Monday, December 17, 2007

Fullscreen vs WideScreen

  • When viewing a film in widescreen are the black bars at the top and bottom covering up some of the movie?
no, they are just put in to maintain the aspect ratio of 16:9.


  • What happens to a movie when it is viewed in fullscreen?
It cuts off the edges of the movie so you see less of the picture.


  • What % of the movie are you watching when playing a movie in fullscreen?
About 70%, especially for movies filmed in 2.35:1 aspect ratio. The center of the picture is bigger but the sides are cut off a little bit.

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Visual Literacy task 2



This ad shows duracell batteries inside what looks to be similar to a fuse box. It says Caution Because the batteries have extreme power. This is clever because it suggests that duracell batteries have a huge amount of power compared to other brands.






This ad is for the BMW 7 series. It was released in 2002. The main part of the ad is a picture of a very nice beemer in the middle. The image is a medium shot, because it doesn't show all of the car. It focuses on the front of the car, which is probably the most appealing part of the car. The image isn't clear enough to read the text.


2. Develop

These add are both very clever and appealing. They are different because the BMW ad uses the car's appearance to appeal to readers. The duracell ad makes their batteries look like they have extreme power. The first thing I noticed in the Duracell ad was the Caution warning. I would say that this ad was effective. The first thing I noticed in the BMW ad would be the sleek and stylish beemer. This ad was completely effective because the front and the interior of the car is what really stands out in the car.

Visual Literacy Task 1

1. Research
  • Define the objects and characters used in ads.
Objects used in ads--The object as an epiphany or the "here I come" type, The self-sufficient object or the "here I am" type, and The object as a quality or the attribute type.

Characters used in ads--I'm looking at you type, You are looking at me type

  • Give an example of how each primary and secondary color can be used.
The primary colors have some type of meaning like some show passion while others show passion or religon. Even secondary colors have meaning. IE- black can symbolize darkness, depression, etc.
  • Explain each of the 4 shots used in ads.
Long Shot-A long shot shows at least the entire figure with enough space at the top and bottom of the frame so that the people do not appear cramped

Medium Shot-A medium shot shows the people from his and her waist to above the head.

Close Up-A close up shows only the head and shoulders of the couple.

Extreme Close Up- An extreme close up isolates only a portion of the person's head and is used for dramatic visual impact. This cinematic version of framing can be adapted to the needs of the still photographer, especially when planning a series of photographs.
  • Explain the zones of a picture
A picture, a photo is a way of shaping out reality and framing it in a format. Each medium has a specific format. A format is a world in itself, it has an horizon, the top part is the sky and the lower part the earth. The upper is the spiritual zone, the lower the material one.

  • What is Z-Reading?
It is what the eye catches first on an ad and then it tells how companies should make thier ads

2. Develop

This ad is for Columbian Coffee. I think they are trying to say that they now serve their coffee on their planes. They have a picture of a man and a donkey on a plane, which adds a little bit of humor.


Monday, November 26, 2007

Web Publishing

What is typography?
Typography is a verbal and visual equation that helps the reader understand the form and absorb the substance of the page content.

Why do most graphic designers avoid using the standard heading tags in HTML (H1, H2, etc.)?
Most graphic designers avoid using the standard heading tags in HTML (H1, H2, and so on) because they lack subtlety: in most Web browsers these tags make headlines look absurdly large (H1, H2) or ridiculously small (H4, H5, H6)

When reading a book or magazine why are the columns so narrow?
because the font is in times new roman and it is a small font size

Which typeface is most legible on paper?
Times New Roman

What typeface was created to accomidate the computer screen?
Typefaces such as Georgia and Verdana were designed specifically for legibility on the computer screen

Why should words in all uppercase be avoided?
it is uncomfortable and significantly slows reading

When should italic, bold, and underlined texted be used?
they establish an information structure and adds visual variety to draw the reader into your material

What is anti-aliased type?
Antialiasing visually "smoothes" the shapes in graphics and type by inserting pixels of intermediate colors along boundary edges between colors.

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Net Smart Safety Rules

Online Safety Rule #1: I will not give out personal information such as my address, telephone number, parents' work address/telephone number, or the name and location of my school without my parents' permission.

Ex:You might think that you're giving out personal info to a teenager but you can't make sure that he/she isn't lying about their age

Online Safety Rule #2: I will tell my parents or my teacher right away if I come across any information that makes me feel uncomfortable.

Ex: If you are in a chat room and someone is giving you messages that make you feel uncomfortable in any way, you should log off and tell someone.

Safety Rule #3: I will never agree to get together with someone I "meet" online without first checking with my parents. If my parents agree to the meeting, I will be sure that it is in a public place and bring my mother or father along.

You might think that you are going to meet another teen, but it could actually be a criminal or online predator.

Online Safety Rule #4: I will never send a person my picture or anything else without first checking with my parents.

ex: you don't know what that person will actually do with your picture. He/she could put it all over the internet

Online Safety Rule #5: I will not respond to any messages that are mean or in any way make me feel uncomfortable. It is not my fault if I get a message like that. If I do I will tell my parents right away so that they can contact the service provider.

Ex: If someone is picking on you, you should tell someone early so that the problem doesn't get worse.

Online Safety Lesson #6: I will talk with my parents so that we can set up rules for going online. We will decide upon the time of day that I can be online, the length of time I can be online, and appropriate Web sites for me to visit. I will not access other areas or break these rules without their permission.

Ex: I don't agree with this one, because this isn't the way it goes in my house. My parents trust me enough to let me have some freedom on the web. If I get a link to a website from a teacher, then it must be fine.

Internet Safety Rule #7: I will not give out my Internet password to anyone (even my best friends) other than my parents.

Ex: If you give out your password, someone can access your personal information or edit your account.

Online Safety Rule #8: I will be a good online citizen and not do anything that hurts other people or is against the law.

Ex: this would probably include online bullying and some people might take your comments way too seriously.

Monday, November 5, 2007

How do readers read on the web?
  • They Don't

What are the "three S's"?
  • search, scan, solve
What should you avoid to keep content scannable?
  • Long paragraphs and very small text.
What does good writing consist of?
  • consise, scannable, objective

Which would you say is the most important?

  • scannable
Visit http://www.useit.com/papers/webwriting/ and write about one of the topics covered under Research on how users read on the Web and how authors should write their Web pages. Use the links provided for additional information.

Thursday, November 1, 2007

Detroit Public Schools



Name of Site: Welcome to DPS

Date: 11/1/07


Time: 8:35 AM
MLA Citation: Staff of Detroit Public Schools, "Welcome to DPS". Detroit Public Schools. http://www.detroit.k12.mi.us/
Design

Navigability is good. Links are clearly labeled.
Can move from page to page easily.
4, Navagability is good but I don't like how the links have more than 1 color.

This site offers interactivity. The visitor engages
with the site.
5, They even have a video on their site that tells about their schools.

This site uses appropriate page format.
Pages are not inordinately long.
4, pages are about the right length, but I think that they try to cram the the home page with too much content.
You can easily find information.
4, The only down side is that it took a little while to find the links to the school pages.

This site is aesthetically appealing.
Good use of graphics and color.
4, I didn't like that they didn't give the school's nickname on the front page (for example: Go Comets!)

This site is aesthetically courteous.
Text and background colors do not clash.
4, they don't clash, but it's white and black which I think is a little boring.

Content

Has a proper title. 5

Additional resource links are included. 4

Information is useful. 4

Rich content and will likely be revisited. 4

How this website compares in content to
similar websites. 5

Technical Elements

All links work. 5

Thumbnail graphics used.
Graphics download quickly. 5
Alternative text page is offered when heavy graphics or
frames are used. 5
Image links and image maps
have a text alternative. 3

Can see meaningful information within 30 sec. 4

Credibility

Contact person is stated with their e-mail address. 4
Links have been kept current.
States when this page was last updated. 1
Resource links used to develop 3
content are included.

States the name of the host school or institution.5

Total Possible Points = 100 Total=_______________



Tammy Payton. “Web Evaluation for Secondary Grades.” 13 Aug. 2007 <http://www.tammypayton.net/courses/print/rubric3.htm>.

MLA Citation for Web Sites.
Author. “Title of Article.” Title of Book. Date. Publisher. Date Found .

Thursday, October 18, 2007

How a search engine works

How does a search engine work?
-The system matches the information with the info it has already previously collected and organized it doesn't look at milions of sites.

Are search engines public or private institutions, Is that a good or bad thing?
-Public. It can be a bad thing because some searches are personal. It can be a good thing because they can be bought out by anyone

What is double click?
an advertising network


What is linked in?
our credit card information and other personal information

Anything else?

nope

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Plagiarism

How common do you think plagiarism takes place in school? How do you think teachers can stop plagiarism from taking place? Why is it important to create you own unique papers, projects, etc. compared to plagiarizing someone else work/thoughts/ideas?


I think plagiarism takes place a little bit at Haslett. I think most people don't do it because of the harsh consequences. I think there are a few softwares that can match text in your paper to phrases over like 3 words online. I think that once they get caught and fail a marking period, or something like that, they won't do it again. It's important to make your own papers and projects because it helps make you a better writer. If you plagiarize and use someone else's essay, you don't really get any better at writing or even learn anything.

Friday, September 21, 2007

Safety Pledge

I think the top 5 Safety rules are:

  • I will not give my name, address, telephone number, school, or my teachers’/parents’ names, addresses, or telephone numbers, to anyone I meet on the Internet.
  • I will not use any articles, stories, or other works I find online and pretend it is my own.
  • I will not fill out any form or request online that asks me for any information about my school, my family, or myself without first asking for permission from my teachers/parents.
  • I will not send a picture of myself or others over the Internet without my teachers’/parents’ permission.
  • I will not give out my email password to anyone (even my best friends) other than my teachers/parents.

I know someone who thought he was instant messaging a girl online and it turned out to be a guy after they met. In general, I pretty much agree with these rules. They are pretty reasonable.

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Wiki Project

Wikis make it very easy to correct your mistakes . It doesn't use code, which takes forever to write. Anyone can edit a wiki, which isn't true for a website. It is very hard to read the actual content in a website but it's really easy in a wiki.

Sunday, September 9, 2007

Crystal Ball trick

Crystal Ball trick

I think the trick uses your mouse to find the picture. When you move the mouse close to a number to look up its symbol, it displays the image your mouse is closest to.

Crystal Ball trick: http://wwwimage.cbs.com/primetime/ghost_whisperer/swf/crystal_ball.swf


Card trick

I think the website times how long you take between step 2 and 3. It knows the approximate amount of time it takes to say that phrase (ie: king of hearts) 3 times in your head. It times how long you take to say it in your head and matches it to the nearest match

Card trick: http://www.ecardtricks.com/mr1.htm