Final Artefact and Future Development

Here is the leaflet that I produced to go with my project:

Here are the links to all 3 Youtube videos in my project:

    

And here are the links to the website, Facebook and Twitter

Website: http://cat1809.wix.com/qrtourliverpool

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/QRTOURLPOOL

Twitter: https://twitter.com/qrliverpool

Outcome

I am very pleased with the outcome of my project. I feel that the videos are informative without the use of text or voiceovers. Something I would change about the project is the leaflet as I still don't think it looks professional enough. Despite this the leaflet is easy to use with clear directions on what to do and what app to download to use the map in the correct way. 

Future Development

If I were to develop this project I would add more videos to the map as I have only completed three to show the essence of the idea. I would also make the social networking idea more prominent with the addition of discussions between users to enhance the tourists experience. Another item I would address would be to produce the map in different languages to make it more accessible. 

In further development I would like Liverpool based film makers, music/sound producers and artists to create videos and audio for the map and place them on a google map. This way tourists can see many different perspectives of one Liverpool sight. 

Outline of proposed final artefact

In the task to create and YouTube annotated video I created a map of Liverpool which when each city sight is clicked it gives a couple of facts about the place with pictures and video to accompany them. For my final artefact I want to take this to another level and create a QR map of Liverpool that gives users more of an insight into the daily life of Liverpool, including sounds and videos. 

I want to use the triptych technique in the videos I create to make them look more interesting to the viewer. I also want all video and sound to be originally sourced, apart from music that I may need to use. 

I feel that another point of interest in my project would be the social side so I plan to make a website, facebook, twitter and an Instagram site. This way users who have used the project can then go on to share there experiences with me and hopefully discuss where to go with other users. I feel that if tourists are social with other tourists it would give them a better experience around the city. 

Research and Development

The first thing I did when researching this project was look around the city. When doing this I discovered the Liverpool sightseeing bus, which I then proceeded to go on. This gave me an insight into the typical Liverpool tour. I felt there were a few problems with the tour particularly with foreign visitors. The tour was only an hour long and on showed the typical sights of Liverpool with a vague insight to each place, plus the tour was only available in English. 

I then proceeded to look around Liverpool myself and talk to tour guides, pick up leaflets and research often unnoticeable aspects of Liverpool sights or aspects that will be missed on a quick trip. An example of this would be the Anglican Cathedral bells, which only ring once a week. I have recorded them to put in one of the films. 

The social side of my project is now finished with the website finished and social networking all linked up together for ease of accessibility. I feel that if used properly the social side of my project would be a great success. 

The leaflet is proving one of the most difficult parts of the project and needs more work over the next week.

YouTube Annotations

Above is the YouTube annotation video I created as part of this weeks task. 

Looking at YouTube annotation videos I researched a couple to get an idea and most of the ones I came across seemed to be stories or games such as the following: 

I decided that I wanted to make something more informative, so I created a map of Liverpool. When the user clicks on different aspects of the map it comes up with a separate video which gives some facts and pictures about the particular site plus pictures and video. 

I felt that YouTube is a great way of creating an easy interactive experience and would be something I would use if my idea to use Isadora doesn't work. 

Isadora

Isadora is a program I was looking forward to working with. I am always interested in working with different ways of interacting and watching media. I learnt very quickly that Isadora is something I can use and possibilities are endless. I started to research Isadora and came across this video which really inspired me to use it, particularly from 1 minute in. 

The brief stated that the Isadora project we had to produce had to be Halloween based, so the group I was put in decided to do a Zombie, haunted house, decision based game. We would have liked to make the project but getting used to the software was hard enough and gathering footage, images and sounds proved difficult. Despite this I feel we created an idea on what we wanted the game to be like.

Here is a screen shot of the 'decision' shot, created on photoshop:

Users then type A or B to go behind the corresponding door. One door leads to the user finding a key the other the user dies. This is the form that the game would follow throughout. Unfortunately I cannot upload the file to here as it can only be accessed through Isadora. 

While Isadora was difficult to grasp at first I quickly got to grips with the software and felt that it was something I would like to proceed to learn and maybe move onto more advanced projects, that requires more interaction from the user and therefore a more interesting experience. As a result of working with Isadora I am also thinking about using the program to create my final project which will involve interaction. 

QR Codes

QR Codes are something I have been interested in for a very long time, and I have used them before in previous projects on the course. Something I have used them on before is a questionnaire explaining the question and topic in the form of a YouTube video. 

QR codes can also be used for clever ways of advertising, shown here in Victoria secrets and Guiness adverts. 

For our QR Code project called 'Get to know me through QR code' we created a video with QR codes embedded throughout with links to the Facebook, twitter, instagram and link on google maps. The video itself could have been a lot smoother and better edited but we had to complete it in a couple of hours. 

Triptych

When we looked at triptychs in the lecture I decided I wanted to do something more visual than a story so I could really explore the frames and ideas we had for the triptych. In my pair we decided to film at the Anglican Cathedral as there is plenty of opportunity for visual beautiful shots. After watching other triptychs through research everyone I watched used a square frame, we wanted to go against that 'convention' so we used cathedral windows as frames. We added a story to our triptych in the form of a journey, a girl exploring the cathedral.

If I were to make a triptych again, I would follow more of a story. Maybe use each different frame for a different side of a story. I would also like to play more with sound, so the viewers attention moves from frame to frame. I feel that although the film has good visual aspects it doesn't catch the viewers attention and move their gaze from frame to frame.

Applied Media Research Presentation

This is the presentation and script on the question: 

Which are the three most successful ever examples of cross platform television programming, how did viewers participate and most importantly, what did they gain from the experience? (I would anticipate answers such as the London Olympics/Paralympics & Embarrassing Bodies) 

Second Screen Question from Cathryn Appleton

Applied Media Research - Red Button

After mainly looking at apps we decided to talk to an older audience who don’t have the ability or desire to own app capable technology and therefore only have their TV set as an access to media. 

The only second screen technology that came up in discussion with an older audience was the red button. When we researched we came across this information:

The red button started in 1999. BBC Connected Red Button is a new service that brings TV, radio and online together on the living room TV. This new service is easy to access and is suitable for all ages.

Connected Red Button opens up a world of BBC TV, radio and online content on the best screen in the house at the touch of a button. The service makes available programmes from a range of BBC channels including CBeebies, CBBC, BBC Three and BBC Four anytime plus BBC iPlayer via simple press of a button.

Connected Red Button will be available to some audiences on cable TV with an internet connection from December 2012 and will be rolling out across other internet-connected TVs during 2013 and 2014.

Applied Media Research - Looking at apps

When we were first given our question we decided to look more into what was out there in terms of second screen content and we found a lot of it! We first looked at apps and then online to see what else was available. 

The Million Pound Drop app came out as the most popular when we looked online and also upon discussion within the class and with friends and family million pound drop was a app that users really engaged in and enjoyed. When we discussed why the million pound drop app seemed so popular we came up with a few point. Firstly the social aspect of the game and playing against or with friends enhances the viewing experience. Not only this but the idea of betting and winning money on a game while watching television gives viewers a sense of excitement and tension as if it was their own money. 

The extremely popular show Embarrassing Bodies also has two apps. The first being a health checker and the other a self checker both have different multimedia platforms in which the presenters show users how to check for symptoms and the app also checks things such as eyesight and hearing. At first this app seemed like a handy free tool that could potentially help the users with their health problems yet after discussion we realised maybe the apps aren’t such a good idea after all. For example and naive users could bypass doctors and check their symptoms on this app, which could, for all they know, be fatal (in the worst case scenario!). 

We are still looking at more apps and second screen technology which will be reported on my blog soon!

TJ and Murphy Recording

After all the problems we faced with out interview recording we knew we could make up the show with our TJ and Murphy recording which had planned as well as we could of without a rehearsal and it all went very smoothly! We again worked very well as a team and communication between us was great throughout the recording. 

After what has been the biggest learning curves of the whole course for me I am glad it is over but what I have learnt from the experience is to be more organised and always have a back up for everything!

Final recording for TV Show

After all our planning for out TV show was over it was finally time to record! We were all very nervous to record after all the preparation and planning we had been through. Unfortunately the recording didn’t go that smoothly as the guest of our show dropped out the day before at 6pm when we were due to go in and record at 10am the next day. We didn’t have a back up and therefore we rushed to find a guest as soon as possible, which led us to someone in our class. We knew this didn’t match the brief we had been given but thought as we had made the diabolical mistake of not finding a back up we had to work with what we could find. 

With all the set backs and our group not being as organised as we should of been I feel the recording went very well and we worked together as a group very well!