Wow, the semester literally flew by. I can't believe we are almost finished! I'm especially excited because I have just four more classes to take before I graduate! As far as this class goes, I really was expecting a so-so, kind of boring class about making websites and such. I have to say I have been pleasantly surprised. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Boyd's book about teens and social media. I think there was a lot of valuable information in there and it makes me think a little differently about why teens seem to spend sooo much time online. I also loved making the Prezi. This will be the way I do presentations from here on out. PowerPoint is so lame. Seriously. I liked learning about the ways in which print and digital communication differ and how to decide which mode to use depending on the audience. All in all, a superb class! Check out my Prezi where I go into a little more detail about my favorite parts of class.
https://prezi.com/tbimxz_h7yju/journey-through-writing-for-the-web/
Sunday, April 24, 2016
Friday, March 25, 2016
Writing in the Digital Environment
For our fourth blog post, we are to think a little more concretely about the differences between writing in the digital environment as opposed to print. Obviously, there are many things to consider when writing in these two very different situations. For example, when writing in print, one can probably get away with putting forth a little more information, making the piece that is being written a little longer. Let me clarify. Say you are writing for a newspaper or magazine, you may have more opportunity to really take your time to explain, provide examples, etc. When people read newspapers or magazines they are generally sitting down, maybe relaxing or having coffee. But when writing for the digital audience, the author may have to be more succinct because people are generally on the go when they are reading digital media. We read our smartphones or tablets while grabbing a quick bite to eat or walking down the sidewalk. We don't have time to sit down, prop up our feet and open the newspaper anymore. Life is changing.
Recently the class had an assignment where we were to create an infographic. Now, this sounds easier than it actually is. The purpose of an infographic is to convey a message by using words, pictures, etc. The point is to try to get your message across quickly and accurately without a lot of unnecessary. . .junk. I found that this was difficult for me because I tend to want to explain things fully as opposed to using one or two words, or even a sentence, to sum up an idea. I admire people who can do something like an infographic, or a Prezi, to communicate information. It actually takes a lot more creativity than I originally expected.
I also think the choice of design (color, font, images) when writing for print and digital media is extremely important. One has to consider the audience, purpose and the context among many other things. I think that when creating a piece that will be read in the digital environment, we must present the reader with something that they can read quickly and grasp fully. Like I stated earlier, people just don't have time anymore, and information needs to be given to us at lightning speed or we lose interest. If you are writing for print, I think it's less important to communicate the message quickly. This brings me back to the infographics. They are designed to be digested at a fast pace.
I suppose I'd never really considered the differences in writing in these two environments prior to this class. Since I had never even created a blog post before this semester, I am now better able to appreciate what goes into writing in the digital world. I prefer to pick up a pencil and write a rough draft but that is kind of hard to do with a keyboard, although I guess one could still hammer out a website on paper first. . .
I think ultimately I prefer digital media as opposed to print. I am just so busy with school, work, home that it's just easier and makes more sense for me to get information from a digital source. But I do still love to prop up my feet and read a good (paper!) book.
Recently the class had an assignment where we were to create an infographic. Now, this sounds easier than it actually is. The purpose of an infographic is to convey a message by using words, pictures, etc. The point is to try to get your message across quickly and accurately without a lot of unnecessary. . .junk. I found that this was difficult for me because I tend to want to explain things fully as opposed to using one or two words, or even a sentence, to sum up an idea. I admire people who can do something like an infographic, or a Prezi, to communicate information. It actually takes a lot more creativity than I originally expected.
I also think the choice of design (color, font, images) when writing for print and digital media is extremely important. One has to consider the audience, purpose and the context among many other things. I think that when creating a piece that will be read in the digital environment, we must present the reader with something that they can read quickly and grasp fully. Like I stated earlier, people just don't have time anymore, and information needs to be given to us at lightning speed or we lose interest. If you are writing for print, I think it's less important to communicate the message quickly. This brings me back to the infographics. They are designed to be digested at a fast pace.
I suppose I'd never really considered the differences in writing in these two environments prior to this class. Since I had never even created a blog post before this semester, I am now better able to appreciate what goes into writing in the digital world. I prefer to pick up a pencil and write a rough draft but that is kind of hard to do with a keyboard, although I guess one could still hammer out a website on paper first. . .
I think ultimately I prefer digital media as opposed to print. I am just so busy with school, work, home that it's just easier and makes more sense for me to get information from a digital source. But I do still love to prop up my feet and read a good (paper!) book.
Sunday, March 6, 2016
Beer: A Comparison of Infographics
For my third blog post I am going to compare three different infographics that focus on beer. Here goes!
My first example is a fairly simple one. This infographic is clearly made for the beer novice as it begins by giving the definition of beer along with the pronunciation. The infographic goes on to give examples of various types of beer including Golden Ale and Dark Lager. The graphic is easy to read and the picture of the beer glass in the middle with the corresponding colors make for a simplistic approach to learning about different beers. I think the purpose of this infographic is to give the amateur beer drinker a better idea about various beer types in a clear, straightforward way.
Next up:
So this infographic is definitely busier than the first. Instead of giving us the basics of beer, this graphic takes it a step further and goes into detail about the world of craft brewing. Clearly the audience for this graphic is one who already has a firm grasp of beer and is ready to learn the ins and outs of actually making that beer. The infographic gives specific details such as the estimated number of jobs in the craft brewing industry and the total number of U.S. breweries.
And last but not least:
Another beer glass! This one is a bit different from the first. Instead of giving us the basics of beer or information about brewing it, this infographic shows the audience what style of beer pairs well with certain foods. For example, pale lager goes well with chicken. Who knew? I think the audience for this graphic would be someone who has a solid handle on beer but needs a little help in determining the best dishes to pair it with. This infographic is for people who fall somewhere in between novice and expert.
I think the audience for each graphic is different, as is the purpose. The first infographic is meant for a beer beginner while the last graphic is directed at the intermediate beer drinker. Each infographic gives a clear picture of the information it is trying to convey. In each one, the author has a different intention but I think each of the graphics does a decent job overall. The dark color scheme for all of the graphics is similar. I am assuming this was done because beer is mostly dark and while I wouldn't normally like the colors, these particular colors work very well in these infographics. My favorite is the middle infographic simply because it provides a lot of interesting data. Which one is your favorite?
My first example is a fairly simple one. This infographic is clearly made for the beer novice as it begins by giving the definition of beer along with the pronunciation. The infographic goes on to give examples of various types of beer including Golden Ale and Dark Lager. The graphic is easy to read and the picture of the beer glass in the middle with the corresponding colors make for a simplistic approach to learning about different beers. I think the purpose of this infographic is to give the amateur beer drinker a better idea about various beer types in a clear, straightforward way.
Next up:
So this infographic is definitely busier than the first. Instead of giving us the basics of beer, this graphic takes it a step further and goes into detail about the world of craft brewing. Clearly the audience for this graphic is one who already has a firm grasp of beer and is ready to learn the ins and outs of actually making that beer. The infographic gives specific details such as the estimated number of jobs in the craft brewing industry and the total number of U.S. breweries.
And last but not least:
Another beer glass! This one is a bit different from the first. Instead of giving us the basics of beer or information about brewing it, this infographic shows the audience what style of beer pairs well with certain foods. For example, pale lager goes well with chicken. Who knew? I think the audience for this graphic would be someone who has a solid handle on beer but needs a little help in determining the best dishes to pair it with. This infographic is for people who fall somewhere in between novice and expert.
I think the audience for each graphic is different, as is the purpose. The first infographic is meant for a beer beginner while the last graphic is directed at the intermediate beer drinker. Each infographic gives a clear picture of the information it is trying to convey. In each one, the author has a different intention but I think each of the graphics does a decent job overall. The dark color scheme for all of the graphics is similar. I am assuming this was done because beer is mostly dark and while I wouldn't normally like the colors, these particular colors work very well in these infographics. My favorite is the middle infographic simply because it provides a lot of interesting data. Which one is your favorite?
Friday, February 5, 2016
A Reflection of Digital Practices
I have learned a little something about myself over the last few days. I stare at my smartphone entirely too much. I used to pride myself on being someone who didn't feel like she was "addicted" to her phone or was always texting or shopping online. In fact, I held out on buying a smartphone until people started making fun of my antique flip phone. I've only owned my iPhone for two years but I'm super anxious to get the latest version. It's sad, really, that our major mode of communication is done via these tiny devices, completely devoid of real human interaction.
I appreciated what Ms. Turkle had to say in her TED talk. She accurately points out that even though we seem to be super connected with one another on the surface, we are actually quite alone. I especially agree with her statement about person to person interaction taking place in real-time which is the reason so many people prefer to text. Texting gives us the opportunity to think about what we are going to say, whereas actual conversation may catch us off guard, preventing us from formulating the perfect response. But, as Turkle states, real conversation tends to show the nuances of the person, allowing others to see us for who we really are, not just our digital persona. 
So, how does all this relate to me? I tracked my internet usage for three days and I noticed a pattern. I tend to look at my phone first thing in the morning. Like, before I even get out of bed. I'll check my bank account, browse TMZ, see what kinds of things I can score on Brad's Deals. All this before 7 am. Then I noticed that I tended to check back on the same sites all throughout the day. Over and over again, like something was going to change drastically. I also caught myself reaching for my phone during dinner, while I was driving (wince!), or when I was bored at work. My day usually ended with my lying in bed, reading MSN.com until I nodded off and dropped the phone to the floor.I'm actually kind of ashamed that I am the stereotypical smartphone junkie, because I really never thought I was. I believe that last few days of tracking my internet usage has shown me I probably need to pay a little more to the living, breathing humans in front of me than to the glare of the phone in my hand.
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
Blog 1
I hope I'm doing this right! For my first blog post, I am choosing three political campaign websites for the upcoming presidential election. I thought this would be relevant to us because all we seem to hear about is who we should vote for, and if you're like me, you're getting tired of it all! Up first, Donald Trump:
www.donaldjtrump.com
I am assuming the author of this site is the campaign team for Mr. Trump. Obviously the purpose of this site is to convince the American people to vote for Trump for president. The content on the site is intended to change the hearts and minds of voters by convincing them this particular person would be the best nominee. I believe the audience is the American voter while the genre is a website. The context trips me up just a little bit but I think the authors put this information into a website because it is an easy way for people to get a lot of information at any place and time. The design choices in this example include a large picture of Trump with his slogan written next to it. The word America is in large lettering so it really stands out to the reader. Also, the information on the site is user-friendly and includes media and press release sections. The site colors are red and blue, which are patriotic colors. On to the next one:
https://www.hillaryclinton.com/
Again, I have to assume the authors of this website touting Hilary Clinton for president are a campaign team. The purpose, yet again, is to convince the voting public that Mrs. Clinton is the absolute best person for the job! The audience is any American who is registered to vote, and the genre is a website. The context is probably similar to the above example in that the authors wanted to put together a site that is user-friendly and allows the reader information about Clinton and why we should vote for her over any other candidate. The great thing about a website is its convenience for readers; they can see the information on their desktops, tablets or smartphones. Clinton's site is a little different in that it first asks the reader to sign something and give their zip code. I didn't do this and I'm not sure why this information was asked for. I proceeded straight to the site where I was immediately asked to donate money. The "Donate" button was bright red to catch the attention of the visitor. The site consisted of blue and red colors just like Trump's, and had an Issues and Newsfeed tab. There was also a large picture of Mrs. Clinton on the homepage.
www.2016election.com
I decided to go a slightly different route with my third example. This site gives information about all the candidates and does not lean left or right. I'm actually not certain who authored this page as I was unable to find that information. The purpose is to give the public information about each voter, and includes things like poling and prediction charts. The audience is the American public but not just registered voters. I think this site is for anyone who just wants to be better informed about the candidates. The genre is, again, a website. The context is somewhat different from the first two. Of course, the fact it is a website means it is highly accessible but I did notice there were advertisements on the site for things like tax preparation services. The setup was also different. The site had rectangular boxes with pictures that the reader could click on for information. All in all, this site contained quite a bit of info and was not as user friendly as the other two.
www.donaldjtrump.com
I am assuming the author of this site is the campaign team for Mr. Trump. Obviously the purpose of this site is to convince the American people to vote for Trump for president. The content on the site is intended to change the hearts and minds of voters by convincing them this particular person would be the best nominee. I believe the audience is the American voter while the genre is a website. The context trips me up just a little bit but I think the authors put this information into a website because it is an easy way for people to get a lot of information at any place and time. The design choices in this example include a large picture of Trump with his slogan written next to it. The word America is in large lettering so it really stands out to the reader. Also, the information on the site is user-friendly and includes media and press release sections. The site colors are red and blue, which are patriotic colors. On to the next one:
https://www.hillaryclinton.com/
Again, I have to assume the authors of this website touting Hilary Clinton for president are a campaign team. The purpose, yet again, is to convince the voting public that Mrs. Clinton is the absolute best person for the job! The audience is any American who is registered to vote, and the genre is a website. The context is probably similar to the above example in that the authors wanted to put together a site that is user-friendly and allows the reader information about Clinton and why we should vote for her over any other candidate. The great thing about a website is its convenience for readers; they can see the information on their desktops, tablets or smartphones. Clinton's site is a little different in that it first asks the reader to sign something and give their zip code. I didn't do this and I'm not sure why this information was asked for. I proceeded straight to the site where I was immediately asked to donate money. The "Donate" button was bright red to catch the attention of the visitor. The site consisted of blue and red colors just like Trump's, and had an Issues and Newsfeed tab. There was also a large picture of Mrs. Clinton on the homepage.
www.2016election.com
I decided to go a slightly different route with my third example. This site gives information about all the candidates and does not lean left or right. I'm actually not certain who authored this page as I was unable to find that information. The purpose is to give the public information about each voter, and includes things like poling and prediction charts. The audience is the American public but not just registered voters. I think this site is for anyone who just wants to be better informed about the candidates. The genre is, again, a website. The context is somewhat different from the first two. Of course, the fact it is a website means it is highly accessible but I did notice there were advertisements on the site for things like tax preparation services. The setup was also different. The site had rectangular boxes with pictures that the reader could click on for information. All in all, this site contained quite a bit of info and was not as user friendly as the other two.
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