P1 - Describe interactive media products
M1 - Compare and contrast the use of different platforms and formats for delivering interactive media products
This is the Instagram website as displayed on my macbook. It is an image sharing social media site. It is primarily designed to be used as an app on a phone or tablet. Its login page is very simplistic, having links to the app/ play store as well as a way to log in to the website. If you are logged into Facebook already and you have a Facebook linked to your Instagram, it gives a prompt for you to be able to log straight into Instagram.
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Here is the main interactive page for the instagram website, it is quite minimalistic in design, this is so that the focus for the user in on the posts as opposed to the site structure. The website has one function that is to display the images that people have posted. it allows a user to interact with posts in two ways, one of which is to like it where the original poster gets a notification saying that you have like their post.
The other way is to co |
This Screenshot is how the application looks on a smartphone device. It has a much greater array of functionality, that extends to the option to send and recieve messages via a 'direct message' system. you can also share peoples posts via this messaging system. Another difference between the app and website is that only through the app can you post to the site. On the website you can only view what others have posted.
This set up, with all the added functionality on display to app users makes me think that Instagram is primarily designed to be used as an app and not on the site. This is quite possibly because if people use it on their phone it is easier for Facebook (who own Instagram) to gather data on its users. Overall Instagram works far better as an app than it does as its browser based counterpart. This is in part due to the advanced functionality, but also from a more aesthetic take, it is far neater with images filling out the sides of the screen as opposed to having large swathes of white nothingness. |
This is the Netflix homepage as appears on a laptop computer. Netflix which can be used on a variety of devices including smart TV's, tablets, phones AND laptops. Is one of the most popular film and tv streaming services avaliable.
Its homepage is very neat and ordered, opting for a black base colour with white and red text. When you open the site if you dont move the cursor for a few seconds a trailer will start for a recently added show or film, this tends to be a Netflix Original which is a show made and produced by Netflix. This website is very easy to navigate and use, as most of the content that a user may wish to access is on the homepage and there is a convenient search bar at the top so that people can further easily access shows and films. |
On the smartphone.The Netflix homepage shows just as much ease of use as the webpage however in a more concise, tighter format. Whilst this does make navigation slightly less easy, this is to be expected as a phone does not have as much screenspace as a laptop computer so therefore unless all thumbnails where made impossibly small, some sacrifices must be made.
Overall I think that Netflix is best suited for a Laptop or Computer, This is because with a smart phone or tablet the smaller screen provides a disadvantage in being less able to appreciate what you are watching. I also think that personally when choosing what i may wish to watch I would rather be able to see multiple options at once instead of just a few, therefore I would have increased options and that would make choosing easier. However one function that is only usable through a smartphone is the ability to download films or shows. This means that even if I am miles away from a point of electricity I can watch my favourite shows. |
Reddit is a website in which multiple discussion forums are opened and can be commented on. Often used as a place for advice, sharing memes, and having political discussion it is the sort of website that needs to have easy on the go access for those who want to engage with its culture.
This is the site as seen on a laptop computer, it is very complex and has a full navigation bar as well as plenty of other site links that all take you to different parts of the site. This is one of the things that perhaps makes this site more suited to use on a laptop as opposed to a hand held device. However the timeline looks thin as though a laptop computer has too much room. |
The mobile device version of reddit however has a neat fitting timeline as well as all further site links hidden behind a drop down menu. This means that the site looks less cluttered yet everything can be found with relative ease. This perhaps makes the site more suitable for use on a mobile device.
Overall I prefer the laptop version of the site as everything is spaced out and aesthetically neater and less packed in.
However I would think that most people prefer the mobile site as it has the advantage of on the go use, not just when sitting at a desk.
Overall I prefer the laptop version of the site as everything is spaced out and aesthetically neater and less packed in.
However I would think that most people prefer the mobile site as it has the advantage of on the go use, not just when sitting at a desk.