LO1:M1 compare and contrast

 Compare and contrast the use of different platforms and formats for delivering interactive media products 

-webpage

-blogs

-apps

-multimedia CD/DVD

-interactive tv

-mobile devices 

A platform is a way for people to access different content for example there are platforms like webpages, blogs, apps, interactive tv. 

Webpage

For webpages, they are best used to find out any information and may contain images and hyperlinks to other files. They can use them to show people the types of products they have or for people to buy from. Webpages can also be best used to find out general information. The reason for this is because whenever you want to find something out there will be multiple webpages around the information you want to find out. Webpages can be found all the time when you search for what you want and can help you with whatever you're searching for. However the limitations of webpages are that when you want to search/find out something the multiple options that you get may not be what you're looking for or the in formation on the webpage itself could be useless. When comparing this to other platforms webpages can be useful as they can help you find the information that you're looking for and can provide links and images of what you're looking for as well. When comparing this to something like an app, the webpage is much better as you can find anything you want whereas the app is built around one specific thing that people want. It means that in terms of finding  a product that you want to use a webpage would be better suited as it will give you more to choose from. 

Blog

For blogs the benefits of these are that they are easy to update with information. The are also useful as when you write a blog people can write the answers that they think of , meaning that you get multiple answers for the thing that you have wrote about. Another benefit of a blog is that when you have a blog it will always be online and now that most content is online more people use these blogs to find out information (Ouellette,C,2021). This means that other people can always easily find it as it will be on the web for them to read. However limitations of using a blog are that because it is only online, you'll always need to make or read bog where these is the internet, otherwise blogs are useless. Another is that if the blog needs to be constant updated then this can be time consuming for them and means they'll have less time to create other blogs. Though when comparing a blog to something like a multimedia (CD,DVD,ROM) the blog could be considered better. The reason for this is because blogs can be made about different things or anything, meaning that if you searched for a blog on the internet then there would most likely be one for what you need. Blogs can also be updated which means that people can add updates about their content or can answer questions that people may have. This is can be considered better than multimedia as they are only made for one thing. For example with DVDs they are only made for people to watch a film and a CD is only used for something like music, we now have online apps like Spotify to use which make CDs more outdated. 

Apps

The benefits of having apps are that, depending on the type of app you download it will be about the specific thing your interested in. for example if you wanted an app about the news, then you could download something like the BBC app which will give you constant updates about the news. Another benefit of downloading an apps that it will always be easy to use as all you need to do is click on the app that you have instead of having to go onto the internet and find the webpage that you're looking for. However a downside of apps is that the size of the app could take up storage on your phone meaning there's less space for other apps to download. Another is that if the app is bigger than it'll take longer to download and then use which is a bigger problem if the app always needs constant updates as this could make the app take up more storage on your device. When comparing an apps to multimedia an app has more to choose from. The reason for this is because with apps you have the choice to choose which apps you want to download or may like which means you get to choose the content that you want. Apps also have better portability as they'll be on your phone which you'll always have with you, meaning you have access to all your content whenever you want. They have have more interactivity with them as with apps you are in control of what you want to see or do with the app whereas with multimedia they have limited interactivity as with a DVD the only thing you can do is select play or choose the scene you want to start from. DVDs are also not portable as you need something that can play the DVD and then a tv to watch it on meaning they are only in a fixed location and can't be moved. 

Multimedia-CD/DVD

A benefit of having something like a DVD is that you have a real copy of the product. This means that you'll always have access to it whenever you want it. It also means that when you have a DVD it will have more bonus content on it whereas having something digitally on an app may not have the same thing a real copy does. A limitation of having a DVD is that they are slowly becoming more outdated (Whitten, S 2019) as people are using more online apps like Now TV, Disney+ or Amazon Prime. This means that devices like DVD players may slowly stop production meaning that things like DVD may not be able to be watched if there are no more DVD players or any device that can play a disk. Another limit is that when having a disk it has the chance to get scratched or eventually may not work if you use the disk too many times. By having an app like Disney+ or Amazon Prime the films on them are digital meaning that they can always be watched and nothing will happen to them. However Multimedia can be considered better than something like apps. The way that they are better is that with multimedia like DVDs and CDs, you'll have them for life which means that you wont need to buy it again as long as it is taken care of. They can also have a better screen size as when you're watching a DVD it will most likely be watched on the tv which will have a better screen size. Though when using an app it would be accessed on a phone meaning the screen size would be much smaller. 

Interactive TV

A benefit of interactive tv is that it has all the normal things a tv would have but then allows you to go onto apps to do shopping or watch tv shows. This means that you can access more content on one device which makes it easier for people to find what they are looking for. It also means that you can access more apps like Netflix. This means that you don't have to download the app of each one which can take up storage as you've already got them on an interactive tv. A downside of an interactive tv is that it will always require the internet to access the content that you can get. Another is that they can be expensive to have or they can lead to more people sitting in front of their tv constantly as they have more access to content on their interactive tv. When comparing an interactive tv to apps, the interactive tv can be better. The thing that makes the interactive tv better is the fact that you have the apps that you want on the tv already. This means you don't need to waste time downloading apps or needing storage in order to have apps on the tv. It also means that you'll always have access to them and wont need to delete any of them like you may need to on a phone.

Mobile devices  

Finally a benefit to mobile devices is that you will always have access to it and all the apps/content you have on the device as you will always have your phone with you. This is a benefit as it means that you can easily download anything you want on your phone which makes it better than something like an interactive tv or a webpage. It means that with a mobile device they can choose the content that they want without any excess content being downloaded and means they don't waste time trying to find what they're looking for on something like a tv or searching for a DVD. Although a downside of a mobile device is that  if your are downloading something the device may have limited space meaning you can only download certain things you want. Another limit of a of a mobile device is that if you're on it while using apps then it only has a limited amount of battery before it needs charging again whereas something like an interactive tv will always be on meaning there's no interruptions. 

Bibliography 

Whitten,s,2019,The death of the DVD,NBC,Viewed 14/10/21

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/08/the-death-of-the-dvd-why-sales-dropped-more-than-86percent-in-13-years.html

Ouellette, Ultimate list of blogging statistics and facts, Optinmonster, viewed 14/10/21

Ultimate List of Blogging Statistics and Facts (Updated for 2021) (optinmonster.com)

In conclusion these platforms can all be best depending on the scenario. Using a website for example can be better when wanting to find out more general information as there will be more on one page meaning there can be more interactive and also means you can have more interactive content on each page. When using something like a blog this can be more useful as it means that you'll be able to update easily with new interactive content whenever you want meaning that you could create a blog that has a range of interactive content for people to use. Apps may be better a using interactive content as they will require to click and use a lot more on them meaning that more interactive content can be used for an app for example with apps you can add videos or questions onto them asking about different things depending on what the app is based around. DVDs my be more suitable for interactive content when wanting to find specific things. the reason fortis is because multimedia like CDs or DVDs or created for one specific thing for people to use instead of having multiple interactive content to use. Interactive tv may be more suitable for wanting to find specific content you want and example is that with interactive tv you may be able to go onto the web to search what you want or have certain apps on the tv for you to access shows meaning that it would be more suitable for content that you can watch. Finally mobile devices may be the most useful for interactive content. The reason for thesis because most apps or content on the phone will be interactive and require you to do something which makes it overall the most useful for any scenario.