Computer networks

IGCSE ICTCommunicating Ideas

Lesson objectivesidentify the advantages and disadvantages of using common applications to communicate ideas:Multimedia presentationsPrinting flyers and postersWebsitesMusic productionCartoon animations

'Multimedia' refers to documents / software applications that contain a mixture of: text images animations video audioMultimedia Presentations 1:

Multimedia applications are commonly used for training / education. Compared to learning from a textbook, multimedia applications allow students to see animations, videos, etc. This can bring a subject to life and make it much easier to learn.

Multimedia Presentations 2:

Presentations using animations, video and sound are generally much more interesting than a presentation done on slides or on paper.

Presentations are generally used with a multimedia projector so that many people can see the presentation at the same time.Multimedia Presentations 3:

Can use sound, animation and video to engage the audience & enhance the experience

Interactivity & hyperlinks can be built in

More likely to hold an audiences attention than a static presentationAdvantagesNeed special equipment which may be expensive:ProjectorScreenPA system

Need live internet access if hyperlinks are usedDisadvantages

Multimedia presentations can be produced in hard copy (paper) formatSpeakers notesHandoutsSlides

Paper-based presentations

These are my notes for this slide:Mention three types of printing possibleNotes for speaker: clear, one slide & notes per pageHandouts between 1 6 slides per page, with space for audience to take notes themselvesSlides full slide view (but waste of paper)

Disabled people do not have to go to the venue to see the presentationIt is possible to print it in Braille for the benefit of blind people!Audience can read the presentation again any time they wantPermanent copyAdvantages

Distribution will copies be given out individually, or left for people to pick up?No special effects/transitions/sound etcPrinting costs paper, tonerDisadvantages

These are usually produced using Desktop Publishing software. DTP is a system of software and hardware that allows a user to create and print documents such as:books posters flyers Magazines & newspapers Business cards & tickets etc...

Flyers and posters 1

DTP software is WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get - meaning that the document looks the same on the screen as it will when it's printed).

Flyers and posters 2Most web authoring packages are WYSIWYG, too.

Document layout is produced using 'frames' - areas of the page that can contain text or images.

Flyers and posters 3

Text in frames can 'overflow' into other frames. Images can be added from scanners or digital cameras, then cropped, rotated, resized, etc. Where text and images overlap, text can be 'wrapped' around images.AdvantagesCan be used to raise interest/publicity ColourfulFlyers can be given to people to take homePosters one poster can reach 100s of people

Many flyers need to be printed costLitterLimited audiencePosters: graffiti & costLimited audience

Both: Limited space, so need to limit information that is included

Disadvantages

Producing a DTP document:Open applicationCreate frames, boxes and text boxesTake/import photosEdit photos if necessaryInsert photos into documentCrop/resizeEnter or import textFormat textLayout/wrapping etc

Websites 1Rather than producing flyers and posters, it is possible now to use websites for advertising and communication.A website is a collection of web 'pages' that provide a mixtures of content: Text & Images Animations Video & Audio Hyperlinks (to jump to other content)

Can be accessed by literally millions of people, all over the world, 24 hours a dayAbility to add sound/video/animationLinks to other websitesHot spotsNavigationHit counters/statsWeb sites never close/get covered in graffiti/thrown in the bin

Advantages

To view a website, you need: a computer (expensive) Internet connection (not always available, and it can be expensive) training to know how to use a computer (you don't need training to use paper!)Websites can be hacked into/contain virusesWebsites need maintaining once they have been set upA website is not as portable as a flyerDisadvantagesHomework Go to bbc.co.uk/bitesizeMake notes on the features of presentation software:Slide masterTransitionsAnimationsNotesComplete the Activity and the TestWork through the Presentations PowerPoint