R093 - Files and Formats - Compression

Do Now:

1. What does it mean to 'compress' something?
2. What is meant by the following three units when saving something on your computer?
1. KB
2. MB
3. GB
3. What is meant by the term ‘audio’?
4. What is meant by the term ‘visual’?

File Types - Key Terms:

Compression – An algorithm designed to reduce the size of a file. There are two types of compression: Lossy and Lossless.

Q. In your own words, try to explain which form of compression you believe seems like the better option and why you believe that.

But how does compression effect the size of a file?

And how is this size change reflected in the quality?

File Types - Key Terms:

Audio - Can be in the form of music, dialogue and sound effects.

Sample Rate - The number of samples per second that are taken of a waveform to create a digital signal. The higher the sample rate, the more snapshots you capture of the audio signal. The audio sample rate is measured in kilohertz (kHz) and it determines the range of frequencies captured in digital audio.

Bit Depth – The number of bits available for each sample . If the bit depth increases, it can increase the dynamic range of volume (this affects how loud the sound will be). This will also contribute to the quality of the sound file improving.

We need an understanding of the above terms when considering how sound goes from being made to being digitised.

When looking at audio file types, we will largely be considering the 4 outlined below:

Task: 

1. Read over all of the information provided in the post above.
2. Turn all of the important information into a well-designed/laid-out PowerPoint that you can refer back to in the future to revise this topic.
3. Once your PowerPoint is complete, email it to your Media teacher - Character points will be given to the overall best Presentations.

R093 - Distribution

Key Terms:

Distribution - The methods by which media products are delivered to audiences, including the marketing campaign. 

Online Platforms – A digital environment where people can communicate, share information, and collaborate.

Physical Platforms – Physical Media Distribution deals with products that are distributed in their stored, printed or supplied format.

Physical Media – Physical carriers of information reliant on ‘Physical Platforms’ for delivery.

3 Media/Platform Types to Consider:

1. Online Platforms

2. Physical Platforms

3. Physical Media

For each of the above Media/Platform Types, we need to be able to evaluate their:

1. Audience Reach - How many people will access it? How widespread will it become?

2. Carrying Capacity - How much data/information can be loaded onto the platform/media type?

3. Speed of Transmission - How long does it take for our information/product to reach the intended audience?

Google Doc Task - Copy the table below from the doc on Google Classroom, before filling in the boxes with:

1. A Definition

2. An Image

3. Where they are typically used. 

Challenge: For each Platform/Media Type, do some research about the origins (when and how it gained popularity), reason for its development, any threats to the platform, and any adaptations that it has had to make to retain relevancy.