Tuesday 6 May 2008
Thursday 1 May 2008
Discuss How far young people's use of media technologies differs from that of their rents...
The music industry is one of the best to look at, to view this subject. Most people below the age of 30, find it easier to 'keep with the times mannn...' which, in this case, means being able to use the music industry in the far more interactive way that it now intends. Downloading, has taken the edge off of Cd sales hugely. Audience can now get the songs that they want without having to leave their house. They can pick and choose different songs within the album. In fact, the theory of endism has moved on from digital media such as CD's, to mp3 downloadable songs. There is no real material, nothing to touch, its just there, on your computer. A piece of data, easily manipulated, copied and shared. My parents, still use CD's. My dad has an iPod, but for some reason (my guess is that he doesnt know how) he doesnt use it. However, this cheeky little thang called copyright is enfringed alot more due to the ease of digital manipulation. So songs can be ripped, burned, copied and shared at the click of a button.
The Global Villiage is also a detrement to the film industry, with pre-released material, from america for example. Can be passed on and find itself in a multitude of countries and continents within seconds. Days, weeks or even months before it's release there. There is a plan to stamp the effect of the global village in this instance out, the plan is to release films, music and games, world wide, on the same day. This will DRASTICLY reduce piracy, however it will not end it by any means. The piracy is not just a 'youth' thing, there is alot of potential money in it and other generations in the 'underground scene' have put their fingers in yet another pie.
To Be Continued.......................................oh yeah...
The Global Villiage is also a detrement to the film industry, with pre-released material, from america for example. Can be passed on and find itself in a multitude of countries and continents within seconds. Days, weeks or even months before it's release there. There is a plan to stamp the effect of the global village in this instance out, the plan is to release films, music and games, world wide, on the same day. This will DRASTICLY reduce piracy, however it will not end it by any means. The piracy is not just a 'youth' thing, there is alot of potential money in it and other generations in the 'underground scene' have put their fingers in yet another pie.
To Be Continued.......................................oh yeah...
Monday 28 April 2008
Media Magazine 'The perils of new media technologies' by Gavin Luhrs (Issue 11, 2005)
Why is consumerism a concept central to this unit?
It is a central concept because NMT's are driven by consumerism. Over the years, the average spending on NMTs has seen a dramatic rise. This may been seen in your own household, for instance, how many televisions are there altogether? How many mobile phones do you have as a family? How many games consoles do you have in total? Mobile phones, multi-channel TV, broadband subscriptions, and online gaming subscriptions are all products and services which 10 years ago either didn’t exist or were considered luxuries are now ‘essentials’ for modern existence. Time has gone on, and the level of expectation both of the consumer and manufacturers of aspirational products has gone sky high! So much so that there may be a divide of people that do have a certain product and those that dont. This may be the cause of the 'negative technological determinists' theory of social fragmentation.
How do we often 'unwittingly give up our privacy'?
A supposidly sinister aspect of NMT's is the power they offer to others to monitor our activities. For example, google has the power to remember every search you've ever made, and amazon remembers the items you've browsed on it's site. many institutions are concerned about the security implications of mobile phones and PDAs as they may be used to steal valuable information, given their excistence combined with their ability to be everywhere and improved features such as data storage and good quality camera functions. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags are another innovation that could have consequences for civil liberties. It would be useful to your studies to research possible media applications. RFID tags can be almost invisible to the naked eye, yet are capable of reporting on the exact location of the object to which they are attached. Retail makes biggest use of them at the moment, but who knows how else they could be employed.
How have NMT's criminalised audiences?
What health and invironmental issues do NMT's pose?
It is a central concept because NMT's are driven by consumerism. Over the years, the average spending on NMTs has seen a dramatic rise. This may been seen in your own household, for instance, how many televisions are there altogether? How many mobile phones do you have as a family? How many games consoles do you have in total? Mobile phones, multi-channel TV, broadband subscriptions, and online gaming subscriptions are all products and services which 10 years ago either didn’t exist or were considered luxuries are now ‘essentials’ for modern existence. Time has gone on, and the level of expectation both of the consumer and manufacturers of aspirational products has gone sky high! So much so that there may be a divide of people that do have a certain product and those that dont. This may be the cause of the 'negative technological determinists' theory of social fragmentation.
How do we often 'unwittingly give up our privacy'?
A supposidly sinister aspect of NMT's is the power they offer to others to monitor our activities. For example, google has the power to remember every search you've ever made, and amazon remembers the items you've browsed on it's site. many institutions are concerned about the security implications of mobile phones and PDAs as they may be used to steal valuable information, given their excistence combined with their ability to be everywhere and improved features such as data storage and good quality camera functions. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags are another innovation that could have consequences for civil liberties. It would be useful to your studies to research possible media applications. RFID tags can be almost invisible to the naked eye, yet are capable of reporting on the exact location of the object to which they are attached. Retail makes biggest use of them at the moment, but who knows how else they could be employed.
How have NMT's criminalised audiences?
What health and invironmental issues do NMT's pose?
Monday 21 April 2008
Leaps forward in technology from generation to generation of gaming consoles
Hypothesis: What is the real difference between the PS2 & PS3? and are the advances similar in the differences between the original Xbox and the 360?
Both Playstations, at the time of release, were and are at the leading front of gaming technology. The PS2 was the first games console to converge with the DVD player. It was also the first possible up-right console. It had a rotational emblem depending on whether it was laid flat or standing up. Then we get to the technical stuff. The game play and graphics had been greatly improved since the original Playstation. It had been given a fresh new look, a brand new colour (away from the dingy grey block that was it's predecessor) & a new edge.
The playstation 3, just released, is once again a huge leap forward in both technology and design. Instead of the PS2's matte black finish, Sony decided go with a style that was selling INCREDIBLY well in the television market. Samsung's R88 series of televisions with the piano black gloss finish are this years top sellers by a million miles. Seeing what the audience like, Sony follow, and are planning to do the same finish with a ceramic white, and stunning silver.
Once again, they change the shape of their latest console. Giving it was can only be described as veluptuous curves! They did however keep the winning idea of having a console that can stand or be laid down. Then we get to the actual game play. There has been an enormous step up in this technology. This has come around purely because of the new Blu-Ray disk. This new format of disk is massively advantagious in comparison to the bog-standard DVD. It os read by a Blue coloured lazer, hence the name. However the disks can store upto 10X more information than a DVD. Also, in comparison to their rivals, it can hold 4X more than that of an HDDVD used in the Xbox 360. This gives game designers and manufacturers much more room for incredibly intrecate games. Games like the new GTA IV released on the 27th of April will eventually be developed into the next GTA and the possiblility for a bigger game (more than 3 islands) and definately the possiblility of some mind blowing intrecacy in the detail used. All down to the stubble on a characters chin. The new GTA is the most comprehensive one yet. With content above and beyond any previous 'free roam' game before it. It has been reported than even though this has been said. There is still more room on the disk for yet more additional detail or islands with the next GTA. The possiblilities are endless.
The developments have been sensational, please watch the video to see just how much has changed in just one generation.
Both Playstations, at the time of release, were and are at the leading front of gaming technology. The PS2 was the first games console to converge with the DVD player. It was also the first possible up-right console. It had a rotational emblem depending on whether it was laid flat or standing up. Then we get to the technical stuff. The game play and graphics had been greatly improved since the original Playstation. It had been given a fresh new look, a brand new colour (away from the dingy grey block that was it's predecessor) & a new edge.
The playstation 3, just released, is once again a huge leap forward in both technology and design. Instead of the PS2's matte black finish, Sony decided go with a style that was selling INCREDIBLY well in the television market. Samsung's R88 series of televisions with the piano black gloss finish are this years top sellers by a million miles. Seeing what the audience like, Sony follow, and are planning to do the same finish with a ceramic white, and stunning silver.
Once again, they change the shape of their latest console. Giving it was can only be described as veluptuous curves! They did however keep the winning idea of having a console that can stand or be laid down. Then we get to the actual game play. There has been an enormous step up in this technology. This has come around purely because of the new Blu-Ray disk. This new format of disk is massively advantagious in comparison to the bog-standard DVD. It os read by a Blue coloured lazer, hence the name. However the disks can store upto 10X more information than a DVD. Also, in comparison to their rivals, it can hold 4X more than that of an HDDVD used in the Xbox 360. This gives game designers and manufacturers much more room for incredibly intrecate games. Games like the new GTA IV released on the 27th of April will eventually be developed into the next GTA and the possiblility for a bigger game (more than 3 islands) and definately the possiblility of some mind blowing intrecacy in the detail used. All down to the stubble on a characters chin. The new GTA is the most comprehensive one yet. With content above and beyond any previous 'free roam' game before it. It has been reported than even though this has been said. There is still more room on the disk for yet more additional detail or islands with the next GTA. The possiblilities are endless.
The developments have been sensational, please watch the video to see just how much has changed in just one generation.
A quotation of an online revew @ itreviews.co.uk "To be fair to Sony, the actual hardware was never really going to be in much doubt. And after your first few hours in the company of the PlayStation 3, you're likely to be impressed."
He then followed with some key opinions "Several initial thoughts went through this reviewer's head. Firstly, the machine's really quite heavy. Secondly, aesthetically, it's really quite smart. And thirdly, and surprisingly, is that given the immense processing grunt under its glossy, buffed-up exterior, it's very quiet in operation. It certainly puts the Xbox 360 in the shade in that department."
He then talks about the new advances, talking about the DVD to Blu-Ray subject. With reference to the different media formats incorporated.
"Media support is well-rounded, too. That 60GB hard drive inside the machine can be filled with music files, for instance, and several codecs are supported. Likewise, there's Blu-ray and DVD playback. The former - the reason why the machine is so over deadline and so over budget - actually turns out to be a bit of a trump card. While we've not had the pleasure of many Blu-ray players, we're informed by colleagues who have that the PS3 is one of the finest, if not the very best, Blu-ray disc playback device on the market, to the point where many are picking up the PS3 for precisely that reason, rather than for its gaming prowess. It's aided - again, for the time being scoring a point over its Microsoft-produced rival - by the native inclusion of HDMI, meaning full 1080p output is well within the realms of the console (a new model of the Xbox 360 is expected to add this feature shortly)."
All in all, its not a bad review for the PS3.
So hows the PS2 doing coming up to its 7th birthday? Heres a quote from CNNMoney.com
"The PS2 is currently over 115 million units worldwide and there are still some incredible software experiences for it," said Harrison. (Phil Harrison, president of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios)
"There's still a lot of life left in the system."
While it's no longer as sexy as it used to be in consumer eyes, the PS2 is a profit machine for Sony. The system, which still sells for $129 in the U.S. and €149 in Europe, is not sold at a loss (unlike the PS3, on which Sony reportedly loses more than $200 per unit). Additionally, since "God of War 2" was developed in-house, the company will pocket a larger percentage of each game sale. So it is still making sony A LOT of £££'s!
While it's no longer as sexy as it used to be in consumer eyes, the PS2 is a profit machine for Sony. The system, which still sells for $129 in the U.S. and €149 in Europe, is not sold at a loss (unlike the PS3, on which Sony reportedly loses more than $200 per unit). Additionally, since "God of War 2" was developed in-house, the company will pocket a larger percentage of each game sale. So it is still making sony A LOT of £££'s!
Sales of each unit are as follows:
(SPACE FOR SALES AS SCHOOL NETWORK WILL NOT ALLOW ME ACCESS TO INFO)
Conclusion
(Will be added after sales figures are aquired)
Sunday 20 April 2008
Whats the high definition gaming about? What is it doing for audiences?
Once again, advances in day-to-day technology are being pioneered and driven forward by the gaming industry and other converged and emerging companies. HD was originally intended to increase the quality of audience viewing, this enforces the concept of the entertainment. Which in turn is giving things like cinema and record companies, detremental damage.
Back to the technology. HD can only be viewed in full using an HDMI cable, these can vary in quality, the highest form should be able to support the new technology called 1080p. This is how fast a television scans the picture that it displays. At this moment in time there is no better viewing experience than a 1080p. HOWEVER <>OR a high def games console. Which is where the gaming industry comes in. The newest generation games consoles (the 360 & PS3) are those HD sources. Playing games, and films in HD. Being competing companies, and having such a cutting edge technological ability, Sony went with their own form if HD hardware & soft ware (Blu-ray) and microsoft opted to converge with toshiba to introduce HDDVD into their Xbox 360 games console. Both having their dis/advantages, the audience went crazy for the new HD technology. Xbox hit a sales boom releasing their HD console first, yet the consumers are unaware that the PS3's technology will eventually render the Xbox's obsolete. Also some consumers are blissfully unaware that to gain the promised HD gaming, and film viewing, they might just need a new HD ready tv... thats what i call forcing the technology forward. Attachements can be brought to connect an HDMI cable to a scart connection, but the picture quality will not be as good.
The PS3 was released at a perfect stage to boost sales. as manufacturers were doubting Blu-Ray's eligiblity to sell, with "stupidly high" prices, some set reaching 799 pounds. The PS3 was released at 425 pounds, so it was a no brainer for most potential blu ray buyers. Needless to say, sales shot up, with Blu-Ray beating toshiba's HDDVD. Toshiba withdrew and Xbox face a dilemma... they now, to keep up with the high definition revolution, have decided to release a Blu-Ray version for future models. Xbox have dented pride, but they keep on battling.
Additional and not really well known advantages to the PS3 is that it can be used as part of a home theatre kit (surround sound) with the cheapest reatiling Blu-Ray home theatre kit in stores for around 1000 pounds. Just an optical cable with a different kit can save people up to 600 pounds! (inc. a new ps3) 900 pounds excluding.
All Blu-Ray players up-scale all DVDs, so there is no need to scrap all the old'uns.
Now-a-days Xbox and Playstation have similar game titles, different exclusives and features. But one thing matters and stands alone above all others, opinion of the gaming audiences are paramount. Reputations of games and consoles matter, so there is supreme competition to win the hearts of audiences. So we get back round to profit driven, gadget packed consoles. Yet as audiences, we love it!
Back to the technology. HD can only be viewed in full using an HDMI cable, these can vary in quality, the highest form should be able to support the new technology called 1080p. This is how fast a television scans the picture that it displays. At this moment in time there is no better viewing experience than a 1080p. HOWEVER <>OR a high def games console. Which is where the gaming industry comes in. The newest generation games consoles (the 360 & PS3) are those HD sources. Playing games, and films in HD. Being competing companies, and having such a cutting edge technological ability, Sony went with their own form if HD hardware & soft ware (Blu-ray) and microsoft opted to converge with toshiba to introduce HDDVD into their Xbox 360 games console. Both having their dis/advantages, the audience went crazy for the new HD technology. Xbox hit a sales boom releasing their HD console first, yet the consumers are unaware that the PS3's technology will eventually render the Xbox's obsolete. Also some consumers are blissfully unaware that to gain the promised HD gaming, and film viewing, they might just need a new HD ready tv... thats what i call forcing the technology forward. Attachements can be brought to connect an HDMI cable to a scart connection, but the picture quality will not be as good.
The PS3 was released at a perfect stage to boost sales. as manufacturers were doubting Blu-Ray's eligiblity to sell, with "stupidly high" prices, some set reaching 799 pounds. The PS3 was released at 425 pounds, so it was a no brainer for most potential blu ray buyers. Needless to say, sales shot up, with Blu-Ray beating toshiba's HDDVD. Toshiba withdrew and Xbox face a dilemma... they now, to keep up with the high definition revolution, have decided to release a Blu-Ray version for future models. Xbox have dented pride, but they keep on battling.
Additional and not really well known advantages to the PS3 is that it can be used as part of a home theatre kit (surround sound) with the cheapest reatiling Blu-Ray home theatre kit in stores for around 1000 pounds. Just an optical cable with a different kit can save people up to 600 pounds! (inc. a new ps3) 900 pounds excluding.
All Blu-Ray players up-scale all DVDs, so there is no need to scrap all the old'uns.
Now-a-days Xbox and Playstation have similar game titles, different exclusives and features. But one thing matters and stands alone above all others, opinion of the gaming audiences are paramount. Reputations of games and consoles matter, so there is supreme competition to win the hearts of audiences. So we get back round to profit driven, gadget packed consoles. Yet as audiences, we love it!
Case study feedback #3
Adam - just cutting and pasting company info is not valuable research. You should be reading broadsheet articles, following specific research hypothesis and reflecting on how the industry is changing / audience experience is changing.
Remove all cut and pasted info from the blog
CF
Remove all cut and pasted info from the blog
CF
Advances in sport due to gaming technology
To see the formula one simulator in action, watch this!
http://freshf1.com/brundell-drives-williams-f1-simulator/2007/07/11/
Martin Brundell visits Williams F1 team in a pre race feature for ITV1. He, being a previous formula one driver, wanted to see for himself the advances and differences in the sport since he 'retired'.
Before he is trusted in one of their cars, he is fitted for comfort and safety, and then plunged into a simulator, which externally is identical to the actual car.
The simulator is connected up to the mock up chassis and electrics. All of the bumps in the track, sloping turns, apex, are all felt by the driver of the simulator.
The aspects of the simulator to car are exact on the inside of the simulator. All of this has come about from the first steering wheel-game link up available from playstation over 12 years ago.
Now, it is an innovation in the pinnacle sport of motor racing for testing and creation.
http://freshf1.com/brundell-drives-williams-f1-simulator/2007/07/11/
Martin Brundell visits Williams F1 team in a pre race feature for ITV1. He, being a previous formula one driver, wanted to see for himself the advances and differences in the sport since he 'retired'.
Before he is trusted in one of their cars, he is fitted for comfort and safety, and then plunged into a simulator, which externally is identical to the actual car.
The simulator is connected up to the mock up chassis and electrics. All of the bumps in the track, sloping turns, apex, are all felt by the driver of the simulator.
The aspects of the simulator to car are exact on the inside of the simulator. All of this has come about from the first steering wheel-game link up available from playstation over 12 years ago.
Now, it is an innovation in the pinnacle sport of motor racing for testing and creation.
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