Personal Use of Digital Communication

FACEBOOK

Information

• Facebook was founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg

• It’s a social networking site with 1.2 billion users

• Has 5,800 employees• Has Turns over $7.8 Billion a year

Methods of Digital Communication

• The main body of Facebook is a Weblog format. – Users can write a ‘status’ and update other users

about things they want to talk about. – Only users on a persons friends list can see any

status updates.• Facebook also allows users to Instant Message

each other– Users can IM their friends and talk to them in this

way.

Access

Facebook can be accessed on the following devices:– PC/MAC– Mobile Phones (Android, IOS, Firefox OS, Windows

Phone)– Tablets (Android, IOS)– TV’s– Games Consoles (Xbox One, PlayStation 3,

PlayStation 4)– Google Glass

Advantages / Disadvantages

Advantages• Allows users to discuss

their lives• Allows users to IM• Service doesn’t cost

anything to use• All actions are instant• Facebook allows users to

upload images and videos (Can be used as free, unlimited, cloud storage)

Disadvantages• Privacy on Facebook is

questionable.• Blocked users can still

sometimes see your updates via Google

• Cyberbullying is a big problem on Facebook and cannot be escaped easily.

• Users require an internet connection

TWITTER

Information

• Facebook was founded in 2006 by Jack Dorsey• It’s a social networking site with 200 million

active users• Has 2,000 employees• Has Turns over $317 Million a year

Methods of Digital Communication

• The main body of Twitter is a Microblog format. – Users can write a ‘tweet’ and update the world

about their goings on– Anybody can see your tweets– Tweets are limited to 140 characters– Users can ‘Follow’ other people to see other

peoples Tweets

Access

Twitter can be accessed on the following devices:– PC/MAC– Mobile Phones (Android, IOS, Firefox OS, Windows

Phone)– Tablets (Android, IOS)– TV’s– Games Consoles (Xbox One, PlayStation 3,

PlayStation 4)– Google Glass

Advantages / Disadvantages

Advantages• Allows users to discuss

their lives• Service doesn’t cost

anything to use• All actions are instant

Disadvantages• Blocked users can still

sometimes see your tweets via Google

• Cyberbullying is a big problem on Facebook and cannot be escaped easily.

• Users require an internet connection

TECH SUPPORT FORUMS

Information

• Most technology applications use some sort of forum for technical support. This allows other users and tech support members to troubleshoot problems as a community.

• Often users will come up with the same problem. Using forums allows tech support to direct users to other posts of the same problem thus saving time

Methods of Digital Communication

• Forums – Allows users to communicate with each other and troubleshoot as a team.

Access

Tech Forums can be accessed on the following devices:– PC/MAC– Mobile Phones (Android, IOS, Firefox OS, Windows

Phone)– Tablets (Android, IOS)

Advantages / Disadvantages

Advantages• Community feel means

problems are solved quickly and properly

• Shared experiences• Instant help• Free to use in most

cases

Disadvantages• Not all replies help the

problem• Miscommunication is

possible if a user doesn’t understand something

• Requires internet to post / read replies.

EMAIL

Information

Email is a method of sending virtual mail to users. Users can send text emails with multimedia attachments. • The first ever email was sent in 1971• Roughly 144.8 Billion emails are sent daily

Methods of Digital Communication

• Gmail is an example of an email service. It allows users to send and receive email through a free-to-use system

Access

Email can be accessed on the following devices:– PC/MAC– Mobile Phones (Android, IOS, Firefox OS, Windows

Phone)– Tablets (Android, IOS)– TV’s– Games Consoles (Xbox One, PlayStation 3,

PlayStation 4)

Advantages / Disadvantages

Advantages• Allows users to discuss

their lives• Service (usually) doesn’t

cost anything to use• All actions are instant• Email allows users to send

and receive images, text or other files

• Most email is fairly private

Disadvantages• Email can be hacked• Users require an

internet connection • Emails can contain

harmful files• Requires the user to

know the exact ‘email address’ of the recipient.

TEXT MESSAGES (SMS - SHORT MESSAGE SERVICE)

Information

Text Messaging is a service provided by mobile phones to send text based messages between users. • The first ever text was sent in 1992 and said

“Merry Christmas”• Roughly a million texts are sent daily

Methods of Digital Communication

• Text messages are a form of SMS or Short Messaging Service. This allows users to send short messages to each other with a limit of about 200 characters.

Access

SMS’s can be accessed on the following devices:– PC/MAC – Due to recent advancements users can

use other devices to send text messages via their phones.

– Mobile Phones (Android, IOS, Firefox OS, Windows Phone)

– Tablets (Android, IOS) – Due to recent advancements users can use other devices to send text messages via their phones.

Advantages / Disadvantages

Advantages• Allows users to contact

each other through texts.

• All actions are instant• Users don’t need to be

near their phones for the messages to arrive and can reply when they choose to.

Disadvantages• Texts typically cost to

send• There’s a limit to the

length of the texts. • Messages to other

countries are very expensive

WOOKIEEPEDIA

Information

Wookieepedia is a Star Wars themed wiki. It contains information about every aspect of the star wars universe• Contains 104,600 articles.

Methods of Digital Communication

• Wookieepedia is a wiki meaning that it contains pages and pages of information on aspects of the Star Wars Universe.

Access

Wookieepedia can be accessed on the following devices:– PC/MAC – Mobile Phones (Android, IOS, Firefox OS, Windows

Phone)– Tablets (Android, IOS)

Advantages / Disadvantages

Advantages• Allows users to research

aspects of the Star War universe

• Free to use / access

Disadvantages• As with all Wiki’s it’s

accessible to anybody and anybody can edit any page. Therefore it cannot be seen as totally accurate.

• Requires internet to access.

GTA ONLINE

Information

• GTA Online is part of Grand Theft Auto V• It allows users to create an avatar and explore

it’s huge map together

Methods of Digital Communication

• GTA Online is a Virtual Community. – Users can create an avatar and explore the virtual

world– They can interact with each other and with the

environment and AI

Access

GTA Online can be accessed on the following devices:– Games Consoles (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)

Advantages / Disadvantages

Advantages• Allows users to interact

and meet up with each other

• Allows users to Chat via VOIP

• Service doesn’t cost anything to use

• Can interact with the environment

Disadvantages• Users require an

internet connection • Cyberbullying is very

prevalent and almost encouraged

• May desensitize users to violence

MSN MESSENGER

Information

MSN Messenger was a Instant Messaging service owned by Microsoft. • Released in 1999• Shut Down in 2013• Had 4.3 billion users

Methods of Digital Communication

• MSN Messenger was a very popular example of an Instant messaging Service. It allowed users to instantly send messages to each other via the internet no matter where they were in the world.

Access

MSN can be accessed on the following devices:– PC/MAC – Mobile Phones (Android, IOS, Firefox OS, Windows

Phone)– Tablets (Android, IOS)

Advantages / Disadvantages

Advantages• Allows users to

communicate instantly• Free to use

Disadvantages• Requires internet to

access. • Cyberbullying was a

frequent problem on MSN

SNAPCHAT

Information

• Snapchat was founded in 2011 • It’s an MMS service allowing users to send and

receive pictures or videos

Methods of Digital Communication

• The main purpose of Snapchat is MMS– Users can send images or videos to other users for

a maximum of 10 seconds. After which time the content is deleted.

Access

Snapchat can be accessed on the following devices:– Mobile Phones (Android, IOS, Firefox OS, Windows

Phone)– Tablets (Android, IOS)

Advantages / Disadvantages

Advantages• Allows users to send

pictures to each other• Service doesn’t cost

anything to use• All actions are instant• Allows for the sharing

of experiences and momentary snaps.

Disadvantages• Privacy on Snapchat is

questionable due to a recent hack of millions of users details

• Users require an internet connection

• Users can screenshot images to keep them indefinitely without permission.

SKYPE

Information

• Skype was released in 2003• It’s a VOIP service used by 1.3 billion users• Now owned by Microsoft after a buyout in

2012

Methods of Digital Communication

• The main body of Skype is a VOIP format. – Users can see each other via video and audio.

• Skype also allows users to Instant Message each other– Users can IM their friends and talk to them in this

way.

Access

Skype can be accessed on the following devices:– PC/MAC– Mobile Phones (Android, IOS, Firefox OS, Windows

Phone)– Tablets (Android, IOS)– TV’s– Games Consoles (Xbox One, PlayStation 3,

PlayStation 4)– Google Glass

Advantages / Disadvantages

Advantages• Allows users to see and

hear each other• Allows users to just IM

each other if they’d prefer

• Free to use

Disadvantages• Cyberbullying is a big

problem on Facebook and cannot be escaped easily.

• Users require an internet connection

MOODLE

Information

• Moodle is a Virtual Learning Environment used to provide access to education resources at Gateshead College

Methods of Digital Communication

• Moodle is a Virtual Learning Environment – Users can access resources– Users can see what they need to do / how

Access

Moodle can be accessed on the following devices:– PC/MAC– Mobile Phones (Android, IOS, Firefox OS, Windows

Phone)– Tablets (Android, IOS)

Advantages / Disadvantages

Advantages• Allows users to access

learning materials• Allows users to contact

their lecturers• Free to use• Instant

Disadvantages• Users require an

internet connection

TAGGED

Information

• Tagged was founded in 2004 by Greg Tseng• It’s a social networking site • Has 150 employees• Has Turns over $1.5 Million a year

Methods of Digital Communication

• The main body of Tagged is a Weblog format. – Users can write a ‘status’ and update other users

about things they want to talk about. – Only users on a persons friends list can see any

status updates.• Tagged also allows users to Instant Message

each other– Users can IM their friends and talk to them in this

way.

Access

tagged can be accessed on the following devices:– PC/MAC– Mobile Phones (Android, IOS, Firefox OS, Windows

Phone)– Tablets (Android, IOS)– TV’s

Advantages / Disadvantages

Advantages• Allows users to discuss

their lives• Allows users to IM• Service doesn’t cost

anything to use• All actions are instant• Tagged allows users to

upload images and videos (Can be used as free, unlimited, cloud storage)

Disadvantages• Privacy on Facebook is

questionable.• Cyberbullying is a big

problem on Tagged and cannot be escaped easily.

• Users require an internet connection

PLAYSTATION HOME

Information

• PlayStation Home is Sony’s equivalent of Second Life

• Released in 2008• It allows users to create an avatar and explore

it’s huge maps together

Methods of Digital Communication

• PlayStation Home is a Virtual Community. – Users can create an avatar and explore the virtual

world– They can interact with each other and with the

environment and AI

Access

PlayStation Home can be accessed on the following devices:– Games Consoles (PlayStation 3)

Advantages / Disadvantages

Advantages• Allows users to interact and

meet up with each other• Allows users to Chat via VOIP• Allows users to contact each

other though public or private IM’s

• Service doesn’t cost anything to use

• Can interact with the environment

Disadvantages• Users require an

internet connection • Cyberbullying is a big

problem in game. • Require a PlayStation

system to play