Goals Of Week 13: Preparing the exhibition and showing our project to the audience

Research Question: How to better present our project to the audience, how to set up the environment and atmosphere of the exhibition?

This week, we have completed all the work and are ready for the final exhibition Exhibition is the last task in this studio, this reflection topic is to effectively showcase our work and convey our story world to the audience. Joe’s other profession is being a musician, so in week 11, we decided to create a song to be used in conjunction with other media during the exhibition. According to iZotope (2018), a song creates a sense of space and atmosphere for the listeners through techniques such as sound design, lyrics, rhythm, and reverberation. We hope that during the presentation of our work, the music can complement our other cross-media narratives and provide the audience with an atmosphere of ambiguity and romance. To align with the story’s context, we have created a song called “Cupid’s Arrow” to echo the unexpected yet cherished relationship between Maya and Crystal.

During the presentation, we prepared physical letters and maps, electronic maps, and QR codes that can be scanned to access other platforms. We aim to provide a comprehensive experience of our story world to the audience. According to Carpenter (2022), immersive experiences that showcase creativity and novelty attract viewers, and art installations can help create an immersive environment. In addition to visual elements, tactile and auditory sensations can evoke emotions, such as lighting, sounds, and accompaniment. The electronic map is a crafted piece that combines visual, tactile, and auditory elements, offering the audience a sense of participation. Regarding lighting and sound, we have employed pink lights similar to those in Pink Lake, complementing the overall pink ambience and the song.

At the exhibition, I was also captivated by the setup of the Dream team and Escape team. I found their exhibition displays to be more comprehensive and intriguing, and I believe they are worth learning from.

References

Goals Of Week 12:Complete E-map and integrate QR code technology

Research Question: How to combine online media and physical media to provide a sense of interactive engagement?

This week, our project has entered the final phase, where our main tasks are recording audio clues and integrating them into the map. We also aim to combine storytelling with the map and QR code integration. As mentioned in the previous week, we want to provide users with an interactive experience and enhance their sense of engagement. To address this, I conducted research this week and have listed the following methods:

1: Integration of online websites and social media by implementing tags to encourage active sharing, photo uploads, and comments from users. (Kay 2020) We have already incorporated this feature on both our website and social media platforms.

2: Content integration by promoting offline activities and physical objects on our online platforms. (Attewell 2021) We have published physical maps and letters online and included QR code technology to entice users to scan and access additional information.

3: QR code interactions by embedding QR codes on physical objects and incorporating them on our website and social media with rewards or challenge mechanisms. This approach increases user interest, and once they start scanning the codes, interactivity and engagement ensued. (Cherisien 2022) We plan to print physical QR codes for the exhibition, allowing the audience to scan and listen to complete stories. We will also include QR codes on electronic and physical maps, connecting them to our website. Therefore, users can enter our story world offline or online by scanning the QR codes.

We will have the exhibition next Wednesday, and we will prepare all the exhibition items before Monday.

References:

Goals Of Week 11:Draw the map and design e-maps, research QR code technology

Research Question: What types of transmedia technologies maximize user engagement with the story?

This week, we began creating maps and electronic maps. Maps are essential in establishing the story world and providing the audience with immersion and interactive experiences. In the previous week, we chose cross-media platforms, and this week, we will select the appropriate cross-media technologies for our story.

According to Rutledge (2018), the optimal state of engagement is called “flow.” In a state of flow, the activity challenges are matched to the user’s skills, allowing them to maintain full focus and interaction within their ability range. Flow is defined as an activity with clear goals and feedback, where the challenges and the user’s skills are balanced to sustain the flow state. Maximizing user engagement involves continuously combining and balancing challenges and user skills. The theory of flow is often applied in emphasizing games, user experience and other creative activities.

Therefore, we have designed the map as a game-like interactive activity, incorporating treasure hunt challenges that match the users’ skills, to continuously engage them. Within the map, we have integrated audio stories at each location point, allowing the audience to follow audio clues to find the treasures. We believe that adding sound to the experience will make it more immersive and enriching for the audience compared to relying solely on text. In addition, we plan to incorporate QR code technology into the map. QR code technology gained significant popularity during the COVID-19 period, providing users with a faster and simpler way to access information. Nowadays, audience attention spans are often limited to just a few seconds, and QR code technology can help us maintain their engagement. (Potharaju 2023) We will integrate the map with QR codes, allowing users to access our website, Twitter, and electronic map by scanning them. This measure aims to ensure the integration of our story with real-life experiences and further enhance user engagement and immersion.

Next week, we will continue working on the map production and strive to explore more ways to integrate the story with the real world.

References

Goals Of Week 10: Choosing the appropriate transmedia platform and technology to build the story world

Research Question: How to choose the most suitable transmedia platform and technology for the project? Especially a romantic story？

According to Lewis (2023), Identify the central theme of the story and determine who your intended audience is. Select the most suitable platform and format for the story. Create content and plotlines tailored to each platform to maintain consistency and cohesiveness across all mediums. Therefore, I confirmed the following information about the story:

Central Theme: A treasure hunt interactive story set in a romantic context.

Target Audience: Single individuals who crave love. Between the ages of 18-50 and have prior relationship experience. Active on social media and enjoy participating in offline events.

Platforms: Twitter, Own website

Technologies: Electronic Map, audio, side story, QR code

Our story is characterized by immersion and interactivity. Therefore, I have selected multiple platforms, the intention is to provide the audience with more interactive opportunities and an immersive experience. Social media could promote our content to a wider audience. Twitter’s characteristic is being a consumer insight engine, which helps accounts build a closer relationship with the audience. It uses a two-way communication mode, allowing accounts and users to communicate and provide feedback. (Zote 2020) Understanding the audience’s thoughts, suggestions, needs, and mindset regarding the story helps us better create a consistent story world.

Additionally, we will create our own website. We will use the feedback and information obtained from Twitter to create online and offline events and forums, facilitating greater audience interaction. Next week, I will begin designing maps and electronic maps. I have chosen to use map technology for cross-media communication in order to create an immersive experience. I will be conducting research on this topic next week.

References：

Goals Of Week 9: Understand Transmedia interaction and apply it to tell a unique story.

Research Question: How can we maximize audience interest and establish story immersion to encourage audience participation?

This week, I intend to compose a narrative for an A4 assignment. The A4 assignment requires us to create using cross-media storytelling techniques. What is the definition of cross-media? According to Rutledge (2018), Transmedia continues to stretch the boundaries of storytelling by utilizing multiple platforms and technologies that expand stories beyond simple linear narratives and into multidimensional user experiences. Consequently, rather than focusing on a single storyline, I plan to use a variety of platforms and techniques to convey a story.

Immersion and the connection between the audience and the narrative are two characteristics I wish to establish in the story’s setting. How can I maximize audience engagement, create a sense of immersion, and encourage them to participate in the story?

The following is my research approach：

1. Creating complete, emotionally engaging characters and using relatable emotive experiences to help the reader become immersed in the narrative.
2. Utilizing multiple media platforms to enrich the dimensions of the narrative and enhance the audience’s experience.
3. Making the audience feel like they are a part of the narrative by ensuring consistency between the story’s world and its content.
4. Including interactive elements within the narrative, such as diversions, quests, etc.
5. Including plot elements to ensure that the audience is not bored and to maintain the story’s interest.

I used these techniques to create the narrative for “Romantic Treasure Hunt”, and I will confirm the specific Transmedia technologies and platforms next week.

Reference

Rutledge, P 2018, 38 TRANSMEDIA PSYCHOLOGY Creating Compelling and Immersive Experiences.

In general, craft refers to manual skills or techniques. People use skills and techniques to output crafts. (Cambridge English Dictionary, 2023) Craft has different representations in different fields. In terms of skills, the craft can be paper cutting, resist dyeing, embroidery, or the sushi-making skills, badminton stringing skills mentioned in my video. In modern society, many crafts exist as techniques, such as video editing, computer programming, etc.

Craft is something worth contemplating, and upon deeper exploration, it can be found that most of human life is composed of different types of crafts. According to Mark (2011), the craft can represent the culture and ways of human life during different periods and expressions. In any period, the use of certain crafts can tell us stories behind the skills and techniques used. Even today, we can still learn about the creators, their lives, and their stories through previous crafts.

Craft is often associated with the spirit of craftsmanship, which means the meticulous creation of objects by the maker and the mastery of skills exhibited during the creation process. (Oxford Learners Dictionaries, 2023) Not everything can be called a craft. Craft must be a product that includes the emotions and creativity of the maker, and it is created with high-quality skills, techniques, and knowledge. In Japanese, craftsmanship is called “Shokunin,” which is explained more deeply. According to Tasio Odate, Shokunin represents not only superb skills and techniques but also an attitude and social responsibility. The social responsibility of Shokunin is dedication, striving to do their best both spiritually and materially. (Sachiko Matsuyama, 2018) In Chinese, craftsmanship is called “工匠精神”(Gong Jiang Jing Shen). The meaning of this word is divided into four parts: dedication, lean, focus, and innovation. Dedication represents the love and awe of craft and the dedication of the whole body and mind. Lean represents high requirements for the process and the pursuit of perfection in detail. Focus is the conviction of the heart, persistence, and dedication to the craft. Innovation is the pursuit of breakthroughs and innovations, always improving one’s craft. (Baidu Baike, 2023)

In my video, Jiro is portrayed as a craftsman, and his craft is sushi. Jiro dedicated his life to making sushi, and while he is a chef, I prefer to call him an artist. He is extremely disciplined and has an exceptional dedication to his craft, maintaining high standards throughout the creation process. He once said, “I’ll continue to climb, trying to reach the top, but no one knows where the top is.” He is always eager to improve his craft because nothing is ever perfect. According to Cheyne (2022), craft does not have to be perfect, and the process of exploring perfection can lead people to sustainable and more meaningful experiences.

This is the story of Jiro that we see through his craft, his way of life, and his attitude. Therefore, the craft can be a work that includes the artist’s effort, emotion, and story, or it can be a form of expression. Through craft, the creator could convey their emotions, attitude, spirit, and story to people. No matter how much time has passed, the emotions and stories expressed by the creator during that period will be re-understood and reinterpreted. Jiro wants to express this to society and why he wants to pass on his skills. Skills and techniques may change with different people, but emotions and stories do not. In my opinion, the craft is like a huge container with many media fragments, and each fragment is a way for creators to communicate with people. Craft cannot be replaced by machines or industrialization because machines cannot communicate with people under repetitive operations and do not have any emotions and stories. Each craft is unique, and they all tell their own stories.

References

Baidu Baike 2023, 工匠精神, baike.baidu.com, viewed 1 April 2023, <https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E5%B7%A5%E5%8C%A0%E7%B2%BE%E7%A5%9E/3993110?fr=aladdin>.

Cheyne, P 2022, Imperfectionist Aesthetics in Art and Everyday Life, Taylor & Francis.

Cambridge English Dictionary 2023, CRAFT | meaning in the Cambridge English Dictionary, dictionary.cambridge.org.

Mark, JJ 2011, Crafts, World History Encyclopedia.

Oxford Learners Dictionaries 2023, craftsmanship noun – Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com, Oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com, viewed 1 April 2023,<https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/craftsmanship>.

Sachiko Matsuyama 2018, Shokunin and Devotion, Kyoto Journal, viewed 1 April 2023, <https://www.kyotojournal.org/culture-arts/shokunin-and-devotion/>.

Reading Reflection

This week’s reading presents an interesting concept called digital detox. According to Syvertsen & Enli (2019), digital detox refers to a period when people do not use electronic devices such as cell phones or computers, a move intended to help people reduce stress and focus on real-world interactions.

I often hear about people detoxifying their bodies by eating healthy foods that circulate what’s in their bodies. Digital detox, to me literally, detoxifies the brain. The brain is the recipient of the numbers, and if we want to digitally detoxify, we might need to go from the brain to disconnect those links.

The popularity of digital media has brought numerous conveniences and entertainment to people’s lives, as well as many dangers and unhealthiness. In a 2017 survey, the American Psychological Association found that nearly one in five people were stressed by digital technology. 43% said they felt physically and mentally ill from checking email and social media for long periods. (Friedman 2022)

Therefore, I started to wonder if a digital detox was a useful technique to aid in mind and body reshaping. Digital media may have started with good intentions, but because people’s lives are now so closely entwined with them, they have grown to be bad in the absence of self-control or moral judgement. We might not be able to sever our ties to digital media at once entirely, but we can attempt to detoxify by using fewer specific platforms and devices.

In Class Activity

This week, we also completed a brief digital detox in class. At first, I thought the exercise could have lasted much longer than the allotted ten minutes. I’m certain 10 minutes would pass in the blink of an eye if they were spent on digital media. We had plenty of time to reflect and find ideas during this detox period. I also want to discuss my personal experience. I’m a sensitive person, therefore comments on social media frequently affect me. My life has frequently fallen into depression as a result of unfavourable news or opinions. I decided to disconnect from that platform as a result, which I guess is also a kind of digital detox.

In addition, We also completed our creations during the class.

I didn’t choose to do a single type of media, I wanted to compare media to a thing or object. After the first two weeks, I didn’t want to describe media regarding type, time, and technology.

In my mind, media started as a small feather that slowly grew through time, and technology, and evolved into many different forms. The buttons are its connections, and the dots in the buttons are the steps of evolution. Eventually, the feather grew larger and larger, even changing colour, size and form. As time changed, the types of media became colourful and some were so successful that they even blossomed, signifying that they brought happiness to people’s lives. I enjoyed a part of last week’s reading where the social meaning of media is constantly being redefined, in different contexts and moods. Everything has a good side and a bad side, depending on how we use it. We can use creativity to make media blossom, or we can let the negative aspects of media affect us. I love every form of media and the experiences and emotions it brings.

References：

Facebook

Start time: 2014.4.11

I went to an amusement park in Rotterdam and then ate Szechuan food and ice cream with my uncle and Dutch papa. Still remember the feeling, I was thrilled because is hard to eat delicious Chinese food in the Netherlands.

Last Post: 2019.9.15

I just came to Australia and played in a tournament for the club. My partner named Sawan went to the Rio Olympic Games, our opponents were all from the Australian national team, but we still won this tournament.

Reflection on Natale’s Reading

This reading brought me a deep feeling and reshaped my understanding of media. In the first week of the blog, I kept mentioning the concept of old media, but after reading Natale’s article I no longer would define media as old or new.

Nowadays, people tend to define old and new media in terms of technology, level of use, and artificiality. If the platform no longer has cutting-edge technology, or if it’s a medium that the previous generation was passionate about using, it’s defined as old and outdated. Natale makes the point that media is constantly changing, and it’s the type and degree of change that should not be defined by age or time. Technologies that are briefly abandoned may be highly sought after again at another time, such as vintage and Y2K, which are now very popular. the article also mentions that there is no such thing as old or new media if you consider the artificial mobility and uncertainty of the environment.

From my point of view, what media offers us is emotional value, it will record our life in bits and pieces, and when looking back again will evoke many memories of the past. Because of these memories, I may pick up platforms that I no longer use, such as Facebook in the beginning part of the blog. In terms of technology, Facebook has also extended the message function, which means that it has updated its technology in some cases, and technology has been updated to attract new target users to use it, again not something that is old.

There are many different types and ways of media, and we should define them by emotion, function, and experience. Media may be nostalgic, it may be new and trendy, or it may be the most convenient for everyday life. Every period and every situation is changing and can be integrated. However, the media must not be outdated, and old.

This one is a note I compiled in response to another ChatGPT reading, where I compared what people thought were the benefits and drawbacks of AI.
The benefits of AI are that it is a great tool to provide us with ideas and broaden our thinking when we run out of ideas, and it can also help people get rid of boring and tedious basic tasks.

On the other hand, the real value of art is the process and details of creating and completing art. the emergence of AI has replaced the existence of some cheap artists, and people think that AI devalues artists and public art creation. ai makes technology and practices redundant, and the artwork is loved because of its infusion of the artist’s soul, and their struggling, interactive, and innovative techniques are the soul of art.

In my opinion, as a tool, AI is actually worth keeping. It can broaden the artist’s mind and expand a point into a surface. In any case, the process of creating art by the artist is the most precious and fascinating. So AI cannot replace this process, it should only provide people with ideas.

Reference：

1. What media do you use every day? List technologies and platforms, and then I

what you use them for.

There are many types of media that we use in daily life. I believe there are two types: old media and new media. Old media is traditional media, which I often use as print media, such as books and magazines. New media is more like digital media, where I often use social media platforms and video platforms, such as Instagram, YouTube, WeChat, etc. Nowadays, old media is more for learning and gaining knowledge, while new media is for socializing and accepting new things.

2. Put a star next to any media that is offline/real-world.
3. Choose three of these and do some basic research into these.

The three that I have chosen are print, radio, and television. All three of these media are common forms of traditional media. The format of television, which combines audio and video, offers viewers a variety of programming. Contrarily, radio is an audio medium that is most frequently found in transportation. Newspapers, flyers, books, and magazines round out print media. Print media is one of the most reliable media, according to Emrich (2022), because the human brain is considerably more capable of recalling text on paper than words on a scrolling screen.

4. For companies, who manufactures the product? Where are they manufactured?

For this question, I’m not sure about the product and production of a media company, so I will try to answer that with my personal experience. I’m a content executive at a global digital sports agency. we don’t have a specific product, but we use creativity to produce media content and use content to serve account fans, and most of these products are produced from my head.

5. Which of these technologies or platforms measures/quantifies/records data?

What kind of data?

YouTube is a good example of a platform that constantly collects data from users’ views and channels to eventually suggest videos they might like. YouTube records a lot of data, averaging about 8 million signals per day. (How Does the YouTube Algorithm Work in 2022? – Tasty Edits n.d.)

6. Apart from your uses, do the media have any other affordances?

In addition to people’s everyday use, these media have many other functions. Media is more than social and entertainment, it is also about communication and marketing. Social and current events are spread through the media, and advertising and marketing need to be spread through the media, both offline and online.

7. Is there a hierarchy of your media? e.g. do you need to have the phone to use WhatsApp?

My answer is that there is a distinction, probably more of a type of distinction. Digital media almost always requires an electronic device to use, because it needs to be viewed online. But offline media is not. Offline media we see everywhere in our lives, for example, ads at bus stops, flyers received on the street, etc.

Reflection:

In this week’s class, we discussed the types of media. The word “media” was still a bit abstract for me in the first week, and I didn’t have too many concrete concepts. I hope to increase my understanding of media little by little in subsequent classes.

References:

Emrich, S 2022, The Importance of Print Media and How It Can Benefit Your Brand, Entrepreneur.

How Does the YouTube Algorithm Work in 2022? – Tasty Edits n.d., https://www.tastyedits.com/.

Welcome to your brand new blog at Media Factory .

To get started, simply log in, edit or delete this post and check out all the other options available to you.

For assistance, visit the edublogs User Guide. (Or come to class.)