DTC 355 post 2

I really enjoyed the XKCD comic about the difference between what university websites put on their homepage and what people are actually looking for when they go to the site. I thought it was funny and accurate. I remember being frustrated as a High School Senior looking at colleges because the websites seemed to hide all the information that actually applied to me. Students go to university websites looking for applicable information, like the majors they offer or how to get into the school, but most school websites just wanted to show off pictures and talk about the recent awards they had won. I felt like they were neglecting their key intended audience.

I decided to look at the University of Washington's website (boo!) at www.washington.edu and see if it bared any resemblance to the type of webpage described in the comic. The UW's website does follow along with the comic a little. The first thing you see when you load the page is a bunch of scrolling pictures with links to press releases on how the university is working on research to stop global warming, cure autism and other scientific discoveries. If you scroll down you will see some links mentioned in the comic, such as campus events and tours. However I will say there are a few spots where they actually do provide useful information for students. Along the right side bar they have links to information on transit and parking, a staff directory, and directions to the campus. Additionally along the top bar of the page, they have links for current and future students, faculty, and alumni. I actually think this is a pretty well designed front page. The author clearly knew they would have a variety of people in their intended audience, and they didn't just direct the page at alumni so they could get money for the university. They actually include pertinent information for all the groups who might be looking at the school.

The page looks up to date, and the author laid it out in a way that each section of the page is small enough to be viewed on a mobile device. The use of the color purple is disgusting, but I suppose it is appropriate for this website. Since this page has links to all the information the audience would need, and it gives a positive image to the university I think this website does a good job of fulfilling the dual purposes of serving as a portal and putting their best face forward.


See ya'll next week!

Dtc 355 Blog post 1

Multimodal and multimedia sound like very similar things, however I think there is a difference in the  meanings of the words. According to the textbook, multimodal "describes the multiple ways we combine various communicative modes in everyday life." As the book describes it, multimodal includes any mode of communication such as pictures, words, video and audio. However when I think of the word multimedia  I think of something a little different. As the text describes, medium is the way the message reaches the audience. So multimedia might technically mean that a message is reaching the audience through different forms of communication.

In regards to the White House statement on the earthquake in Japan, I think they did a great job. They used good word choice in calling the Japanese our "friends". It avoided a mishap like the BP chairman made by calling the victims of the oil spill "small people". By calling the Japanese "friends" and saying that the U.S. would stand with them as they recover, it almost is as if the White House is saying "we are going to get through this together buddy, if you need anything we'll be there." I also liked how they kept it short and sweet, just under one paragraph. It got the point out without over dramatizing the event, but still said all that was needed.

Regarding the two Twitter profiles, I can tell that Cheryl Ball likes darker colors, while Kristin Arola, seems to lean more towards lighter colors. I also noticed that Cheryl Ball uses a picture of herself for her profile picture, while Kristin Arola uses a cute panda for hers. Cheryl seems to post more intellectual and professional posts, while Kristin does make posts for her class, it would seem that they have a more fun and laid back style. These facts lead me to believe that Cheryl is a professional, intellectual person, who enjoys her work and enjoys posting about work related things, while Kristin is also a professional person, it seems like she takes a more lighthearted, fun approach to things. For my twitter account, I chose a background with birds flying because I thought it fit me well, since my last name is Dove (a bird). I also chose lighter colors because it seemed to give a more lighthearted feel.

The video Wanna Work Together? uses a young, hip sounding lady voice and a sort of modern techno beats behind a looping track of bells. These aural modal elements all work together to make whatever it is this person is talking about seem like it is a new and cutting edge idea that could change the world. If they had used a country Bluegrass song instead of the techno beat, it would probably have sent some weird mixed message, and would have maybe made it sound more like an "old fashioned" tried and true kind of idea, instead of the new and exciting idea they were trying to spread.

When I look at the WSU homepage my eyes are immediately drawn to the center of the screen, because there are three bright interesting pictures in the center of the screen. The webpage designers seemed to have put the most interesting and eye catching information right in the center of the page. It is not really the information you are probably looking for, such as the majors offered, or what campus life is like, but they are impressive things about the university that you might not have known, and might encourage you to either apply here if you are a student, or give money if you are a wealthy investor. This causes you to look right at the center, get the idea that this is a really advanced, interesting university, and then look down below to see what you came to the website for. If the information at the center of the page was switched with that on the bottom of the page, it would probably be ignored for the most part, because people would just zip right past the fluff and go on to look up the information they need.

The video I watched of President Obama was from the 2012 kids state dinner, and right off the bat he is throwing out gestures that kids can relate to. As he comes to the podium, he tells everyone to sit down, laying his hand flat and lowering them, just like the librarian at my elementary school used to do when she wanted us to sit down and be quiet. He begins to talk with his hands, using gestures that make him seems like he is in a more casual mode than usual. He is smiles a lot after his statements and generally has a friendly attitude. Towards the end he takes up a more presidential posture, and begins pointing at the kids as he says how proud he is of them, for being healthy eaters.

That's if for this week! See ya'll next week!