Motion and Manipulative Media & Multimedia Study Guide

Motion Information and Media

  • A flipbook is a book with a series of graphics or images that differ from one page to another, representing an early form of animation.
  • The principles of a flipbook are still relevant in producing commercials, films, television shows, or any motion-based media presentation.

Motion, Motion Media, and Motion Information

  • Motion: The act or process of moving or being moved; the action of constantly moving from one place to the next or changing position.
  • Motion Media: A media communication that provides the presence of spatial movement of texts and images (visual media).
  • Motion media are collections of images and footages combined with other media, such as text and audio, to produce multimedia.
  • Motion Information: The file or clip that is created using motion media; sometimes used as a support to the visual tracking of a certain thing or object.
  • Frame: Every graphic or image in motion media.
  • Motion is produced through rendering, or the act of displaying consecutively various frames per second.
  • A smooth animation requires 24 frames or more per second.
  • Storyboard: A sequence of frames or graphics that follows a sequence to create a story or a message; it represents the shots planned for a commercial, film, or television show.

Characteristics of Motion Media

  • Transfer messages to many people
  • Deliver the same message to the audience at once
  • Represent messages that are typically indifferent and temporary
  • Are multisensory
  • Are formal, influential channels of communication
  • Contribute to behavior and attitude alteration
  • Discuss important issues, persons, organizations, or social movements

Production of Motion Media

  • Informal: Created by people just for personal consumption.
  • Formal: Made by professionals (e.g., film directors) following industry standards.
  • Formal production steps include:
    • Generating of storyboard
    • Scriptwriting and dialogue recording
    • Sketching for animation; Acting and shooting for video
    • Adding background music and background details
    • Rendering

Formats of Motion Media

  • Film - a series of moving graphics or images, with accompanying recorded sound
  • Television - a telecommunication system for transmitting and receiving visual images and sounds that are reproduced on screens
  • Interactive Video - a kind of digital video that involves the user's interaction and participation
  • Others (such as Internet and Mobile Phone)

Sources of Motion Media

  • Internet - a universal computer network that delivers a variety of information and communication facilities
  • Film and Television Studios - a place where films, television shows, and broadcast productions are produced
  • Broadcast Channels - a terrestrial frequency or computer-generated number over which a broadcast station or broadcast network is disseminated.
  • Video Channels - an account on an online media sharing or streaming service from which one can create media content, such as videos, accessible to other people who are also using the service
  • Library - a building or room that contains collections of books, periodicals, and sometimes movies and recorded audio for people to read, borrow, or refer to

Basic Methods on Determining the Credibility of Motion Media

  • Validity of the information - information was peer-reviewed and provable
  • Source - identify the types of source used to generate the information; determine if the video was an actual footage of the event or a mere representation of the information learned about it
  • Relationship of the author to the event - author has first-hand knowledge about the event
  • Technical methods of detecting tampered/fake video:
    • Video smoothness
    • Lighting coverage matches
    • Scale and size consistent - scale refers to the size of an object in relation to another object

Advantages of Motion Media

  • Provide better mastery of processes
  • Display the procedures in detail and in sequence
  • Allow for harmless observation
  • Capture motion in a manner that can be viewed over and over
  • Allow recreation of the scenes, history, events, and phenomena
  • Contribute in molding personal and social attitudes
  • Provide problem-solving skills for the viewers
  • Promote cultural understanding and appreciation
  • Establish harmony among the people with different cultural backgrounds

Limitations of Motion Media

  • Cannot be interrupted by the viewers
  • Are, at times, unsuitable for other topics that are presented best using stagnant pictures
  • Are subject to misinterpretation, especially for younger audiences who lack maturity
  • Are oftentimes more expensive than other forms of visual media

Elements and Principles of Motion Design

  • Motion is significant because the movement of the combination of texts and images or pictures delivers an effective message to the viewers.
  • Motion Design is a discipline that applies the principles of graphic design to filmmaking and video production through utilization of animation and visual effects.
  • Elements of Motion Design:
    • Speed - highlights the tone of the movement. Two types:
      • Fast Movement - provides alertness and escalating emotions
      • Slow Movement - indicates weariness, seriousness, or sorrow
    • Direction - specifies a movement from one route to another; refer to the growth or shrinkage of an object or thing
    • Motion Path - refers to the spatial movement that a thing or an animated object will take; displays the change in direction of a certain movement
    • Timing - is used to explain or strengthen the message or the event; it has two kinds:
      • Objective Timing - can be measured in seconds, minutes, hours, days, etc.
      • Subjective Timing - is psychologically experienced or felt
  • Principles of Motion Design:
    • Speed, direction, and timing should portray natural laws of physics.
    • Timing influences recall.
    • Transitions are utilized to shift between scenes.
    • Sound and color enhance depth and purpose to a certain movement.
    • Cartooning one's image and text offers dynamic movement. This can be easily done by the following movements: stretching, rotating, and squashing.
    • Blurring can be used in several ways. In animation, blurring gives the illusion of fast movement. In videos, blurring is frequently used to censor confidential information or sensitive content.

Manipulative Information and Media

  • Manipulative Information and Media refers to the materials, programs, applications, and the like that we can use to formulate new information.

Dimensions of Manipulative Information and Media

A. Definition, Characteristics and Sources
  • Manipulate: To handle, manage, or influence something or someone skillfully. It can be used to create order, but also unfairly to favor one side.
  • Information: Data, knowledge derived from studies, experiences, instructions, signals or symbols.
  • Information sources can come from virtually anywhere, including books, journals, magazines, blogs, videos, webpages, and personal experiences.
  • Media is influential in moderating and disseminating information.
  • Manipulative information is information that can be handled, managed, or influenced by someone skillfully for advantage or disadvantage.
  • Media: Combinations of physical objects used for communication or mass communication (radio, television, computers, film). It is also the means of communication or a group of people working together in the field of radio and television broadcasting, newspapers, magazines, and/or the Internet, that reaches or influences people widely.
  • Media should be sources of credible information with contents provided through an editorial process determined by journalistic values.
  • People's perception of reality can be shaped by media.
  • Media manipulation: Strategy used by advertising or marketing firms to manipulate information in favor of a client, often using propaganda techniques and suppression of information.
  • TV advertisements have a positive influence on consumer buying behavior.
  • Types of firms using manipulative information:
    • Marketing firm or Ad Agency: Generates sales and offers advertisement services.
    • Public Relations (PR) firm: Coordinates relationships through the media to gain public acceptance and influence opinions.
B. FORMAT AND TYPES
  • Manipulative information and media can be formally an informally produced, organized, and disseminated through different types and formats.
  • Consumer confusion: Lack of confidence in purchasing decisions due to too many similar products or confusing promotions.
    • Example: Confusing 'Buy One, Take One' or 'Buy One, Get One Free' promos.
  • Crowd manipulation: Using crowd psychology to influence consumers' desires and create a belief in high demand.
    • Example strategies:
      • Hired random people would attest to the efficacy of the product.
      • False survey results or testimonies to convince the consumers the benefits of the product.
  • Propaganda: Information or ideas released to help a client's image and hurt an opponent's image.
    • Example: Showing a client's charity work while exposing an opponent's slush funds.
  • Gatekeeping: Filtering information for dissemination, revealing only a portion of the truth.
    • Example: Mentioning only few casualties in a gas leak accident to protect the owner, and not disclosing soldiers' rescue strategies.
  • Celebrity endorsements: Using celebrities to endorse products based on their effectiveness and good quality.
  • Hoax: Use of manipulative information to deceive or defraud the public.
    • Example: A documentary that tricked millions into believing chocolate could help them lose weight.
  • Psychological manipulation: Influencing the public's beliefs, emotions, motives, and reasoning.
    • Example: Highlighting the slimming components of a juice product to create higher demand.
  • Fear mongering or scaremongering: Disseminating frightening rumors to instill fear in the public.
    • Example: Exaggerating the power of a terrorist group to risk planting bombs in malls, there would be a decline of people going to malls and even other public places.
C. Advantages and Limitations
  • Advantages of Manipulative Information:
    • Boosts the image of a person, product, or service.
    • Filters information for public dissemination.
    • Provides a sense of control and order.
  • Limitations of Manipulative Information:
    • Can be biased and subjective.
    • Can mislead facts and conceal sensitive issues.
    • Can hide the truth.
D. Value of Manipulative Information and Media
  • Evaluate the reliability and validity of manipulative information and media based on:
    • Motive or purpose: Identify the reason for its use.
      • Example: A general infomercial was released to inform the public regarding disaster-preparedness in case a disaster like flood or earthquake happens. (Good motive or purpose)
      • Example: A TV commercial was released to create a good image to a political candidate and to convince the public to vote for them even if they do not have the integrity and good intentions to run for position. (Bad motive or purpose)
    • Degree of influence or impact: Extent of effects on public actions, behavior, or opinions.
      • Example: If the general infomercial released for disaster preparedness is misinterpreted, the public might panic which will produce a negative impact despite the good motive or purpose.
      • Example: Some commercials, like those involving cigarettes and liquor, can influence people to consume things that could be potentially dangerous to their health. It can also influence young people to try it too.

Multimedia Information and Media

  • Multimedia Presentation: Delivering information in different modes to be more interesting.
  • Multimedia of today can be defined as the seamless digital integration of text, graphics, animation, audio, still images and motion video in a way that provides individual users with high levels of control and interaction.

Type of Multimedia Presentation

  • Slideshow Presentation
    • A presentation of photographic slides or electronic images projected on a surface or displayed on a screen one after another as a series.
    • Made using software programs such as Microsoft Office PowerPoint Presentation (PPT)
    • Software Programs Alternatives
      • Google Slides - for presentations that allow online collaboration
      • Zoho Show for built-in broadcasting tools to stream presentations
      • Prezi for non-linear and animated presentations
      • Canva for creative presentations using different templates
      • Evernote Presentation Mode - a presentation made from notes. "With one click of a button, presentation mode expands your note to the dimensions of your monitor so that everyone in a group can clearly see the details of your note, whether it's text, images, or attached PDF or MS Office files."
  • Audio Visual Presentations
    • Electronic presentations that contain both sound and visual components, such as slide-tape presentations, films, television programs, and live theater productions.
  • Overhead Projector (OHP)
    • OHP is like a film or a slide projector which uses light to project an enlarged image on a screen.
    • The source of the image is usually a page-sized sheet of transparent plastic film where the image to be projected is printed, hand-written or drawn on the transparent plastic film.
  • Smart Board
    • Interactive whiteboard where you can input or navigate information through touch detection.
    • Since it has touchscreen features, you can navigate the information displayed on the smart board using a mouse or just your fingertips.

Characteristics of Multimedia Information

  • Electronic or digital
  • Interactive
  • Dynamic

Different Uses of Multimedia

  • Field of Specialization - Use of Multimedia
    • Education - Gamification of lessons, engaging classroom lectures, online learning
    • Entertainment - Movies and animation
    • Industry - Presentation of products/services, Marketing, Advertising
    • Medicine - Surgery simulations, medical presentations

Users of Multimedia Presentation

  • Teachers or Lecturers to present lessons and appeal to the student's visual and auditory senses.
  • Motivational or Public Speakers - to present, inform, influence, motivate or entertain their audience.
  • Salespeople-to display and showcase their offered products/services.

Evaluating and Rating Multimedia Information

  • Content: Contain both text and visual information to be relevant.

  • Purpose or application: Match the mood of the occasion.

  • Manner of presentation:

    • Audience: Age can affect attention span.
    • Topic: The type of presentation must be aligned with the topic to make an effective and effective presentation.
    • Resources: The availability of resources is a factor in preparing presentations.

Advantages of Multimedia Information

  • Presents the information in a more organized and in an interesting manner.
  • Empowers and supplements the speaker for a more dynamic and more interactive lecture.
  • It makes information easier to understand since it is presented in a creative manner.

Limitations of Multimedia Information

  • If it presents too much information, it can overwhelm the audience.
  • It can cause the speaker to become too dependent on the technology.
  • Most multimedia tools require a power source. Therefore, the lack of electricity or drained batteries can jeopardize the delivery of the information.
  • It takes a lot of time and effort to conceptualize, plan, and organize an effective presentation. If the time given to prepare one is too short, for example, a day or two before the actual presentation, the quality of the information and presentation might be compromised.