Website

When the semester started winding down and we had just begun our websites, I got a bit nervous. I expected it to be a long and tedious project and wondered if it would even be possible to finish. However, once I started, I found the program was fairly easy to use and I was able to create the website I had pictured.

In planning my website, I knew that I wanted a clean, professional look that can be used to market myself to employers. I found a few sample websites online that had designs I could build off of and Photoshop allowed me to design the layout just the way I wanted. I have had previous experience with Photoshop, so setting up the design and text was a simple task, especially because the background is so minimal.

Organizing my content took quite a while. I have writing samples from my PR writing class and designs from Com Graphics, but I had to reedit some files that were lost when my computer crashed in the spring and then make decisions about which ones showed the best examples of my work. If nothing else, this project gave me that extra push to get my portfolio in order.

Once all of my files were organized in my local folder, putting them into Dreamweaver was just a matter of learning some of the code. Upon first glance, html code looks extremely daunting, especially with a Dreamweaver template, because Adobe provides all of the additional information about how to use it. I ran into quite a bit of trouble with the first template I used because I could not keep my text in place and I couldn't add links to my sidebar because it was a background image. 

Fortunately, I was able to watch tutorials on YouTube and I could google any question I had about individual parts of the design. Eventually, I came up with using a table to maintain all of the content. It allowed me to put blank PNGs over my background text to create links and then the background didn't end before the page. The design was able to remain clean and the coding was relatively simple.

Most of the content was easy to place and links were simple to make, but it took me a while to add my portfolio. I found another tutorial on adding a slideshow from bridge and it provided the professional feel that I wanted the design section to have.

This website is a useful tool when it comes to presenting myself. The about me section provides an additional sample of my writing, as well as information that can not otherwise be seen on a resume or in my portfolio, such as what I plan to do after graduation or more detail about my study abroad trips and what I have learned from those programs.

The site also includes my resume, which shows my education, where I have studied abroad, my work experience and some of my achievements from the last few years. I kept it fairly short and focused on what I have done in school. I also have a portfolio section that shows some of my previous design work and writing samples, as well as links to social media sites that I use, including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Blogger.

These social media sites not only provide further writing samples and information about me, but also show that I am able to use social media in a productive way. Because the site is connected to my class Facebook, Twitter, and Blogger sites, the information is professional and promotional, showing my ability to use social networking for the benefit of an organization and that I am able to make informative and beneficial comments.

Social media plays such a large part in every website today. From news organizations to personal blogs, people provide links to sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, RSS feeds, StumbleUpon, Tumblr, LinkedIn, Flickr, YouTube and many others. With the hundreds of websites that bombard our screens every day, providing multiple outlets for people to keep in touch with an organization or the subject of the website is vital. It makes it easier for viewers to remember the site and allows for a more personal connection, depending on their social media preferences.

Being able to design a website is a valuable skill in today's marketplace. Almost every company and organization seems to recognize the value of an online presence and being able to create and maintain a website is highly marketable, especially when it comes to careers in communications.

Communication Final Video: Victoria and Rushaun

(We've had trouble loading the video to Rushaun's blog, but it seems to work ok on mine.)

Commentary

Maureen

First Time Using the Internet
Maureen’s first experience with the internet is conveyed well in her blog and it is written in a way that is engaging for the reader. It is easy to hear the author’s voice in the carefully selected words and colorful descriptions. She is able to conjure visions of the library and Mrs. Brown, the librarian, as she brings to life the joy she felt while reading as a child. Readers can actually picture the librarian reading to young students from crinkled old books.

The contrast between the new and old libraries illustrates the change from books to the internet. It seems that Maureen tends to relate the internet mainly with academics and professional use. It is interesting to see her association change to personal use with her discovery of social media in college, but she mainly seems to find it serious and useful.

While her experiences contrast to my own in that I use the internet for a balance of entertainment, social, and professional reasons and she focuses primarily on the professional aspect, I agree that the internet is used daily and has become mandatory in many ways. Both in school and the professional world, a virtual connection is vital.


Web 2.0
The thoughts and beliefs of the author are conveyed in a well-written and clear way in this blog. She defines Web 2.0 as “the fruit of a collaborative effort,” which is an apt way to describe it. She discusses the ability to create links that lead to further information, using sites like YouTube, Wikipedia, Facebook and Twitter and she also mentions the opportunity for anyone to comment on the information that is presented. Maureen argues that these possibilities are what separate Web 2.0 from Web 1.0, which I completely agree with.

However, she argues that although these aspects of Web 2.0 allow us to get more out of our internet experience, the inability to discern which information is credible will eventually lead to society’s downfall. While I do believe she is correct in her opinion that it can be difficult to discern the source of some information, it can be done. With the help of fact checkers, and using multiple sources, as you would have to do with written work, the legitimacy of information can be discovered. It is just a matter of taking the time to do it. Although most of our generation does not really remember a time without the internet, it is important to remember that it is still a fairly new development. As with many other inventions of the past, it can improve over time and the faults that exist now can be replaced with new ideas.


Social Media Positive and Negative
This is another well written post. The sections were clearly divided between positives and negatives and Maureen relates personal stories to the topics discussed in the article. However, while she touches upon the content of the articles, she doesn’t refer to to the readings specifically. Because the post was based on the readings, it would have been nice to see them included a bit more.

The benefits of social media mentioned in the post are similar to those I chose for my own blog. We both agree that people we normally would have lost touch with because of time or distance can still remain in contact thanks to social media and sharing information is more of a possibility than ever before. Maureen even takes it a step further in saying that relationships formed online with like minded people can combat loneliness and give people a sense of belonging, which I agree with.

The negative effects discussed in the post, though slightly different from those I focused on, were also insightful. She mentions that people are becoming more and more consumed with social networking, whether they are alone or not. I have personally experienced that friend who spends the entire night texting and I do not think she even realizes that she is not involved in the conversation or anything else happening around her. Social media is almost a barrier for face to face to face communication in that way.


Video Review
Illustrations of a DMV Student
The first two sentences of this section are a bit repetitive and I would like to have seen more of an analysis of the positives and negatives of the video, as opposed to speculation about what the creator was portraying. I agree that the idea was creative and well executed. The morning really could fit with anyone but the personal drawings center the message around the creator.

Cooking Activity
The sequence of events didn’t really need to be included in the post because the video is on the class blog, but I was impressed by this project as well. I disagree that the narrative improved the film because it was a bit tacky, but I also felt that it was well shot, the music transitioned well, and the angles were very interesting. These were all great factors to include in the post.

My Most Important Self Portrait
As far as the post goes, once again analysis could have been used instead of the description. However, Maureen does touch upon some of the more technical aspects of the film. I also found this video to be moving, as well as depressing. There was a creative use of footage for the chalk designs and Maureen makes a great point about the fact that the subject shot the whole thing topless. This makes the message even more clear. As for how he did the chalk effect, I believe he used stop motion animation, where still photos are put together in a video frame by frame to give the feeling of motion.



Raushaun

First Time Using the Internet
While this post does have a few typos, it clearly conveys Rushaun’s first experience with the internet, even down to the first websites he visited. It seems that AIM played a large role in the introduction to the Internet for almost everyone in our generation and it really was the precursor to texting.

He had a humorous way of mentioning being kicked off the internet when the phone rang, something most of the early internet users are probably able to remember. And his comparison between the Internet and books is fairly accurate. Most people do prefer to read things off of the Internet rather than in books because, as Rushaun stated, the Internet is like a new toy. This relates to the point he made about the way children today respond to the Internet. It is fascinating to see how much it is second nature to them to use computers and I doubt most of them remember a time without the Internet.

He also captured the change in Internet usage over time. Eventually phone and Internet connections became separated, people were able to be online for many hours at a time and Google now answers almost any question instantly. It really is amazing how much information is at the tips of our fingers.


Web 2.0
This blog post is divided nicely into two sections and the comments are well phrased. Rushaun clearly discusses the ways in which web 2.0 has changed the way we interact with the Internet.

He mentions the fact that the interface is paving the way for a new Web 3.0 or 4.0, which is a likely event because the web is evolving almost like a living thing. He adds that with laptops and tablets, the internet is always with us and information can spread faster than ever before.

Rushaun also raises the idea that the because of our dependency on the web, the chances of the world refraining from internet use is slim. With the way we use it today, it is hard to imagine life without the web and it is incredibly unlikely that we will give it up anytime soon, but it is a real possibility that the Internet causes more damage than we realize.

The web does pose a threat to people skills. As people focus on virtual relationships, Web 2.0 may even be pushing us backwards in the way we communicate with others. I agree with Rushaun that for a short period of time is not hazardous, but in the long run it can cause psychological damage that many don’t even realize. Perhaps in the future there will be a better answer, but Rushaun poses a great question about whether or not the advancements are worth the sacrifice.


Social Media Positive and Negative
Although the post could be split up into more paragraphs to make it easier on the reader, Rushaun really grasps the positive and negative effects of social media in this post. He identifies the ability to communicate over short or long distances instantly as a positive attribute of social media. Whether a person is playing a game with a friend who lives two houses away or chatting with someone halfway around the world, social media is responsible for bringing them together.

While that is a more obvious aspect of social media, he also recognizes that social media is essential for businesses, which can promote their organizations to the public through posts. Rushaun also mentions the possibility for face to face communication, even on screen. Skype and Facebook video chat are changing the way we communicate online and may even help to resist the decrease in people skills that comes from other forms of social media.

That decrease in people skills is one of Rushaun’s negative points about social media. Along with the issue of privacy, whether it is too much or too little, face to face communication becomes awkward when people are used to talking to a screen.


Video Review
Color and B/W
This post is very well written as Rushaun delves into the meaning of various aspects of the video. He points out the use of the word sea in place of see and made an insightful comment that the sound of the sea may represent the way life flows based on the things in the film and the love of the sea, which is something I would not have considered. I do agree that the black and white is hard to see in certain parts of the video.

Self Portrait Video
Rushaun argues that this video may be one of the best due to the video quality and the flow of the film, as well as the amount of creativity. It is very true that time and effort is evident in the video and the idea of representing a life in one room is creative. It is a professional looking video and Rushaun makes a valid argument that it may be the best.

My Most Important Self Portrait
Once again, Rushaun delves into the deeper aspects of the film in this section. He explains that the video is about a very powerful topic and the use of text and color helps to convey the message. While normally that amount of text would be overwhelming and unpleasant, Rushaun points out that it works to get across the severity of the problem, while the colors keeps the message dark.

Interview with Allison

How do you plan on self promoting yourself?

I definitely want to include my resume and I think it would be good to have a detailed explanation of what I’m looking for professionally and an about me section. I would also like to include a good selection of quality work that I’ve done to shows some of my strengths.

Name three goals you have between now and graduation.

Since my job now will be full-time when I graduate, I want to work to get a better grip on the foundation and all its ins and outs. I’m taking a not-for-profit business class through Harvard’s business school next semester and I hope to learn a lot from that and gain a better understanding of non-profits before I graduate. I hope to just keep moving up in the

 field of PR, whether it’s with the foundation or somewhere else.

What employment goals do you have after graduation?  Name three of them.

After graduation I want to get a lot of experience. I want to learn as much as I can about my current

 organization, but I don’t want to settle for one place and I hope to take advantage of good opportunities when they present themselves.

Name three best case scenario jobs you would like to have and why.

I want to work for something that I will find personally rewarding. There is a difference between planning an event for someone’s birthday and planning a cancer society fundraiser. I would also

 like to work with an organization that relates to cancer, whether that means writing, event planning or another kind of PR. Whatever I do, I just want it to be something that makes me want to go to work every day.

Do you prefer to work professionally with a group or on your own and why?

I like to work with people because I like conversation and I get along with most people, but I also like to work

 alone. I would prefer to find the balance where I can work with people, but my work is my own and everyone makes a contribution.

What contributions can you make to a group dynamic?  Name three things.

I typically get along with everyone, I am respectful to other people’s ideas and opinions, and I can provide input based on other people’s ideas.

What contributions can you make working independently?  Name three things.

Working independently allows me to use only my own creativity and ideas. I am typically very independent and working alone would require to go out and meet new people, which would be helpful to me.

What are your pet peeves in a work environment?

I don’t like when people think that they know it all and I don’t like to be talked down to. There is a difference between giving advice and talking down to someone. I want to work somewhere that is fun, but not to the point where things get out of control and nothing gets done.

Name three things you feel passionate about professionally - this could be school related, current job related, group or organizationally related - and outline why you feel passionate towards them.

I am passionate about family. My family lives all over the country, but we still keep a close relationship and that molds who I am and what I want to do. I am passionate about working. I have had job since I was 16 and can’t picture not working and being a stay at home mom in the future. I am also passionate about fashion. I like to keep up to date with the latest trends.

How do you handle stress and pressure?

I have gotten better at not holding my thoughts in. One of my biggest flaws is that I tend to take everything in and not express how I feel. I am much better about that now. When I am stressed, I will say that I am stressed out, sit down and figure out what to do and then do it.

Name the last three jobs you had, and the best success and the worst failure you experienced at each of these jobs.

My last job was as a server at the Buffalo Roadhouse. My best success was creating customer relationships and having regulars come in and requesting me as their server. My worst failure was a poor comment card from a discontent customer when I was sick.

I also did a work study in Pennsylvania. I was a cold caller and had to call alumni to ask them to donate money. My best success was learning how to pull at people and convince to donate. It helped to build communication skills, especially talking on phone. My worst failure was making calls when people were nasty and letting it put me in a bad mood for the rest of the day.

A third job I had was as a temp at Independent. My best success was learning the ins and outs of medical paperwork and there really was no worst failure.

How do you handle criticism?

I take criticism well. I feel that constructive criticism helps me to learn and I often ask for opinions and feedback.

Outline three strengths you have

 in school.

I am a strong writer. Test taking has never been a strong point for me, but if I can earn points on tests for my writing, I can usually do very well. I don’t necessarily like group work, but work well with groups and I also get along well with my professors.

Outline three strengths you have in your workplace.

In my workplace, I am able to bring my own ideas to the table and show my creativity. I am currently the youngest member of the board and my knowledge of current technology can help to refresh some of the older members. I also love to work with people and kids.

How has creating a WikiPage strengthened your communication skills?    Name and elaborate on three things:

I have learned that saying less is saying more and that I have to be aware of my audience. Some people reading my article may have no background on the topic, so I had to make it accessible to everyone. The project helped to improve my communication skills.

How will Facebook be used to promote yourself?

Name and elaborate on three things:

Facebook can be used to promote myself because I refrain from posting anything that I wouldn’t want to be seen by employers. I tend to keep Family pictures, which shows that I tend to be more responsible and family oriented. I could post my resume, but even without it, Facebook can be a good track of previous employment with an outline of jobs and the years I worked there. The fact that I know how to use Facebook is a valuable asset for my job.

How would you promote an organization on Facebook?

Name and elaborate on three things:

I would start by creating a page and then try to pull in as many likes as I can. I would post pictures, especially of events, because they catch the attention of readers and I would make sure that the page is kept current.

How will Twitter be used to promote yourself?

Name and elaborate on three things:

1.  It will allow me to obtain good informations from groups like PR Newswire, allowing me to portray my communication skills by tweeting at them and replying to their posts.
2.  I can obtain information for corporations that I might be interested in working for.
3.  If I create a casual relationship with certain groups, they could eventually decide to follow my tweets which will be professional and portray positive PR skills.

Graphically what do you want to have on your website.

I want my website to be clean and classy. It should be professional and I want it to represent me. I definitely want my resume on there. I will also include the PDF’s of all of my projects from communication graphics. I could also put the video project on there along with my bio.

Twitter

While mainly geared for socializing, Twitter has many applications. It can be used for educational purposes, as with as the project we just completed or through posts of informational videos like those found on TED Talks. It can be used by organizations and celebrities to spread news and reach fans. Twitter, like other forms of social media, gives the impression of having a personal relationship with those you follow, even if you have never met.

Twitter is also a way to make news known. I recently read an article about the fact that China, which is extremely strict about Internet policies and what the west is allowed to know about the country, once tried to hide that they had an earthquake. It took months before they admitted to the news. They have had another earthquake since then, but this time their citizens immediately started spreading the news by posting it on Twitter. In fact, people knew about the earthquake through Twitter before it was even broadcast on the news.

Because so many people are on Twitter and networks can be so broad, it can be a useful tool for journalists, politicians, and organizations. Journalists can spread news much faster than they can through other media sources and they have the ability to post links to articles or videos that people typically would not have searched for.

Politicians are able to use Twitter for their campaigns as well. People want to hear what candidates think and know about what they do in their communities. By posting tweets and links, candidates can show what kinds of policies they stand for and gain supporters. The fact that it creates that feeling of having a personal relationship works in their favor when it comes to votes.

The organizations I chose to follow for the purpose of the project included NPR, BBC World News, Howstuffworks.com, TED Talks and HDSA.

I chose to follow NPR News and This is NPR because I occasionally listen to them on the radio. The station always has unique specials on topics that I am interested in and even if I’m not interested at the beginning, I am by the end. The have a unique way of balancing the news with intriguing stories. The news broadcasts are typically well done. They cover more than just the most popular stories and they are not only nationwide stories. Some are worldwide as well.

Another organization I chose to follow was BBC World News. One thing many American news organizations seem to miss is news from the rest of the world. With the exception of NPR, unless there is a huge story, we rarely seem to hear about other countries. I feel it is important to keep up with world events, especially because I travel so much. Because the BBC tends to be good about remaining unbiased in their coverage of these stories, I rely on them for much of my international news.

I love to learn and try to get as much knowledge about as many things as I can. My searches consistently lead me to Howstuffworks.com, so I chose to follow the site on Twitter. From learning how a car runs to how Chinese New Year works, I can typically get a nice overview about the information I am seeking and there is an opportunity to find out more information through other articles. On Twitter I have found that new articles and those that are the most popular at the moment are tweeted.

I followed TED Talks for many of the same reasons I followed HowStuffWorks.com. I have a thirst for knowledge and the videos on TED Talks are interesting, unique and often inspiring. They cover topics from how to use the newest technologies, such as Aurasma, to inspirational speeches, such as the last lecture, to suggestions on how to improve menial tasks, such as tying your shoes. Some videos go into great detail, like the Aurasma video, which demonstrated how to attach an aura to a photograph or object so that when someone holds his or her smartphone up to it, a video appears on the phone. If one has a particular interest in a certain topic, TED probably has a video for it. The Twitter page posts some of the most popular videos and the trending videos.

Another organization I chose to follow was HDSA, or the Huntington’s Disease Society of America. Huntington’s disease is a genetic neurodegenerative disorder, which affected my dad, as well as my grandma, my uncle and my cousin. I decided to follow HDSA to get news on any research, fundraisers, and any other important details about the organization and the disease. While all of the members of my family who had the disease are now deceased, it is still a cause that is close to my heart and I want to do what I can to create awareness and raise money for the organization.

Twitter greatly differs from blogging because the number of characters is limited. While blogging, I find myself rewording things to make them flow better and to make them easier to read, but on Twitter I find myself rewording things to make them fit. Many times there were things that I wanted to say because I felt they were important, but couldn’t because there just wasn’t enough space. While this helps to prevent unnecessarily long-winded tweets, it can also limit the amount of communication the site allows.

Twitter tends to be different from other forms of social media, such as Facebook, because it is less personal. With Facebook, you have friends instead of followers and while you are able to post things on their walls that everyone can see, people are not as likely to read them as they are to read a Tweet. Facebook also has more privacy settings. While it is certainly not private, it is possible to choose who is able to see the content that is posted, an option that is not available on Twitter. Anyone can be your follower and respond to your Tweets.

This was my first experience with Twitter and I intend to use it more in the future. I find that commenting on the tweets of others can be a challenge, but I am able to learn a lot about people and organizations by reading them.

Vimeo vs. YouTube

YouTube and Vimeo are today's main sources for uploading videos, but choosing which site to turn to can be a difficult decision. Each one has it’s pros and cons.

According to the “Best Video Hosting Service” article, YouTube has unlimited HD uploading and a larger audience than Vimeo, which potentially allows for more exposure. However, the article also points out that the interface is ugly, the YouTube icon is included on every video, and it is easy to lose visitors.

The same article found that Vimeo tends to offer better quality videos, a clean look and it holds the attention of more viewers. The problem with the site is that it only allows one HD upload per week with a 500MB upload limit, unless an upgrade is purchased, and it reaches a much smaller audience.

In the Don Power article, it is argued that YouTube videos are more likely to be seen for the simple fact that the site has more traffic and is included in Google searches. The trouble with YouTube is that videos are more difficult to find because there is professional content and unprofessional content cluttered together and the viewer has to sift through everything to find what he or she is looking for. YouTube also features ads, which tend to drive away consumers.
Vimeo, on the other hand, offers more customization. Users have the opportunity to utilize their own logos and businesses are able to maintain a more professional look. Paid accounts have a lot of freedom and the average Vimeo audience typically remains engaged longer than the average YouTuber. However, once again Power points out that in addition to having to pay for the better features of the site, it has less traffic than YouTube and videos tend to appear lower on Google searches.

The other articles argued many of the same points, but the Vimeo vs. YouTube article also mentions that the Vimeo comments tend to be more constructive because the audience typically has a better understanding of video production or an interest in the specific topic. While YouTube comments can be very entertaining, they rarely offer any real insight on the content of the video.

The “How Vimeo became hipster YouTube article” explains that Vimeo was created with quality in mind. They could not compete with the amount of traffic on YouTube or the price, so they combat YouTube with the quality of the videos found on the site.

Video services allow for communication and feedback in ways unlike any before.
The experience of watching posted media, such as video, is much different from the static text sites that once dominated the internet. In addition, people can even make comments on videos or create a video response for particular clips. It allows the viewer to be involved with the site and the ideas shared between people can lead to further comment and new ideas.

iMovie Projects

Our video topic was communication. As a group, we decided to cover various aspects of communication, moving from personal to impersonal. Maureen took the personal side of the topic. Her footage covered the overwhelming, cloying side to being an RA and her inability to escape from her residents. Rushaun took the middle ground, covering social media, which tends to be less personal, but still involves interaction with others. I covered long-distance communication and the more impersonal or international side of the topic.

Our group worked well together and our videos had a good flow between them. I had some experience with iMovie already, so the program was not as much of a challenge for me as getting footage that I really liked and enough of it to create the one minute and twenty second video. Because the second section, Rushaun’s video, was focused on social media, we wanted to transition between each of our films using forms of social media; a phone call for Maureen and a Skype call for me.

Because I covered travelling, I wanted to have footage from various places. Obviously time and money were limited, so I couldn’t get international footage (with the exception of Canada), but I was able to go to Pittsburgh and Providence. Every time I went to edit, I realized that I needed more and more footage, so I would venture back out with my camera and a better idea of what I wanted to film or what needed to be changed in the project. In the end, I had at least an hour of footage to work with, which allowed for a great deal of selection for my video.

The next struggle was to figure out how to organize the footage. At first, I tried to put similar topics together. I had all of the footage of being in the car, then anything that involved the airport and planes, all of the train footage, and so on. However, the video did not flow very well and did not create the mood I wanted the film to have. Then I tried to mix up the clips so that similar topics were spread throughout the film. I feel that this strategy gives the impression of constant motion and constant communication that I wanted to convey in my portion of the movie.

I left out the transitions until the very end of my editing because I wanted to make sure the clips were in an order that I liked. This really threw off the timing of several of my clips. They no longer moved to the music and some of the footage went by too fast to be able to see what was happening. Because of this, I started to play around with the precision editor.  

The precision editor is a tool I steered clear of in the past because it seemed so complicated, but this time I had a specific goal in mind of lengthening the clips. Due to this fact, I was able to tell if the changes I was making were altering the video in the way that I wanted and the precision editor made much more sense. I realized that it is not quite as complicated as I thought, just very sensitive, so it can be difficult to maneuver.

When it came to working together in class, our group was able to work very well. We made helpful suggestions for each other’s films because we knew what each person was trying to convey and how our videos needed to tie together. Throughout the project, everyone seemed to be on the same page. Maureen had no experience with iMovie, so I was able to help her learn how to use the program and offered some tips and tricks that I use in my own editing. In turn, she was able to comment on my video and suggest any changes that I could make or footage that I could add.

We were moving along well and felt that our videos were almost ready to be put together, when all of Maureen’s files were lost and she could no longer open her video.  This put us behind a bit, but we intended to finish the project the following Tuesday and stay after class or meet Wednesday if we really needed to.

On Tuesday, the hurricane kept me in Providence and I was not going to be able to make it to class, so I texted the other members of my group. Maureen told me that she had dropped the class the day before, but we could have her files to work with if we needed them. Rushaun and I tried to come up with a new plan now that we thought we had to figure out how to tie her footage into our project, which was going to have to be done from scratch because her files were missing from the video. Unfortunately, we were not able to meet until the Thursday the project was due because I still was not able to get home until Wednesday night.

On Thursday, the only things missing from our own projects were the transitions and the credits, but we had the footage we needed for those.  We met up in the morning to make final edits to our portions of the video and, with the exception of Maureen’s video and the combining of our movies, we had everything prepared for class. When we got to class and realized that we didn’t need to add Maureen’s section, we were able to easily combine our movies in a way that still flowed fairly well from personal, local communication to less personal, international communication, the goal that we were aiming for in the beginning.

Until the final week, the project was relatively painless and I am happy with the final product that Rushaun and I were able to put together.

Video can be a much more interactive form of communication than writing and/or photographs. It includes movement and sound that makes the viewer feel almost as though they are actually there, something that can not be done in as realistic a way in writing or photography. Viewers are able to hear the sounds and see the motion of things that would just be described in writing or shown in a photograph. It is much more lifelike and easier to connect to.

Video can also be used as a communication tool in the form of video chats with programs such as Skype or ooVoo. Regardless of distance, conversations using these programs is almost the same as having a conversation in person, with the exception of physical contact.

Choosing a place to upload a video can indicate a lot about the creator and the audience they are attempting to reach. I tend to think of Vimeo as a higher-quality version of YouTube. The videos posted on the site tend to be more advanced than the videos on YouTube. The camera quality is typically better, and the editing is much more appealing, as YouTube videos are rarely edited at all.

YouTube seems to be a better place to reach more people, but Vimeo is more professional. They offer tutorials, options for sharing and the comments tend to be more positive and offer useful feedback, as opposed to the argumental or pointless comments often found on YouTube.