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!