Voice Over Internet protocol (VoIP)

Voice Over Internet Protocol or VoIP for short uses Internet Protocols to communicate with one another to allow calling from one person to another. Unlike normal telephone call VoIP allows free transmission - a huge benefit in the technological world. User interfaces have been built and designed to allow even the most novice computer user to talk free to family and friends across the globe, programs such a the obvious Skype have revolutionised the way we talk to people, this privileged option to speak to someone on the other side of the world has advanced our civilization forward to what seemed impossible 20 years ago. As long as each user has a fast enough downstream speed, preferably using an ADSL or recently even a 3G signal on a smartphone device anyone can talk for free.

Broadband - ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) cable

The broadband ADSL, also known as (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line). Unlike the conventional means of a dial-up, which works on the same frequencies as a telephone line a ADSL uses a splitter through a normal telephone wire but works using separate unused frequencies allowing both internet and phone calls to be received simultaneously. The broadband ADSL, also known as (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line). Unlike the conventional means of a dial-up, which works on the same frequencies as a telephone line a ADSL uses a splitter through a normal telephone wire but works using separate simultaneously.

By looking at this bar chart, the usage of the download and upload frequencies can be noticed, compared to the common phone usage there is quite a dramatic difference.

Over the years, the downstream speed has increased. Since the very first ADSL protocol - which could tolerate speeds of up to 8.0 Mbit/s, speeds have doubled, and nearly tripping now ranging from 12 to 24 Mbit/s. Although ADSL is a perfect means of communication the new arrival of fibre optics may wipe this protocol out with speed far exceeding 40 Mbit/s.

Unlike the 3G and Edge protocol's bluetooth uses a short-range radio frequency band. Also unlike the other radio protocol's it uses a specially designed technology called frequency-hopping spread spectrum, what this does is chop up the information being sent into smaller chinks - usually in sizes consisting of 1MHz each. Following the introduction of Bluetooth 2.0, data rate speeds lead from 1Mbit/s to 3Mbit/s. One main difference that bluetooth has compared to other radio protocols is that it can connect directly to another bluetooth radio, it uses a packet-based protocol with a master-slave structure that allows the master to set up a piconet (a type of personal area network) and connect to seven slave bluetooth devices.

Since the first release of the bluetooth protocol in 1994 many more uses have become available such as USB bluetooth devices that allow the users to simply plug and play, also printers and head sets are now built with a bluetooth radio inside allowing a user to have hassle free connection to their device.

Differences between IM and E-Mail

IM allows Video calling, VOIP, On-line Gaming, Filesharing and the messaging system is instant whereas the E-mail protocol is not, each message is sent and stored in a server waiting for the receiver to download it from the server - a bonus side to this is that IM cannot receive the message from a cloud, the user has to be connected to the protocol in order to read the message.

Vector and Bitmap Images

The definition of a Vector is described as being an image that can be re sized or reshaped without loosing quality and still remain detailed. This does not apply to a pixel image. Most images that are freely down loadable from the Internet are pixel images, one can view this by simply resizing the images and seeing the large distortion within the pixels. Vector images are mostly used for company logos and basic flash productions, as most photoediting suites use vectors to draw shapes they are vastly used in the Interactive media industry.

Code and Conventions in Media

The General rule of Codes and Conventions defines it's self as being guidelines for a successful, well structured media product. For example the main sequence that is followed in a soap opera are the following: Title sequence > Video Sequence > Cliffhanger > Credits

Although every media product follows these guidelines, they differ from each other with each individual product, for example the sequence of a magazine will differ from a film production sequence in a way that the guidelines would be shown as Header > Sub Heading > Simple Text > Images > Annotations > Footer - But the same type of guidelines will be followed so that a strong structure can be created.

The Codes and Conventions structure applies to almost every media product, including Interactive media such as flash based animations, websites and advertisements but is not always needed.

Branding

Branding defines the aspect of a product, a logo or slogan can influence a persons mind on what product they want to purchase, for example if someone wants to to buy a game they will automaticly think of a highly advertised company such as ‘Game’ or ‘Xbox Live’. The reason that they will easily think of these companies is because they have advertised them in a way that it sticks in the consumers mind, either by a catchy song or widley known logo.

Once a company has a satisfactory logo they muct keep it consistant so that the consumers can relate each individual product with the logo, also it helps that the logo or slogan can express a hidden message, such as the obvious ‘FEDEX’ logo that can be relvealed to show a hidden arrow that stands for fast delievery and communication.