Assignment 1- Annotated Bibliography
Name: Elizabeth Busch s3718289
I declare that in submitting all work for this assessment I have read, understood and agree to the content and expectations of the assessment declaration – https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/support-and-facilities/student-support/equitable-learning-services
Blog reflections
Annotated Bibliographies
Selected text 1 – Affordances (word count 462)
Norman, D 1998, The design of everyday things, Basic Book, New York Chapter 4 (constraints) pp 81-87;
Chapter Four of the book ‘The Design of Everyday Things’ by Donald Norman, introduces the concept of ‘constraints’ to the viewer, properties that limit the way an object can be used. The text details how constraints are used with affordances to demonstrate the purpose of an object, such as how an object is and is not meant to be used. Norman is careful to make the distinction between affordances and constraints. He defines affordances as the properties that suggest objects use while constraints are what limit its potential use. Norman delves into the various types of constraints that exist on objects. These include physical, semantic, cultural and logical constraints. In order to demonstrate these properties, Norman uses the example of a lego motorcycle participants were asked to put together. Something they were able to do successfully with these constraints guiding them on what to do. The text additionally provides brief examples such as doors or light switches to imply the importance of utilizing affordances and constraints.
The text was able to explain its insights clearly and decisively through the use of examples. By breaking down each of the four constraints; physical, semantic, cultural and logical, Norman can articulate their differences and uses in connection to other objects. Additionally, by using the example of the lego motorcycle, the text can explain the differences between the constraints as at least one of each constraint is present on the motorcycle and the conclusions participants in the example would have come to in the construction process. As a core feature of the text is explaining these various types of constraints, this is a strength to the piece in explaining its features. It ensures it is easy to understand and apply these constraints to other examples in everyday life. Furthermore, by distinguishing the differences between constraints and affordances, the text can reduce the risk of confusing the two terms. This further strengthens the text as it provides a point of reference to the differences between the two terms should viewers get confused.
The text is a useful source in defining the differences between the various types of constraints seen in objects. The use of a lego motorcycle is an easily identifiable object for most viewers, marking it relatively easy to understand. The text was published in 1998, and while the differences in affordances, constraints and the various types of constraints have not changed, this does limit it to a degree. The description of semantic constraints is noticeably smaller and lacking in more detail. When applying the concepts to new objects and software, properties can be defined into multiple categories, primarily semantic and cultural. So while the text is highly useful in designing objects for everyday use, it is less useful when using modern technologies like social media.
Selected text 2 – Networks (word count 494)
Niederer, S 2018, Networked images: visual methodologies for the digital age. Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, Amsterdam. (read pp.1-20)
The beginning pages of the article ‘Networked images’ by Dr. Sabine Niederer starts to delve into the visual methodologies of images submitted to the web and study behind this form of content. The text details that as the growth of a decisively digital visual culture on the internet, images have become a more profound way of networking to one’s benefit. With this growth, it has become easier to share various images online instantly from a variety of sources and across various platforms. When researching these visual methodologies, the text warns it is important to consider images as connected to their networks as a whole due to this widespread sharing of images impacting further research and the spread of information as a whole. With this impact, it is vital to utilise this and various research methods in order to analyse this growing phenomenon in this modern age. By using various examples of this visual language or ‘vernaculars’, the text can break down this study of networked images into images as data, or content.
The text formats itself in a way that becomes easy to follow along with. Niederer breaks down the text into various sections primarily at the end of the reading by discerning the study of images as data or content. This breakdown additionally uses examples such as Wikipedia to delve into the response to this study of images in a user-generated content-heavy world. Through using various other sources to provide statistics, Niederer can provide quantitative data that further provides insight into the growth of these vernaculars. By using these sources to include various well known social media or information providing sites, the text also grounds itself with the modern era providing real-life examples to illustrate this impact upon the study of these images. The text is additionally broken down with various images to provide further visual examples of this networking taking place and highlighting the points made in the text to be easy to understand to viewers. Using images furthermore provides evidence of this growing use of visuals in study and communication to be easy to understand and seek more profound meaning to.
The text and in turn, the text was released in 2018, making it a relatively new text to draw information on as it provides modern examples that can be applied in today’s world easily. By providing her expertise on the subject, it demonstrates she is highly knowledgeable on the topic and in turn results in a text that is well informed and reliable on the subject matter. However, the presence of media jargon and large portions of texts, including detailed referencing makes the text not easy to glance over and provides undivided attention to understand fully. This can thus alienate audience members that do not have the prior knowledge to understand the text on a deeper level fully. Overall the text is a useful resource detailing the research and impacts the study of digital images has had upon the world.
Selected text 3- Social Media (word count 429)
Hinton, S & Hjorth L 2013, Understanding Social Media. Sage Publications, London 2013. (Section: pp. 1-31).
The beginning chapter of the book ‘Understanding Social Media’, written by Sam Hinton and Larissa Hjorth, delves into the evolution of social media on the web and the web itself. The book breaks down the two primary stages of the web, these being Web 1.0 and Web 2.0. The text breaks down the web and main concepts of social media. By explaining the history of the web’s growth in its different forms and the differences of these terms. The text additionally details the growth and impact of social media, empowering users to view social media at a higher standard as it has a more profound impact on the world in this day and age from both a political and economic standpoint. The book furthermore describes the rise of brands and marketing via the web, along with how this has also impacted the web and social media as a whole.
The text utilizes a variety of case studies as examples throughout it is chapters and subheadings to further provide support to the concepts made present. By using these examples based on real-life events, readers are more likely to understand these concepts by applying them to these situations. The text is written to provide a smoother flow into the topics. By introducing the concepts of social media in a general fashion, Hinton and Hjorth can break these concepts down through chapters and subheadings to ensure the text is easy to follow along with. It demonstrates to the reader precisely what social media is at its core and how it functions in society. By providing a general understanding of these concepts and its impact on the web, it prepares the reader to be able to follow along with the complex impacts social media has had on a political, economic and cultural level.
The text released in 2013 and both authors are professors in the field of media in Australia. By being able to apply their expertise and experience in the field to this book, they can provide great detail on the present concepts and are a reliable source on the matter. With the text being released in 2013, the examples and sources are relatively recent enough to still be relevant and useful to viewers studying the topic. With a topic of delving into social media and its history, it potentially will not be the most accessible read for casuals. However, as a source for media students or experts, it is a valuable and useful resource that breaks down the necessary concepts required to understand social media, and its various aspects.