSTRUCTION AND
RESEARCH, PLANNING AND
EVALUATION STAGES?
James Grant

2. Media Technologies is a term used to describe the use of digital resources
to effectively find, analyse, create, communicate, and use information in a
digital context. Including the use of the internet, digital media tools,
programming tools and software applications.
Over the three areas of construction and research, planning and
evaluation stages I used multiple aspects of Media technologies to assist
myself in completion of my tasks. Nearly all of my work was presented
using at least one form of Media Technology. I also found that much of
my research that took place included a link to technology. When planning
I even found new ways in which I could assist my development.
For all of this project I used either a Windows PC or a Mac to complete the
tasks. I found this efficient as I am use to using both of these on regular
basis and know my way around them.

3. PRESENTING MY WORK
Over the course I consistently used a wide range of Media technologies to present my work. All of
my work is uploaded to my Blogger account where it can easily be viewed by anyone at time. Blogger
is one the most useful bits of technology that I used as it allows me to upload my work from any
computer or even mobile device. In turn this allowed me to not just work on my projects from
College but at home as well. Blogger also give you the freedom to upload and attach nearly any type
of file (The ability to upload Text, Images Video but also upload files such as PowerPoint via a HTML
link). I took full advantage this feature and uploaded using multiple methods. Using a PowerPoint
allowed to break up the large text files with something more vibrant and easy to use. Using a
PowerPoint also allowed me present and analyse images with greater ease. When creating my artist
profile I used the snipping tool to get a screen shot which I was then able to upload to blog. I felt this
was this most efficient way to upload this file as it contained a large amount of images and would
have tricky to get the positioning correct if I uploaded them all separately. In my evaluation for
question 3 I uploaded a video of my self talking through the question instead of a large text file. I feel
this way I was able to explain the question better and go into a more in-depth explanation. I
completed this by uploading my video to Youtube and then using the HTML link to format it into my
blog.

4. RESEARCH
When researching the Media Technologies that I used were crucial understanding the Grime industry and
my audience. When researching the Grime industry in general the use of the Google to find artists and
learn about them was crucial. Sites such as Wikipedia gave me a good upstanding of the artists
background success. I heavily used YouTube to find stereotypical Grime videos and then inturn analyse
them so I could use the knowledge that I gained to make my own video. When researching my audience I
created a survey but instead of handing out a paper based one I created one using survey monkey. Survey
monkey allows for you to share your survey digitally and allows your audience to complete it from the
comfort of their own home.
Using an online survey comes with multiple benefits including; information is being gathered automatically
as you don't have to wait for paper questionnaires to come back to you, Cuts all printing costs, The margin
of error is greatly reduced with online surveys because participants enter their responses directly into the
system, The results of the online survey are ready to be analysed at any time, It extremely easy to distribute
the survey.
During research I found that Social Media websites had multiple uses. I tracked all my artists social
accounts when creating my Artist profile. I used his social media accounts in attempt to find out more
about his followers . I also used it find out what artists inspired him by looking who he follows himself. I
used my own social media to distribute my survey to my target audience.

5. PLANNING
When planning my Video I was able to use multiple aspects of technology to assist my self.
Instead of creating my story board using a traditional paper and pen method I created it
using an online tool. The website “Storyboard That” allows you to create your storyboard
digitally. Using the computer allowed me to create clear an accurate images but I was also
able to add in text files bellow the image to explain them. Having a digital story board also
allowed me to export the image file and instantly upload them to my blog.
When planning my location I used an online mapping tool “Google Maps” to plan my filming
locations. I took advantage on the street view on google maps to get an extra feel for the
location and to make sure it suited the Grime genera. I then used a Snipping tool to take a
screen shot of the street view so I was able to upload it to my blog.

6. CONSTRUCTION
In all three of the products that I produced there was a strong use of Technology. My Music video
its self was filmed on a Canon G7X which is camera I am familiar with and I know my way around.
The camera is small light and portable which excellent for me as it allows me move around easily
when filming. However I would have liked to been a able to film my video in 4K which that camera is
unable to do. In future I would also like to have a stronger impetus on lighting and use so external
lights in my video to increase focus.
To edit my video I used Vegas Movie Studio 13 which I found very useful. I was able to add in all the
effects and transitions I wanted to via the use of this. I was able edit the colour gradient in the video
to suit the grime genera. The editing software also offered the feature to reverse clips which I used a
couple of times. Overall I found the editing software very efficient and easy to use and had no
problems at all.
When creating both my digipak and poster I used Photoshop to manipulate images and add text. I
sourced some the images used from Google such as the “Social Media Icons” and the “Barcode”.
Overall I found using Photoshop challenging but I felt like I learned allot from the experience and
would now say I am Proficient and know my way around.