Feedback from my presentation

McLuhan Theory has now changed!!!

I have discovered from my presentation that McLuhan's concept of the world is a "global village" relates to my website concept rather than the theory of the "medium is the message".

I thought the "medium is the message" was based on what the websites messages was trying to connote to the audience. This demonstrates I lacked in my research earlier, but I now understand that the mediums are technologies such as, a television, laptop or an expensive car; which promotes a certain message and relates to an individuals identity.

Therefore my concept relates to "the world is a global village" this refers to how people can connect with each other from the other side of the world. People can also gain information of global affairs even if they do not live there, this is done via the internet or world news featured on television. Thus, my website is connecting Kingston University students togeth er, sharing global knowledge and news with a niche audience.

In addition, I asked my target audience (Kingston Students) in the presentation if there were any other topics rather than fashion, events, advice that they would prefer. The students agreed that these topics are fine, although there should be something to interlink Kingston Students. Therefore on the advice page, students can also talk about their degrees, coursework and gain help from one another.

To define this site to be apart of Kingston University, I have used SocialSpace which interacts with the name StudySpace therefore relating to the sites already established by Kingston University. The feedback I gained was to incorporate the word Kingston, to make it clearer to students using this site. Instead I am scrapping the font I have now, and creating one that matches the Kingstons StudentSpace one, which is:

Also the "i" in SocialSpace funny?

When I asked if the layout and font of my "socialspac

e" title was good. Everyone said they liked it, apart from one, who said th e eye was a bit too big. As I am already changing the font, I will make sure this problem does not occur again.

These are now my processes of creating my new SocialSpace title.

This is my FINAL title for the website... it incorporates the colours already used for the Kingston University actual website, which demonstrates how I have entwined the two.

Questions for my PRESENTATION:

Above is the website layout demonstrated in my presentation.

The Questions I asked were:

Do you think there are any other topics, rather than events, fashion etc that will be more appealing to Students?

Is there anything I can add or improve on when it comes to the colour scheme and layout of the website?

Target Audience: Is a NICHE audience:

• The target audience for this website are Kingston Students

• Kingston Students vary from ages of 18 onwards.

• They can be outgoing. Therefore attending local Kingston clubs, bars and restaurants.

• If they are not into the clubbing scene, they are interested in particular talents, such as music, art, drama and so on. This is where the talent page relates to this part of the audience.

• Kingston Students will also log-in to this site to gain advice on any problems they have.
  

• Fashion trends for boys and girls will also be updated weekly, therefore students will gain advice on what to wear and what is in season. This attracts the students who love fashion.

• This site therefore attracts a variety of different students for many reasons. Some being the passion of fashion, music, arts and attending local events.
  

Fonts for my header:

I have decided on a name for the website. It will be called SocialSpace. This interlinks with the websites already established for Kingston University students, such as, StudySpace. I now have to decide which style I want to use for the website from the four font styles demosntrated below.

http://www.GraffitiGen.com/ - Graffiti Creator - MySpace Layouts - goJoin Sports

This style is colourful and fun. The colours relate to all genders.

http://www.GraffitiGen.com/ - Graffiti Creator - MySpace Layouts - goJoin Sports

This font isn't clear enough therefore this is a disadvantage to this style.

http://www.GraffitiGen.com/ - Graffiti Creator - MySpace Layouts - goJoin Sports

I like this style, it is simple and clear although it is not very vibrant.

http://www.GraffitiGen.com/ - Graffiti Creator - MySpace Layouts - goJoin Sports

This style is fun, vibrant but does not interact as many colours as the first font style. Therefore from all the font styles shown, the first one is the style I feel interacts with all target audiences. It is clear, fun and vibrant.

Content in each page:

Latest Gossip Page:
This page will show articles on celebrity gossip, sports updates and local news along with Kingston university news.

Events Page:
This page will include a list of events in Kingston for the week. It will then display events outside of Kingston that students can attend, this will be clubs in Central London, and outer London. Events will also include restaurants, amusement parks and other attractions. This page will be updated weekly.

Advice Page:
The advice page will offer a confidential page in which students can write their worries and concerns to a person who will respond and offer advice. This will be done once the website develops more. For now, the page will offer articles on eating disorders, binge drinking and drug abuse. This will further lead to links that deal with these issues.

Fashion Page:
The fashion page shows pictures and articles on the latest fashion trends. Varying from clothes that students can wear on a night out to daytime clothes that are in season. Accessories will also be shown on the page, alongside articles on how students can bargain and shop less for more.

Talent Page:
The talent page is a page that offers the facility for students to upload videos, lyrics, paintings and so on to gain feedback from other students. This will be further linked to MySpace.com where students can create a professional profile for their talents. The main purpose of this page is for students to gain feedback on what people think of their talents and how to maybe improve. As the website is not real, this page will upload talents from established artists for now.

McLuhan - The message is the medium...

http://archives.cbc.ca/arts_entertainment/media/topics/342-1814/

This web address takes you to a video of McLuhans' description of" the world is a global village" and "the medium is the message". This video discusses the effect of mass media on societies behavior and thought processes. He explains the term global village by the example of, if there is an earthquake, everyone will know about this, as the message is sent through the medium. McLuhan also says that the telephone brings the world closer together.

However my perception is that the new technologies, such as the telephone and internet make the world more antisocial. More teenagers rather stay at home and watch television and talk to their friends on Facebook rather than going out and socializing with them.

http://archives.cbc.ca/arts_entertainment/media/topics/342-1818/

In this clip, McLuhan states how television is a low definition medium as it offers less information and relies on the participant creating their perception of the images viewed. He explains that when a participant reads a book this is a high definition medium which gives the readers a lot of information "at a level of lower sensory participation." ( http://archives.cbc.ca/arts_entertainment/media/topics/342-1818/)

This establishes how different mediums produce a certain amount of information. This leads to different levels in which the participants contribute to that message. For example, there are occasions where two viewers watching the same television advert will gain a two different messages. I personally believe that the variety of mediums such as television, the internet, phones and so on have in a way "dummed" down society. Television is especially becoming less educational and more reality based.

"According to McLuhan, television is the canvas for a new environment of all human association and perception." ( http://archives.cbc.ca/arts_entertainment/media/topics/342-1818/)

These quotes arrives from,

The CBC Digital Archives Website.

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

Last updated: Aug. 19, 2008.

Flow Chart:

From the flow chart it is shown that the homepage is linked to all the four pages; events, advice, talents and fashion, which are further linked to blogs where students can interact. These pages are then linked back to the homepage and to each other. Each page is also then linked to external websites that relate to the topic. This enables the users to get to their chosen page as quick as possible, making the website user friendly, as there will be a main menu bar at the top of each page, stating: Home, Advice, Events, Talents and Fashion page, alongside contact information.

Research: Influences:

PEREZHILTON.COM is the site that helped inspire my website idea. This website is surrounded on celebrity gossip and latest news. This relates to my website, as it is based on the latest news and events for a niche audience of Kingston Students.

The site shows pictures of celebrities that sometimes are shown with funny remarks on them, for example the image below is of Lindsay Lohan, the caption with it says; "Fall in love with a sandwich" This demonstrates the website is there to stay in touch with the latest gossip as well as making fun of them. Website users can then comment on articles and pictures. This will be done for my website so that students can interact and discuss events, fashion trends and other topics.

Facebook is also another huge influence to my website concept, as it is a socialising network. It is very organised and clear compared to the other image below it, which is unclear and NOT user friendly.