LO1 M1 - Comparison of different platforms

What is a platform?

A platform is an environment in which an algorithm is executed, this can be in the form of software, a website or application, all requiring some form of user interaction and input. For example Snapchat is a social media platform in which users can send photos, play games and talk with each other.

Websites

Websites are multiple webpages which are very versatile however are mostly used to display content, in most cases the interaction comes from the navigation between different webpages. They are a very dated platform however they will more than likely remain very popular. They are great for storing large amounts of information such as text, but can also contain images, links, videos, surveys and forums; moreover they are always updating due to them being hosted on the internet and are easy to find on multiple devices and operating systems such as IOS and Android. However, it is expensive to run as you must have a server to run the website from and if you are hoping to have a popular website and avoid server overload though too many users accessing the website at once, you will need to have a larger server which is expensive to build as well as run.

Due to them constantly updating, websites are great for accessing news as since news happens on a global scale, you will need something which can update almost instantly. Moreover they are great for loading large bodies of text due to how quickly it can load, an they are compatible with screen reading software which makes it great for people who are blind or struggle with sight. Moreover, since they can be used on multiple devices, they are highly portable, and due to how they are coded, the design is based on a percentage of the screen size

However, they are less appropriate if you are making a product marketed towards elder audiences due to their lack of knowledge about modern day technology, for example they may struggle to navigate to their desired website as they may not know what to search whereas younger audiences will. Moreover, due to metadata, if they aren't using buzzwords within their code and website, it will not appear onto of search lists, this means that even though they may have a good website, without the proper words inside, it may not be very popular.

https://blog.demandmetric.com/2008/07/24/evaluate-website-effectiveness

accessed 14/10/2021

Hopes, J 

This blog has all the information on what makes an effective website, this consists of information such as style, colour, layout and also content, it is a great way to prove that websites are still relevant regardless of the advancements in technology. 

Blogs

Blogs, short for web-logs, are an online way for people to post their thoughts and opinions, unlike a webpage blogs are more informal as they take a more social role compared to how webpages are more informative. usually blogs allow people to not only post their thoughts and opinions, but also they can collaborate with other people which is a great way to globalise. Moreover, as it is informal it is more appealing to a larger group rather than a niche group. it also allows people the opportunity to become a prosumer and make money, this is great as it allows people more opportunities in industry. However they are outdated and have been somewhat replaced by other platforms such as social media, not only this but in terms of working collaboratively, there is built in features in professional tools such as Github which allow people to work collaboratively.

I believe blogs to be great for creating a community as it is very informal and allows people to connect on a global scale, moreover it is great amongst people needing advice or help, so perhaps on the topic of things such as games or technology where people may lack the knowledge, this is appropriate due to the fact that any posts on a blog appear in reverse chronological order so the information you first see will be the most recent and more than likely the most relevant.

They may not be the best for someone who needs to search through for specific information as they cannot search a part of the blog for specific pieces for information, this is as all information is displayed in the order of what is most recent, so in the example of a person looking at a game such as Minecraft and how to do a certain feature, the feature may have been from a update that is possibly 3 years ago so will take a lot of time due to how many patch updates and game updates are released.

Apps 

Apps short for applications are programs designed to run on a certain platform, there are 3 main types of applications, mobile apps which are generally quite small in size, desktop apps which are usually the largest in size and web apps which are usually installed onto your browser. The good thing about apps is that they can easily be installed onto multiple devices and people don't need to pay to run the app as they simply upload it to an app store. However a person must first install an app and also it may take a while to load up the app, with websites and blogs you can easily bookmark them and easily reload that page. 

Overall I believe they best suit the need of simplicity, as this means that it wont take as long to load as it isn't trying to load and process large quantities of data, this makes it ideal for the unique selling point of applications which focus on portability and accessibility, as you can gain access to apps from anywhere and also makes it appealing to an older generation as they may feel intimidated by the idea of having to search for information and websites and then scroll through many page links to find the desired one, whereas with an app you only need to click an  icon and it will direct you to what you need. 

However it is inconvenient for some things like sports where things may be rapidly updating, and for most apps for it to update you will need to have the app open, whereas the internet is constantly active and updating so would be ideal for it. Moreover if you are wanting something with many sites or pages then websites are more ideal due to how quickly people can switch between pages. For larger apps, typically desktop ones, there is usually updates, in the case of web apps or anything else hosted on the internet, these will automatically update however desktop apps such as Adobe Photoshop, the updates can be quite large and you may not be able to use the app until the update is downloaded, this will use your own storage and takes time so is not ideal if you are hoping to constantly release new updates.

Kiosks

Kiosks are informational devices typically found in retail locations such as stores or shopping centres, they can also be found at tourist destinations. They provide information for the users, whether this is in the form of directions, suggestions or information on an object or place. The general purpose and reason for existence is that they're easy to use and that  users can quickly source out information. They are great because they allow people to find out information without the need to search for it themselves, however they are limited because of how much they cost and how many one can have, this means it limits the accessibility for users as they have to travel to a limited number of kiosks.

They are very useful when giving information in busy areas such as airports as it reduces the need for human assistance who may not have all the desired answers, with a kiosk you have all the necessary information at hand, it is much easier as well to have a visual diagram for some things such as directions compared to just being told something as there could be some lack of understanding in the communication or in the case of someone being deaf then just words will make it near impossible for someone to communicate without the proper training in sign language.

 

They aren't very useful if you are hoping to globalise, this is as they are mostly an assistance station for users and require a physical access point, this cannot be done from any device, so if you do not have any form of device to run it on then it would be best to develop a free downloadable app via QR code or app store which people can download and use for their visit.

Virtual Reality

Virtual reality is a semi-immersive technology that has grown since the digital age has begun, through the invention of new technology people have been slowly developing virtual reality to provide a more immersive experience, providing slide plates for more realistic movement and also negates the potential side effect of motion sickness. Moreover we have also seen the development of the new "Half-Dive" virtual reality gear, this concept comes from the tech industries aim to replicate the full dive virtual reality headset seen in the popular anime 'Sword Art Online' in which people can send their consciousness into a game and be fully immersed in it. An advantage to this technology is how far we can take it, it has shown so much improvement and innovation since its release and it is allowing people to make amazing experiences, moreover it provides the most realistic experiences for users at a somewhat affordable price. The downside however is the cost as to run most experiences a PC is required to run it off which will use a lot of electricity to run moreover is expensive, but also the headset itself is expensive at roughly 200-300 pounds then the slideplate being over a thousand pounds, making this a high end item and not really available to a large audience. Moreover there also comes the risk of people gaining motion sickness from being immersed too long in the virtual world.

This technology is amazing for people who are wishing to have a fully immersive experience, if you are marketing or producing a product aimed at a group with a high income then this technology is amazing and can be used in many cases such as education to provide a virtual learning environment and also virtual tours, in cases such as the Covid-19 pandemic this technology could be essential for people to adapt but also carry on with their lives as many lessons were performed virtually, not only this but in a virtual environment there is no risk of damage or costs for it, for example in Formula 1 they use a virtual racing simulator fitted with virtual reality so the racers can practice and also experiment in a near perfect replica of the real experience but there is no risk that comes with crashing or costs to the damaged car. It also opens up opportunities for people with disabilities such as the inability to walk, as they can use the thumb sticks to almost replicate the experience to an agree and it may also allow them to explore as vr is becoming more compatible with new technology such as drone technology opening up a new experience for them.

However this technology is not appropriate for a general audience as the majority of people do not have access to this technology making it any mainstream products a little redundant as no one has the hardware to gain  access, of this was going to be marketed it would be for professional use for industries that can either save cost by working in a virtual environment or in the case that it will allow users a better experience or the ability to access information or experiences that would be impossible to access otherwise. 

comparisons

portability

convenience

screensize

download speed/size

bugs

typing speed

interactivity

quizzes - ideal for education

comenting