the future isn't HD, it's 3D

A few months back we had the SPP2 forum thread discussing of all things, cinema and 3D films. Having not really seen 3D for a while, I couldn't agree or disagree too much. However, that's changed now.

Harry Potter at IMAX has the first 12 minutes in 3D. It was a revelation. Gone were the headaches and rubbish glasses of old, in came a real immersive atmosphere. They say that watching HD you feel like you are almost there, well with 3D it went the next step and you felt like you were there.

It wasn't all fancy effects - although these were good, apparating for example. I actually really appreciated the subtleness of simply standing in a room and feeling a sense of depth, again, just as if you were standing there on set. It made a huge difference.

BBC Click has done a whole feature on the future of 3D and notably I'm pleased to find that 3D films are making a comeback. However, there are downsides. First, when the 12 minutes of Harry Potter in 3D ended, 2D then felt bland and boring, so presumably, if you watch a feature film in 3D at the cinema, when you get it on DVD at home, the magic will be somewhat lost.

If you visit the BBC link you'll see that 3D TV is being devised, but I think that this should be the opportunity for cinema to find itself a niche. Theatre goers pay a lot more money for something that technically they could get on DVD at a reduced rate. But part of the enjoyment is actually going and seeing it professionally done, on a much larger stage than a TV screen. I think cinema too could make this their unique selling point - 3D at it's best: on a massive screen with superb surround sound.

Needless to say, I still think there's something to 3D web browsing. Youtube in 3D seems the first step in the right direction.

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iPhone apps downloads 1BN, mobile web up

For my third year projects I had a brain storm and eventually decided to head to the future... namely, mobile web. However, being more specific, I decided to focus that further to iPhone web design. 

For my client project I was a little unsure of the profitability, i.e. should I be limiting myself just to iPhone. However, today, courtesy of an article in the NY Times, another on ITPortal and a blog entry on BBC News Technology, I discovered that iPhones apps sales are up, in addition to stats that of all the mobile web users, the iPhone dominates. 

"The results, from a January survey of more than 10,000 adults, are somewhat dramatic. 84.8 percent of iPhone users report accessing news and information from the hand-held device." (NY Times)

Importantly however, it should be noted that "the iPhone represents only 2 percent of the mobile phones in the UK." (ITPortal) Nonetheless, this still amounts to over a million (ComputerWeekly). That's a substantial audience.

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For my research it was advised that accessibility has been done enough and therefore, perhaps I should consider mobile web or mobile media as a whole, for research. Interestingly, that could be interpreted to include appls, cloud computing (Google Android), games and the like. I think it definitely holds potential.

  

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A few practitioners

http://www.webtemplatesblog.com/archives/2009/01/13/web-designers-and-their-websites/

My favourites are Christian Sparrow, plus the green emotionsalive which really catches the eye.

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Web design CV/Jobs blog posts

I'm in the process of writing my 'focused CV' which will be used to hopefully get me a bit of work experience in the holidays. 

I came across this great site which has several posters relatively new to the web design scene, but then also employers of the scene, who share their ideas/experiences/know how. 

I found it useful as it isn't some government correct info, it's real people talking in a real way.

How not to write a Web Design CV

How to get that Web Developer job

What a junior Web Developer can expect to earn

Plus the comments are worthwhile reading too. First thing I'm going to do is switch over to my domain name email address.

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SPP2 - Successful interviews

I predict that Linda Brown will perhaps comment on these following things in regards to achieving success at an interview:

• Body language - be open, not closed in how you physically present yourself, make eye contact
• Know yourself - know your strengths/experiences and how they will benefit the company
• Know about them - show you are interested in the job by having learnt about the company
• Question - show further interest by having a question ready about the job/company

UPDATE: Linda Brown didn't make an appearance so none of these were actually commented upon!

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SPP2 - Personal practitioner development

Outside of lessons and outside of University, whether it be through reading, watching, talking, listening, making or doing, how are you developing yourself as a multimedia practitioner?

I feel I am achieving personal development by taking on extra work projects outside of University. Some may call it moonlighting, but at this stage in my 'career', I think I should grasp every opportunity and make the most of it. For example, by making a website for a friend, not only am I reinforcing the new skills that I am learning, but also, it means I am adding another example of work to my portfolio/repetoire, another thing I could talk about at a future job interview for example. To better yourself more, you just have to keep building more; refining and then again refining your skills, each time.

Furthermore, I like to keep myself up to date with the technology that is ever changing. Being aware of the new features, by reading about the programs, watching videos etc, I can forecast where such new software options will come in handy and how they'll open up new avenues.

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SPP2 - Potential local networks

For the Jim Shorthouse lectures, we were called upon to venture into Bonington Building. On the way through I saw some arty flyers/paraphanalia, one of which caught my eye. 

This flyer for an cultural exchange exhibition of a Korean University's work, I really like, especially with it's the bold contasted against an incredibly light uppercase typeface, along the flowing saturation of the grasses for the background. Anything with nature, i.e. animal print, pebbles, foliage, really appeals. It's one of the reasons I went down that route for the GLP site. 

However, the attractive Art and Design branding we're now becoming used to actually signified something other than Nottingham Trent for me. It reminded me of it's creators, who are located no so many miles away from home.

Whilst researching potential work experience placements for SPP1, last year, Un.titled, the design extraordiners, are from Leicester! ...In effect, I've got an almost formed network (I 'work' for NTU, they also work/worked for NTU) - it's a connection just waiting to be tapped. 

At the worst, Un.titled are a creative outlet that will be featuring in my Networking essay. At the best, I could well end up with some work experience next summer at the place where some cracking bits of design originated. Fingers crossed, it could also rub off!

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"Critique an image thats speaks to you"

Serenity, by liveanoptimisticlife

In my opinion, this inspiring picture succeeds on a number of levels.

Firstly, it has been captured for a range of viewers: fellow photographers, travellers, people interested in natural Earth, and intends to display geographic features (the mountain, the lake) but also the abstract qualities of serenity and calmness. What confirms it's success is how it appeases all target audience's needs. It comprises a good point of focus, the tonal colours blend nicely, it encorporates a range of physical components and is visually interesting/attracting due to the reflection/mirroring achieved whilst working with water.

A standard photography technique that I think has been applied well is to capture the main object slightly off centre and as can be seen, we have the mountain just to the left of centre, but this is then also balanced out by the boat off centre to the right. Furthermore, the blacks of the boat, juxtaposed against the transquil pink/purple of the lake makes for further visual distinction. It plays nicely on the eye.

The piece fits in nicely amongst other pieces of ambient landscape photography.

In terms of difficulties that could have been faced, obviously a sunset happens once a day, and is only for a limited amount of time. Therefore, capturing it would mean there wasn't a lot of time to get it just right.

When considering where the creator could go from here, it would be interesting to see the image captured at different stages throughout the day, so we can see the progression from morning to midday to night. This could be achieved by digital alteration of this picture, but one of the defining points of the picture is that it captures natural beauty, and so to capture nature naturally, without interference, would be nice to follow up on.

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Personal contact providing creative opportunity

I'm a great believer in the line - it's not what you know, it's who you know. Whether that be for getting your first part time job, or finding someone who can do something for you, it's normally a friend of a friend. 

The experience that I can recount is a bit of work experience this summer, that I gained through my sister. She worked doing a part time admin job for a small educational resource company. Through the grapevine, they found out that I was doing a Multimedia degree and so could turn my hand at creative, visual stuff. 

OK, it still required the boss to look me up and check my online portfolio, but without my sister and that shared connection, I would never have thought of contacting such a company for some work, and probably likewise for them.

And the personal contact paid off, literally. My first flyer design I did for free, a tester, but since then, I've done a video montage package for them, chopping together footage, images, sound, and there's more to come. I'd still do it for free, but it's nice to be paid, nonetheless!

Furthermore, the great thing is, doing work for them means they then share my name with their other associates, and I could also ask, using their contacts for more work / experience.

Take a Stance

"The essential point of networking is human contact. Business has killed networking by making it something for the career oriented person." (Jools, 2008) DISCUSS.

The statement is true when it opens and makes it clear the essential point of networking is human contact, i.e. it is simply human to human, person to person contact. Joe Bloggs is capable of conversing, it wouldn't necessarily have to be even face to face. Joe could network by the phone, or in a written form: emails, forums - all human to human contact, and so all a form of networking. From this he'd gain knowledge, incite and also some useful contacts.

However, the statement continues saying business has killed networking by making it something for the career oriented person. If we were to invert the statement to business has taken networking away from everyday people, ordinary and average Joe Bloggs, able to read, write and talk to people, is no longer allowed, because he isn't 'career oriented', i.e. he doesn't have certain letters/qualifications to his name, or a certain company on his C.V to prove his worth.

To join a network and share in the positives, you need a presence in business, or at least a foot in the door. That foot in the door you would normally get by having some experience. And to gain experience you need to firstly network, and use 'contacts' - here ensues the viscious circle. So to say that networking is now for the elite and experienced only would be true. Concurrently this would also mean I agree with what the statement states.

Importantly, I can see a loophole through. Being a University student has strong likenesses with being 'career oriented'. You may not yet have the experience or qualifications, but are going through three years of extra education, learning new skills, strengthening your preexisting skills, acquiring the know how and awareness to launch yourself into the pathway of your industry. All this takes effort and endevour and that to me thereby shows you as being career oriented.

Fortunately, 'everyone' nowadays has a right to education... according to Tony Blair and the Labour Government, with their key focus of 'Education, education, education'.

So it seems there is some hope for 'average guy' Joe Bloggs, after all.