Games Evaluation

Game 3:

The game re-enforce the knowledge of the lectures in a crossword puzzle method. However, the hint function should not give every letter of the word.

Overall. the game is a challenge to test the understandings from the lectures.

Game 4:
This game deducts 10% from every wrong attempt. For example on the 3rd try, all the answers are in place, you would have a score of 80%. The game selects the wrong answers for you to change the answers.

Overall, the game is pretty straight forward as the answers are right there for you.

Tutorial 3 & 4

1. What are the factors that lead to the extreme popularity of YouTube, especially with keen competition from other social network services like Wiki, Blogs and Facebook.

Allows people to upload videos to share with other people around the world through streaming while ensuring a certain amount of video quality.
Contains a wide range of videos and it advertises itself when people use the videos for their own websites.

2. The article discusses some downsides to YouTube. How would you deal with these issues?

These issues are inevitable as people would make use of communities to bring across their plans.

3. What would be the future direction for YouTube?. Refer to the sections “Where is it going?” and “What are the implications for teaching and learning” for some ideas.

The future direction for YouTube will most probably be broadcasting information in a different media. As a popular website, its name can be used for other means of broadcast, be it for research in schools are even a YouTube TV channel on HD.

Imagine a school where the lessons are taught using a broadcast method and teachers would enhance the experience of learning by doing hands-on activites as well as re-enforcing the students with related information.

Wiki Entry

Introduction
Music plays a part in every teenagers life. Music is contributed, shared and discussed among teenagers almost everywhere in the world. The trends in music have changed rapidly over the years due to many reasons, one of which is technological advancement. Latest trends on the music industry would mean the trends that are happening that impacts teenagers. One of the issues would be piracy in the music industry. As demand of the music industry changes, trends are spotted among teenagers. This webpage discusses about Youth Hip Hop Digital Music Production and its research feedbacks.

Resource Used: Digital Youth Project (n.d.). “Youth Hip Hop Digital Music Production” Retrieved April 20, 2008 from Digital Youth Research Kids' Informal Learning with Digital Media: http://digitalyouth.ischool.berkeley.edu/node/44

Summary
This webpage shows the relationship between music and teenagers and certain trends that may arise. The site have results from researches that comes from projects that includes music and other digital media. It deals with informal learning for teenagers and how teenagers react to the digital media industry. The article poses question that allows people to observe and spot certain trends amongst youths. How music can affect the music industry as well as how youths can affect the music industry, it is an everyday thing that youths are engaged in the hiphop culture.

The webpage wants to deliver the different focus on teenagers that ultimately contribute to hip hop. It oftens throw questions which we already have the answers to them yet it has never crossed peoples' mind in depth. The webpages takes in many aspects such as technology, race and identity that affects hip hop altogether.

Evaluation
The work from this webpage is funded from an organisation and is licensed thus a reputable organisational website that provides accurate information, much less spelling errors. There are no traces of biasness as it obtains information from a neutral stand.

It is an easily accessible website as no login is required to view all the information however, if any information were to be used, credit must be given and link back to the website. The articles are not updated regularly and would get out-dated soon thus it may not be useful in the future for sourcing the newest trends.

Biblography
Digital Youth Project (n.d.). “Youth Hip Hop Digital Music Production” Retrieved April 20, 2008 from Digital Youth Research Kids' Informal Learning with Digital Media: http://digitalyouth.ischool.berkeley.edu/node/44

Rollett Greg. (April 23, 2008). Effects of youth and Gen-Y entertainment spending. http://gregrollett.blogspot.com/2008/04/effects-of-youth-and-gen-y.html last retrieved 14/05/2008.

The Barna Group, Ltd. (April 26, 2004). Fewer than 1 in 10 teenagers believe that music piracy is morally wrong. http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=162last retrieved 14/05/2008.

Citation for Practical 1:Digital Trends. (May 29, 2006). The latest trends in the music industry for teenagers. Retrieved May 7, 2008 from World Wide Web: http://forums.digitaltrends.com/showthread.php?t=10623

Maney Kevin. (May 9, 2008). Free for all. Retrieved May 11, 2008 from World Wide Web: http://www.portfolio.com/views/columns/2008/05/09/Trends-in-Music-DistributionBurke, John. (November 4, 2005).

Teenage trends even scarier for newspapers' future. Retrieved May 7, 2008 from World Wide Web: http://www.editorsweblog.org//analysis/2005/11/teenage_trends_even_scarier_fo.php

Week 8 Stuff

Name: Hoe Jia Chang Kenny
Class: P05
Title of Internet Resource: Talking Cock
URL: http://www.talkingcock.com/
___________________________________________________________________

Purpose
Are the aims of the website clearly stated?
The aims of the website not clearly stated however there is a header on what the website is about.

Coverage
What is the coverage of the site?
The site covers "humourous" political jokes as well as twisting facts in exaggeration with creativity.
Is it comprehensive?
It is quite comprehensive in a unique way
What subject areas and materials are covered?
Satirical Humour.
Are there any pointers to further information that enhance the coverage of the site?
There are no evidences of links to the articles, everything is within the website.
Are the links to other sites useful?
To a certain extent as it may not be pleasant to one.

Authority
Is this an authoritative source?
Not at all as the website does not have any impact.
Are there any reviews about this site or has it been included in any gateways or virtual libraries?
Certainly, there are many reviews on this website however they are not exclusively included in gateways or virtual libraries.

Accuracy
Are the facts accurate? Does it use research as a basis?
Rarely the facts are accurate although form some perspective it may be true but mainly it is just for jokes.
Is there political, ideological, or biasness in the source?
There are are political, ideological nor biasness in the source.
Is it a factual site or one that contains an opinion?
It is a non-factual site and does contain personal opinions.
Are the references stated clearly?
Not really, mostly they are opinions of people.
Is it free from grammatical, spelling and typographical errors?
It is full of errors.

Currency
Is the information up-to-date?
The information is up-to-date only when people bothers.
Is it well-maintained?
There is a team to maintain the site however inefficient.

Accessibility
Is the site easily accessible? Does it require registration and log-ins? Are all the information accessible for FREE?
The site is easily accessible although requires login for members, the site allows information avaliable for free.

Presentation and Arrangement
Is the information well presented and arranged?
Information on the site is not well presented.
Is the information clearly, consistently and logically presented and arranged?
Yes. Information is not consistent and clear.
Are there any features such as site map, an index or a search facility?
Certainy. The site has a search facility to search for relevant topics.
How effective are the search features in helping users to find information?
Quite effective as the site enables the user to search effectively.

Usability
Is it easy to use and navigate around?Are there user support facilities?
It takes little effort to navigate around however does not have support facilities.

Overall
What is your overall impression of the quality of the website?
I feel that the site is bias to most people however they are not to be taken seriously. To simply rate it, the site earns a 4.5/10.

Conclusion
This website is sustainable as long as people do not get too offended.
___________________________________________________________________

How would you react to this website if you were :
· Singapore’s Prime Minister
I would use the website as a feedback of the most "creative" critique on the discussed subjects.

· A Singaporean
I would laugh at the stuff in the website however will not contribute in such nonsense.

· A Foreigner working / studying in Singapore
I would see Singapore as a friendly bunch of people who likes to joke around however may always keep me on guard.

___________________________________________________________________
Done!

Week 6 & 7 Stuff

Name: Hoe Jia Chang Kenny
Class: P05
Title of Internet Resource: Digital Youth Research. Kids' Informal Learning with Digital Media
URL: http://digitalyouth.ischool.berkeley.edu/node/44
____________________________________________________

Purpose
Are the aims of the website clearly stated?
The aims of the website is clearly stated at the top right hand of the screen.

Coverage
What is the coverage of the site?
The site covers the music researches on digital media such as music production.
Is it comprehensive?
It is quite comprehensive as it covers in-depth into digital media.
What subject areas and materials are covered?
Digital Media, youths and researches.
Are there any pointers to further information that enhance the coverage of the site?
There are evidences of links to the articles from the press to enhance coverage of the site.
Are the links to other sites useful?
Certainly. The links are useful into relevant topics.

Authority
Is this an authoritative source?
The site is from an organisation, it has reputable project team thus is authoritative source.
Are there any reviews about this site or has it been included in any gateways or virtual libraries?
There are no evidences that there are reviews on this side nor has it been included in any gateways or virtual libraries as a informative source.

Accuracy
Are the facts accurate?
Does it use research as a basis?
Absolutely, the facts are obtained from careful researches as a basis and are supported by an organisation
Is there political, ideological, or biasness in the source?
There are no political, ideological nor biasness in the source.
Is it a factual site or one that contains an opinion?
It is a factual site and does not contain personal opinions.
Are the references stated clearly?
Not really, however they are included within articles.
Is it free from grammatical, spelling and typographical errors?
As a reputable site, it is free from errors.

Currency
Is the information up-to-date?
The information is up-to-date, however there are archives from previous researches.
Is it well-maintained?
There is a team to maintain the site.

Accessibility
Is the site easily accessible?
Does it require registration and log-ins?
Are all the information accessible for FREE?
The site is easily accessible although requires login for members, the site allows information avaliable for free.

Presentation and Arrangement
Is the information well presented and arranged?
Information on the site is moderately well presented.
Is the information clearly, consistently and logically presented and arranged?
Yes. Information is consistent and clear, logically presented throughout.
Are there any features such as site map, an index or a search facility?
Certainy. The site has a search facility to search for relevant topics in digital media.
How effective are the search features in helping users to find information?
Pretty effective as the site enables the user to search effectively.

Usability
Is it easy to use and navigate around?
Are there user support facilities?
It takes little effort to navigate around however does not have support facilities.

Overall
What is your overall impression of the quality of the website?
Although there are no evidence of reviews, I feel that the site is informative in helping people to understand digital media in many different aspect. To simply rate it, the site earns a 7/10.

___________________________________________________________________
That's all for this!

Week 4 & 5 Stuff

What are the keywords that you would use?
Keywords:
music, trends, industry, teenagers

List the variations to your keywords.
Keyword: music
Keyword variation: song

Keyword: trends
Keyword variation: pattern/development

Keyword: industry
Keyword variation: business

Keyword: teenagers
Keyword variation: youths

Write down the search phrases that include the keyword and variations as identified above.
1. latest song development on the music industry on youths
2. trends of the song industry on teenagers
3. latest trends on the song business on youths

Search engine: http://www.google.com/
Keywords used: latest song development music industry youths
URL: http://digitalyouth.ischool.berkeley.edu/node/44
Hits: 350,000

Meta search engine: http://www.mamma.com/
Keywords used: trends song industry teenagers
URL: http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/11/25/1069522572623.html
Hits: 40

Subject directory: http://www.lii.org
Keywords use: music teenagers
URL: http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Home
Hits: 4

Comparison and Evaluation on search effectiveness
Compare the search results. Identify 2 characteristics that make all 3 search facilities similar or different from one another.
- Database
- Speed

Do you find any strength/weakness of each of them, in terms of search capability?
The amount of searches from the subject directories and meta search engine differs from search engines as they have lesser results. With less results specific sites can be found from the keywords however subject directories may not give the information you need. Search engines tend to search faster as they have a big database so speed is crucial.

Overall, which search facility best meet your searching needs? Why?
Meta search engines because they give specific results with variations of a reasonable amount.

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Had fun in Week 4!

Week 3 Stuff

Listed below are the purposes of resources:
· Information
· Advocacy
· News
· Personal

In order of the list:
Resource 1
http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=162

Purpose of resource: Information

Reasons:
This is a organisational website which provides accurate information about the music industry with support from statistics and results from surveys.


Resource 2
http://www.portfolio.com/views/columns/2008/05/09/Trends-in-Music-Distribution

Purpose of resource: Advocacy

Reasons:
This is a view which shows the trend on the music industry which shows the hard facts and introduce a proposal in changing the use of recordings in another business way because of piracy.

Resource 3
http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/personal_tech/article4144585.ece
Purpose of resource: News

Reasons:
This is a online news website where media editors take news from newpapers and add them to this website. This article shows how much illegal tracks a average youth has in a typical iPod.

Resource 4
http://gregrollett.blogspot.com/2008/04/effects-of-youth-and-gen-y.html

Purpose of resource: Personal

Reasons:
This is a weblog created by an individual. He gives personal views in regards of the music industry and attempts to connect Gen-Y, brands and fans and it is casual while having the readers to think while reading.


Blog Activities

If I have $500 ...

I would like to get these items from my E-Shopping Spree. Using marketing websites such as Ebay i managed to scoop up some stuff at shocking prices:

1. Razer Lachesis 4000dpi PC Gaming Mouse [ Phantom White ]


This is the ultimate gaming mouse that I would want to own to have complete control in the games I play. It is sold for $150.68 on E-bay.

2. Razer Lycosa Programmable Backlit Gaming Keyboard


This is the programmable keyboard meant for gamers that has many key functions. It has backlight to play in the darkness. With such class and design, who wouldn't want this keyboard? Priced at $122.89 on E-Bay.

3. PNY - NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT Graphics Card

This is a very useful graphic card which supports the latest 3d graphics and makes your computer out of the lagness in most games. A must buy for gamers. E-Bay price: $218.48.

Total:
$150.68
+$122.89
+$218.48
_______
$492.05 (Under budget by $7.95 - a meal at Macdonalds')

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That's all for Week 3!