LO1 5 examples of interactive media products
1.DVLA
Rating out of ten [circled with brackets] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 (8) 9 10
The purpose:
The purpose of the DVLA practice test is to prepare young adults and teens for taking their theory driving test by questioning them and scoring them based on what they got right. The webpage allows its user to retry the test multiple times which means they can use the page as a tool when revising for their actual exam. The website uses multiple choice questions and options to quiz the user on their knowledge about road safety and road information. It also shows the user their score at the end and helps them know what questions they got wrong, making the product interactive and easy to use over and over again.
The target audience:
For this product the target audience is young adults and teens who are trying to learn how to drive a car, they are part of the mainstream public and may already own one or use their parents. However, they may also be explorers or university students that need a car to travel to and from destinations. This app helps people prepare for their tests and is useful for people who are trying to learn road safety, I personally use the app frequently in order to prepare for my theory which I have very soon.
Accessibility:
Due to the introduction of the equality act in 2010, DVLA had to make reasonable adjustments to help certain disabled people, and with it being a government website. It had to be the standard of accessibility for disabled peoples use. With this, DVLA added a Voice Over feature that would read the questions and possible answers out to the user. This feature is easy to navigate as found after pressing the options button at the top right, it can also be toggled off and on with a simple ticked box, meaning that the user has full control over how they access this feature on the website. No images are present on the webpage and important buttons can be accessed by third party VoiceOver apps. This is a simple but great design as it allows visually impaired people to access the website similar to abled body people, without taking anything away from other people trying to access it. Plus, there are no questions in the exam that need the inclusion of audio, meaning that deaf and audibly disabled people can access the product swell without need to turn something on in the accessibility settings. This means the product can be accessed by nearly everyone who is able to drive a car, showing how this product was design by the DVLA to allow almost anyone to use it. Furthermore, to ensure that people who are dyslexic or on the autism spectrum the product uses a highly contrasted white background with black words to help the user read the information more clearly. Plus, they stray from using bright colours and images that could make some users uncomfortable and highlight important information for some users who have struggle taking in information.
Navigation and house style:
The layout of the webpage is very simple and is easy to access, they highlight important information and use a highly contrasted background to help people read the page more easily. Information is easy to find and included in that is links to the mock exam and how to book the actual one. This makes the page easy to access and allows the user to quickly access the product. The pallet used is very basic and easy to read, this is used to make it accessible for people who may be dyslexic, autistic, or find it harder to read.
File size:
The size of all HTML code on the web page 774.30KB, this is rather low for a web page as it only needs to consist of text and your score. Meanwhile, the app version present of the phone is 1.1GB, which is also small and wont take to much space on a phone with 64 to 120GB of storage space. This optimisation is for accessibility and is to ensure people who may have low internet speeds can access or download the product. The app version doesn't require internet which means users can use it on the go without draining their 4G, this means teens and young adults can use the app while they are at work, college, or on public transport.
Legal and ethical:
Due to the enforcement of the equality act in 2010, government websites such as DVLA had to become a shining example of fair equality and accessibility. This meant that they had to make reasonable adjustments such as the file size and readability for the users. These is so that the website could be accessible for people living in rowel areas or people who are blind. Also, The computer misuse act forced any government websites to become more stable as they could have a data breaches.
Rating:
I believe that the DVLA website is a useful interactive media product, hence why I have given it an eight out of ten for how it deals with the enforcement of equality act and includes features that allow people who are disable to access the webpage. This includes voice over features that help visually impaired people access the quick, and highly contrasted backgrounds with limited use of images that are helpful to people on the autism spectrum or with dyslexia. The Navigation of the webpage is inclusive to people who struggle reading as it highlights words and includes direct links within its paragraphs that can stand out to people that may struggle reading.
2.Twitter
Rating out of ten [circled with brackets] 1 2 3 4 5 6 (7) 8 9 10
The use:
Social media products like Twitter and Facebook were created to connect people globally and share parts of their lives with the online world. reddit and twitter are known as a micro bloggers that let people post and respond to ideas and topics with other people. This is different from face book which is very menu originated, to allow older people to scroll through the content with more ease.
Target audience:
Twitter appeals to a wide range of different cultures, sexualities, and ages through its communities and twitter thread conversation that talk about topics like: Politics, music, tv, and gaming. This makes the product more popular and accessible to a wide range of people as they can talk and interact with people who enjoy the same things as them.
Accessibility:
In early 2020 Twitter released a new feature called voice tweets which allowed people to upload a small audio clip which everyone can access. However, this feature alone greatly helps blind people who previously couldn’t read twitter threads without 3rd party software. Plus, in early 2021 Twitter added automated captions to video and audio posts, helping people who may be audibly impaired and allowing them to access the websites features more easily. To access these features you must activate the accessibility settings that are present in Twitter's settings page. This is great design as it gives the user the choice to activate these features and allows abled body people to use the website without these options active; making it more accessible to a wide range of people. To make the product more accessible to people on the autism spectrum or with dyslexia they used strongly contrasted colours and strayed away from using bright loud colours that way effect some autistic people. This makes the website more easy for these people to navigate and use without having to activate any settings that way help them.
Navigation and house style:
Different social media apps appeal to a different target audience such as Snapchat and Tik Tok which use a bright, colourful, and an easy to navigate house layout that appeal to a younger audience. Also, features like streaks, and trending sounds use repetition to keep the young audience continuously use the app everyday. However, Facebook (which targets a much older audience) uses AI to constantly feed the consumer content that they like. Plus, the refresh feature uses the same motion as a gambling slot, which is known to be an addictive motion which rewards the user with more content similar to a slot machine. This is different to social media like Tik Tok because they show content that is more suited to an older audience at a slower rate.
File size:
The HTML file size of Twitter is just over 800KB, which is larger than the DVLA we page as it has to include live feeds, pictures, and videos on its page. To ensure that this file size isn't increased due to the pictures and videos uploaded onto the page, the quality of both the images and videos is decreased a lot in order to fit into the file size of the web page. Most people use the web version of Twitter on a PC or Laptop while at home. However, people also use the Twitter app (Which uses APK technologies) when on the go or outside their house which uses 360 MB every hour. This is accessible to people who may not be able to afford expensive data plans and allows users to use the app everywhere they go.
Legal and ethical:
Due to the computer misuse act twitter had to make their webpage invulnerable to data breaches as their information could be stolen on the internet. Also Twitter had to make rules that helped prevent offensive language, or bullying being used on their app. Furthermore, they also added accessibility settings and had to lower the file size for the mobile version of the app. These features were all added because of the enforcement of equality act introduced in 2010, which changed a lot of webpages and social media apps through the years. This is to help aid disabled people or people that are less fortunate use the app alongside abled people.
Rating:
Overall Twitter proves itself to be a fairly useful app that is accessible to a multitude of people. It includes accessibility features that can be used by people who are visually or audibly impaired, and it manages the amount of data used on the app so that people with a lower social grade can use the app. This has lead me to give the app a seven out of ten. This is because the navigation can sometimes be troublesome, and to be able to access some features you must use the web version rather than the app version of the app.
3.Netflix
Rating out of ten [circled with brackets] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 (9)10
The use:
Netflix is a subscription paid service that lets users access a multitude of content ranging from documentaries, K-dramas, comedy, and anime. It constantly recommends the user new and popular content similar to the what they watch and lets the user add their favourite shows onto a watchlist so they could watch it again.
Target audience:
The target audience for this interactive product is Young adults and teens. The content featured on the app appeals to a wide range of cultures and sexualities and features shows such as Q-force written and produced by a LGBTQ+ production team. This is used to appeal to a multitude of different audiences to ensure each user has content that can be targeted towards them.
Accessibility:
To ensure that anyone can interact with their product, Netflix included features like: audio descriptions, closed caption, and voice activation allowing people who may be visually or audibly impaired to enjoy the content on their app. Plus, the inclusion of voice activation can be used by people suffering from diseases like Parkinson's or potentially help people with missing limbs to access the content that they enjoy. Furthermore they include an adjustable font option which can help people who are partially blind or suffering from dyslexia read their screen.
Navigation:
The layout of the Netflix homepage was created to catch your attention. This is achieved via the house style present, which is very contrasted, using the black background to make the cover image of the shows stand out to the user, which influences them to watch the show. Also as soon as you login to the web page, it starts previewing shows that are similar to ones you like. This is used to keep the user interacting with the page, so they don't lose interest in the product.
File size:
Due to the huge amount of video and image information uploaded to Netflix, the file size is 2.25mb. This is because of the wide range of content that is included in the HTML webpage. Also, the app version present on the iPhone, which uses a modified APK file, is just under 1GB. Which means that while using it on the go it will use a lot of the users Data, deterring people who have limited data t use the app.
Legal and ethical:
Legal issues such as copyright infringement disallow Netflix from owning certain products, this is why every month some films and shows on the website are taken of the website, and why popular shows such as Adventure Time and Daredevil will not return to the platform. This has resulted in Netflix making its own IPs which it can feature on its website with out the need for copyright laws. This law has also resulted in certain shows having to change the soundtrack in order follow the copyright rules. One example of this is the popular anime Neon Genesis Evangelion, which used Fly me to the moon for its end credits. This had to be changed when Netflix bought the rights to use the show as they could not gain use of the song in time for the release of the show on Netflix. Also, possible data breeches
Rating:
Netflix is a great app that is incredible at finding content that suits what you like. This makes the app more interactive for the user and helps them find content more easier. The inclusion of subtitles and voice over features allow blind or deaf users to access the media product. Plus, it allows users to change the language of the content which can be used for foreign users. However, the app isn't very accessible to people who may have limited data or wifi. As the app have a huge amount of content for the user to watch. However, the inclusion of downloadable content allows users to watch their favourite show without using any danger, making it accessible enough outside or on the go.
4.Google maps mobile version
Rating out of ten [circled with brackets] 1 2 3 4 (5) 6 7 8 9 10
The use:
This is a website that allows the user to manipulate where they go and choose specific places they would like to visit. This website has allowed millions of people to connect and learn about different cultures and places. The website has been very helpful with people learning geography or wanting to see what another location in the world looks like, and the house style is easy to understand so that all ages are able to use it, they also blur places and scenes that people may find offensive or distasteful.
Target audience:
Google maps is targeted to a wide range of people aged 20 and above, the app specifies in targeting high consumption mobile users as google maps is a product that can used in everyday situations, and being connected to peoples iPhone or Samsung device means the user has more reasons to use it. Also, the app could be targeted to some one that can not afford to travel, as they are able to use the app to look a places around the world without the need of travel, this feature can also be used by aspirers' or explorers who are traveling the world.
Accessibility:
For both the mobile and computer version of the app a wide range of third party voice over apps can be used on the website, the house style also strays away from using images to present the content which allows everyone who accessed the site able to use it correctly. Furthermore, due to the enforce of equality act in 2010, a zoom feature for the text and map can be used by people with reading difficulties, which help them read the content more feasible. With this, the map also shows the user places on the map that offer disabled handicaps for their accessibility, the images used on the map contain links in the code which makes them accessible for blind people locations too.
Rating:
Google maps isn't a very accessible app for people with disabilities, and the constant use of logos and images can effect the user experience for people with autism as certain images can be hard for them to understand. However the webpage does use dull colours to ensure that there are no bright colours used in the app.
5.VR chat
Rating out of ten [circled with brackets] 1 2 3 4 (5) 6 7 8 9 10
The use:
This is a Vr game that allows players to visit worlds and talk to other people who are also playing the game. It allows players to connect like no other game or website can as it feels as if you are next to the person who is realistically on the other side of the world.
Accessibility:
The VR chat experience is free and can be played by people with or without a VR headset. The keyboard and mouse version of the games uses the default WASD set up similar to most PC games. However, for people who may be disable or unable to play this way they offer an extensive control setting that allows the user to change the keys to that most suits their play style. You can also plug in and use a game pad which offers another option for people who may not be able to use the keyboard and mouse. Plus, since the game allows voice chat, people who may be blind or partially blind still have a way to use the interactive product as log as they have a friend that is able to guide them.
Legal and ethical:
As of 2015, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requires in-game communication between players on consoles to be accessible to players with sensory disabilities. This forces games to include features in the options menu that can help people with colour blindness. While researching I found a feedback site in which users offered ideas which can help people with this disability. Vr chat have yet to add this feature but with user feedback I believe that this could soon be a possibility.
Rating:
As a game, VR chat offers little to no accessibility features for users that need them. Apart from the inclusion of gamepad and keyboard options, accessibility for blind or death people is left upon the VR system itself or third party devices.
Planning your own interactive media product:
.VR Horror game inspired from the short story/ meme that blew up on the internet. The basis of the game would be falling out of reality and entering an unknown area know as the backrooms, in which monsters, ghosts, and unimagenry creatures are apparently kept.
.Music streaming service/ app that allows the user to listen to music by popular artists, while also allowing them to create music and use a multitude of different sounds and instruments so they can create the music they want, the app will also feature integrations with genius and will play the music videos of songs that have one, while maybe playing a visual for other songs that are featured in an album.
.A Different music streaming app that allows you to customise how you listen to the music to best fit any ones preferences. This will be via the bass, highs, adding different sounds into the songs such as rain and act.
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