Reflection

The combination of images and texts to give colours to the documents, videos and graph assist reader able to understand this blog better and present it well to the readers. According
Shriver's (1997) and Kress & Van Leeuwen (1998), the integrating texts and pictures, make me confident that is better to have both images and text to present my final assignment in this subject, IPD. I hope that my content is fullfill with the requirements as well as able to be understand by readers.

As a blogger, should always concern about the issues of document design and moral should always be concern in cultural, religion, countries to predict occur any document design issues. I believe that that, this blog assignment helped me to growth to a better blogger. I hope that, after my audience read my blog can learn something about document design as well. Thanks for reading this and hope we will escape the issues of document design in the following days.

Makkal Osai suspended

In year 2007, Makkal Osai was suspended by the issues of publishing a offensive picture of Jesus Christ. This issues cause one month's suspension from the publisher. It is because Makkal Osai against the act of the Printing Press and Publications Act 1984. It has been made the public apologies. In year 2008, April the daily cycle paper failure resulting the failed of renew their license. (The Star,2008) The leader of Christian had accepted the public apologies from Makkal Osai. Yet, the one month suspension seems not that sufficient and it should also suffer the same fate as Sarawak Tribune. This incident should be concern and as a final warning to all aspects and increase the awareness of caring multi-cultural and multi religious Malaysia. Because, it is a very sensitivites of each other.(Malaysiakini, 2007)

Theory of Reading

Schirato, Tony & Yell, Susan (1996,p109) agreed that different cultures can take away the original context of the statement. In this case, the publication should consider cultures, religion aspect before it published.

My Opionion

Here, if we assume that Makkal Osai is not mean to offence Christian in this issues. It might cause the misunderstanding between culture. However, the editor of this publication should consider most of the aspect and avoid to offence other religion. It is because the religion and culture are very sensitive issues.

Refernce List

1. Malaysiakini.com 2007,'Makkal Osai should consider itself very lucky',last viewed June 10,2009 <http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/71710 >
2. Schirato, T & Yell, S1996, ‘Chapter 5: Framing contexts,’ in Communication and cultural literacy: an introduction., Allen and Unwin,St.Leonards,N.S.W
3. TheStar.com 2007, Makkal Osai Suspended, last viewed June 10, 2009 <http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/8/25/nation/18696017&sec=nation>
4. TheStar.com 2008, Makkal Osai loses licence, last viewed June 10, 2009, <http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/17/nation/20977362&sec=nation>

Rise of the mobile video blog

Video blogging on mobile started since intergrated between webcams and broadband. The first internet celebrities has created. The 'Lonelygirl15' has became popular and supporting by online video watcher.Eventhough this girl was start as a teenager's video blogger and only discovered real identidy as actress.

Source: Youtube, 2006

( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-goXKtd6cPo )

Recently, the latest model of mobile phone created a new trend. By using mobile phone to do the shooting,editing the video in easier way. Afterwards, it also able to post online immediately. It is also need to thanks for the faster mobile connection and also all-inclusive package. These convenience help the trend activity able to growth in short time.

Theory of readings

According Wash (2006), a image is more than thousands words. It means that people can easy understand what is going on by a image. It does not need too much explaination but people can easy understand it. Here, the video helps to record as videoblog. It following by the technology which is getting advance. KvL(2001) opined to challeng the notions between the traditional literacy's emphasis on print in the light of the growing dominace of multimodal texts and digital technology. However,the more exciting things is the developing habit in moblogging or photo intergration where the technology of mobile phone is getting advanced.

My Opinion

In my opinion, although people are given by the freedom of posting their videoblogging. But, there are some limitation for the video blogging is the mobile operator want to earn more money so they intergrate with website. It end up the ethical issues, such as people simply post up their video. The inappropriate video might affect or pollute the young onling video watcher.

Reference List

1. Bbc.co.uk, 2008,'Rise of the mobile video blog',last viewed June 10, 2009 <http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/programmes/click_online/7392594.stm>
2. Kress, G & van Leeuwen, T. (2001), "Multimodal Discourse. London : Arnold."
3. Kress, G. & van L, T2006. Reading images. Chapter 6: The meaning of composition.
4. Youtube, Lonelygirl15, 2006, 'first blog/Dorkiness Prevails',last viewed June 9,2009 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-goXKtd6cPo>
   

Facebook makeover leaves some devotees fuming

Old Facebook VS New Facebook

In 2008, september, Facebook team decided to launch the new surface for facebook. In fact, was nearly 30million of Facebook's more than 100million user switched to the new format before the website began forcing the holdouts to adopt the new site. The reason of changing the layout of Facebook site is to easy people to push and pull information, faster running speed, videos, pictures, and music that they want to instantly share. However, some of the Facebook user is unlikely to accept the changes made. But, the Facebook team have confidents to gain back support from those user who not likely this changes when they take time to be familiar with the new layout and features and also giving their team to innovate theirs product.

Theory of Readings

According Kress & Van Leeuwen (1998,p193), the Given vs New structure is modeled . He points to existence of function which can be realized in different semiotic modes. As we see in the below image of new layout Facebook. The given information is located on the left of the layout site where the new layout site is on right. However, KvL 1998 opines that such structure of Given vs New to be culturally specific due to different country.

In fact, in the facebook layout. There are a lots of combination of the images, icon and text. It makes user easily to explore what they trying to do. In Schriver, K.A. (1997,p412-440), the words and images can be work together where it is redundant, complementary, supplementary, juxtaposition and stage-setting. These good intergrated of prose and graphic does help readers to understand what does the document designer is trying to interpretate.

The Old Facebook Layout

Source: Google, 2008

(http://www.352media.com/rantingandraving/CMFiles/Images/old%20facebook.jpg)

The new Facebook layout

Source: Google, 2009

(http://blog.hishamrana.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/facebook_new_layout1.png)

My Opinion

In my opinion, it is necessary to innovate and update the layout of site. However, Facebook team should provide demostration to assist user to explore their site.


Reference List

1. australianit.com,2008,'Facebook makeover leaves some devotees fuming', last viewed June 10,2009 <http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,24328928-15318,00.html>
2. Kress, G. & van Leeuwen, T1998. “Front pages: The critical analysis of newspaper layout”, Blackwell, Oxford.
3. Schriver, KA1997, Chapter 6 in Dynamics in document design, Wiley Computer Pub, New York
   
   

Emoticons and email Etiquette

An article is concern about emoticons and email ettiquette, Emoticons and email ettiquette by Antony Funnell. This article is interview between Scott Fahlman,professor in Carnegie Mellon Univeristy; Whitman School of Managment, Syracuse University, New York ;and also Will Schwalbe who is New York-based publisher and author.

Regarding the content in the media report, we notice that different interviewer are having different opinions towards the emoticons and the latest email trends. The summary of the interview are as below:

• Kristin Byron pointed that the over-confident in perceiption of sending email cause us make the mistakes in judgement of emotion. It is also misleading reader or create misunderstanding between writter or reader.
  
• Scott Fahlman pointed that has turn off the graphical emoticons himself and only use the simply emoticons. This is to avoid the misinterpret his emails.
  
• Will Schwalbe pointed that is informal to use emoticon in condolences. It makes misleading on email by being too casual or too formal.

Theory and Readings

According KVL 2006 and Schriver 1997, the combination use of images and texts are able to make better understanding and to reader. KVL views that the interpretation of the writting or messages are highly rely on different cultural background and its context. (KvL 2006). In Walsh 2006, the meaningwill be affected by the affordance of the modes as well as the readers.

What is emoticon?

According Entity.cc, emoticon defines as convey emotion or voice inflection in the text conversation. The example of emoticons as belows:

:) = smiles

:( = Frown

Who is like to use emoticon?

The answer of research as below:

(Refer to Cool Smileys 2009)

My Opinion

In my personal opinion, there is number of peoples are like to use emoticon. In fact, emoticons does able to deliver better message and better understanding to the reader. It is bringing a lot of the advantages to the email. But, it should not full with the emoticons in one sentence. In my experience, i hate to read emoticons when i chat with my friend in msn messenger. The too much emoticons has made me confused and misunderstanding in the conversation.

Reference List :

1. Cool-smileys.com,'Some statistics about smileys', last viewed June 10,2009 <http://www.cool-smileys.com/some-statistics-about-smileys>
2. Abc.net.au,'Emoticans and email Etiquette',last viewed June 10, 2009 <http://www.abc.net.au/rn/mediareport/stories/2007/2064342.htm>
3. Entity.cc, 'What is an emoticon?', last viewed June 10,2009 <http://www.entity.cc/define-emoticons.php>

Blogging & design issues

Blogs as current phenomenon & benefits to the community

In this century, blogging is getting more popular, number of blogger and benefits are keep increasing. Let's see what are the blogs current phenomenon and benefits to the community.

Current blogosphere

Blog defines as a website which able to let people express their thinkings, views, discussion and also express feeling in written. Commonly, people will write about the current issues in social. After that the blog reader will able to make make the comment to the blogger.

Blogoshera defines as a collective term intergrate all blog exist and their interconnection. After that, combine them together into a community or as a social network. (wikipedia, 2009) Meanwhile, the

The size of current blogosphera

Number of blog posts per week containing the terms

Euro VS Asia VS Malaysia

(Source : Technorati,2009)

20 Types of Blog Posts

1. Instructional defines as a post to instruct people to do things by giving tips, instruction and so on. For example, Diet plan. It makes reader have the loyalty readership and will return to the blog. However, this type of blog mostly can only popular and survive for a short term period.
2. Informational defines as most common blog post where yhou can simply give information. For example, Wikipedia.
3. Reviews defines blog post which let reader to know about a product before they buy it. Through this kind of blog, people able to express their opinion and insight.
4. Lists defines as one of the easiest way and list it down in post. For example, ‘The Top Ten ways to….’, ‘7 Reasons why….’ ‘ 5 Favourite ….’, ‘53 mistakes that bloggers make when….’ are not only easy to write it normally will be very very famous or popular from readers.
5. Interviews - this type of post giving reader relevent opinion. Mostly, interviewer are expert or professional.
6. Case Studies defines ProBlogger collect other blog and profiled them and how they use their site to earn money from their blogging business. For example,- one I did on Buzzmachine .
7. Profiles defines this post is similar with case study but mostly focus on a particular person. This post can tell the world who we are.
8. Link Posts defines a post help reader to link the old quality post from many bloggers in easy ways. Some comments to other blogger will also can be find in this kind of post.
9. Problem Posts defines a post is similiar with the review post but mostly write about negative of product or service.
10. Contrasting two options defines a post write about constrast of two topics and give opinions before reader to make decision.
11. Rant defines as post is to express the unhappy feeling. It is necessary have a clear mind to write this kind of post. It is because the impulse comment of you given might affect your reputation.
12. Inspirational defines post to motivate others. Some blogger might use some words from motivate book in this kind of post.
13. Research defines a post need a lot of time to conduct research but the interesting conclusion make reader link the blog to you.
14. Collation Posts defines weird intergation of research and link post. It normally share the ideas with all your reader together.
15. Prediction and Review Posts defines a post that comments on the end and start of the year. This post is like a year end review.
16. Critique Posts defines as ‘Attack posts’ which try to reflect own personality. But some people use this type of post to critism others.
17. Debate defines a post which use in college and discuss activity preparation with their teamates or organisor.
18. Hypothetical Posts to post something hypothetical, such as what is going to happen in future.
19. Satirical defines use the interesting , incredibly brilliant to shot politicians. Remember, you need to have incredibly powerful and brillion only can write this post.
20. Memes and Projects is to write a post that somehow involves with readers. For example, run a survey or quiz.

Blogging trends in Year 2008

(Source: Technorati 2008)

This graph shows the types of blogs are prevalent in Europe, Asia & Malaysia. In fact, these three countries popular blog are about business, technology and politics.

In a survey of Blogging Malaysia: A Windows Live Report, there were 25000 of people to conduct this survey through MSN portal visitor in September, 2006. There 74% of bloggers's age are 25 years old or younger. It shows Most of the blogger are woman, which is 64%. The report of survey also show the most interested in blogs are by friends or family, 81%. Next, the survey find out there are 48% of blogger like to express their thought or comment to the blog. 34% of blogger like to have own personal corner in cyber space and also 50% of blogger say the reason to blog is 'too boring'. (Microsoft, 2006) ·

Benefits of blogs to the community

Blogging community is to group people together whose similiar interest. However, the benefits is to able the politcal to express their views to the media; Social is to express their feelings and social story; Advertising is to earn money where reader increase in blog.

Reference List

1. Wikipedia,org, 2009, last viewed June 10,2009 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blogosphere>
2. Technorati, 'The size of blogosphere per day for the past 90 days', last viewed 30 April 2008, <http://www.technorati.com/chart/the+size+of+blogosphere?language=en&authority=a4>
3. Twingly.com, 'First political party to use Twingly blogstream, last viewed 30 April 2008, <http://blog.twingly.com/category/europe/>


4. Technorati,'The size of current bloggosphera', last viewed June 30,2009. <http://technorati.com/chart/euro?compare=euro&compare1=asia&compare2=Malaysia&chartdays=180>
5. Microsoft, 2006,'Woman rule in Malaysian Blogosphere', last viewed June, 8, 2009 <http://www.microsoft.com/malaysia/press/archive2006/linkpage4337.mspx>
6. Problogger.net,2005 ''20 Types of Blog Posts - Battling Bloggers Block', last viewed June 8,2009 <http://www.problogger.net/archives/2005/11/29/20-types-of-blog-posts-battling-bloggers-block/

Good writting

A good writting do not have specific definition in either right or wrong. However, some rules in grammar is needed to have in a writting. It is because eventhough those college teachers able to accept and understand what student need to express. But it does not means the employees able understand what they trying to tell. (Putnis & Petelin's ,p236)

Reference List

Putnis, Peter & Petalin, Roslyn 1999, "Professional Communication", 2nd edition, Prentice Hall Australia Pty Ltd, Australia.

What is good document design?

According Reep,Diana C (2006,p162) agree that the combination of imagae and text design can increase reader interest and understand to the document. Therefore, it is important to have both images and texts in a good document design.


During the previous individual presentation i did try to use both of images and texts in some of my presentation slide. The reason of using the combination of images and texts is to capture the attention and interest from audience. However, some of the slide do not have images. The result from the presentation was obviously show that when i present the slide with both image and text are able to capture more attention from audiences. So that some of the improvement is needed, such as adding more related image in the presentation slide. Besides these, the background, placement, contrast in colours are needed to attract reader attention.

In individual presentation, the structure is come with the main point, my opinion and support point. The presentation structure is different with the group presentation slide. The weakness of group presentation slide due to not enough preparation. The problem of group presentation slides was no of supporting authors nor images to support ours discussion.

According to KvL(2007), Walsh(2007), and Schriver(1997), " A picture able to show the meaning of thousand words". It has show the important reflection from a related picture.

Picture 1 : Without text

Picture 2 : With text


Here, we notice that the different between picture 1 and 2 is the text of 'Just do it'. Picture 1 seems a sign to agree the little boy action. However, the picture 2 with text can clearify it as a advertisement of Nike. Again, here. The combination of images and text can express clearer meanings.


According Schriver, K.A. (1997,p412-440),words and pictures work together where it is redundant, complementary, supplementary, juxtaposition and stage-setting. It helps to express the real meaning of the true. And so Kress & Van Leeuwen (1998,p189), agrees that the integrating function, bringing the elements of the picture together into a coherent and meaning whole.


Reference list :

1.Kress, G. & van L, T2006. Reading images. Chapter 6: The meaning of composition.
2.Kress, G. & van Leeuwen, T1998. “Front pages: The critical analysis of newspaper layout”, Blackwell, Oxford.
3.Reep, Diana C2006, Technical Writing, 6th ed, ‘Chap 4: Principles of Document Design,’ in., Pearson Edu, Inc., New York,
4.Schirato, T & Yell, S1996, ‘Chapter 5: Framing contexts,’ in Communication and cultural literacy: an introduction., Allen and Unwin,St.Leonards,N.S.W
5.Schriver, KA1997, Chapter 6 in Dynamics in document design, Wiley Computer Pub, New York