MY USE OF DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONBy Kevin Craig

FORUMS

The Sims Forum• The Sims forum is a community where the gamers of Sims can discuss

anything from problems with their games to upcoming releases. With each new release, the forum and website is updated. I access this by http on a laptop however it should be easily accessible by tablet and mobile. I use this digital communication for my own enjoyment as well as to help solve any issues I’m having playing my games.

• Advantages: All Sim gamers can access updates for their games and resolve any graphical issues or technical errors that have occurred.

• Disadvantages: Some forums are either out of date or no longer running since some games are no longer in production. Not all information comes from a forum moderator and can be unreliable.

Apple Support• Apple Support is a free help service for users experiencing problems with any

of their Apple products and services. Users can post their own help topic or follow one of the Apple moderator guides for help. I access this service through http and I imagine it could be slow process to try through a mobile since there is no app, it is strictly a web page. I only use this forum when I have hardware problems with my iPod or iPhone or problems with the iTunes software.

• Advantages: The forum is used by thousands of members which is highly beneficial as the likelihood is that at least one person will be able to help with whatever problem you may have regarding Apple products.

• Disadvantages: Not all information comes from an Apple moderator and could be unreliable.

WEBLOGS

Twitter• Twitter was launched in July 2006 and has became one of the 10 most visited

websites out there. It is described as “the SMS of the internet.” It is actually a micro-blog. I access this social network mainly from the mobile app although I do use it on http on a laptop. It can also be accessed from tablet devices. I use Twitter almost like a diary/blog of my day as well as reading up on the latest entertainment news and to keep in contact with friends as well as other users who have the same interests.

• Advantages: Used by billions of people worldwide so chances are most people you know will have an account, instant news updates and the website itself is a free service.

• Disadvantages: Unless you lock your account, there is really no privacy. Not many people use the security lock feature as it restricts a lot of interactions such as retweets. However without this, you could be subject to cyber-bullying.

Instagram• Instagram was launched in October 2010 and was originally only intended for

use on the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch however due to popular demand is now available for Android phone users. The network was bought by Facebook in April 2012. I use this weblog strictly on my mobile. There is a http service available however you can not upload content using this. My purpose for using this platform is to update my friends/followers of what I’m doing as well as keeping myself updated with them.

• Advantages: Keep in contact with friends and is a free mobile app.

• Disadvantages: Is only fully functional on Mobile apps for iPhone and now Android. Has recently become available online but strictly for viewing purposes, images can not be uploaded through the web page.

WIKIS

Harry Potter Wiki• Made in 2007 by fans as a mass encyclopaedia for the Harry Potter series

created by JK Rowling. Users have collated all information on characters, every book and film as well as all additional bonus information given by Rowling in interviews into pages on the Wiki for users if they are wanting to learn more about the series. I have used this Wiki via http to further my knowledge after reading up what is not included in both the books and films such as scrapped stories or hidden secrets.

• Advantages: Has all information with everything from the main characters to certain kinds of plants used in potions.

• Disadvantages: Like most of wiki sites, not all information can be reliable as it is all uploaded by fans however most will include the source they found their information from.

EMAIL

Mail.com

• Mail.com is a free messaging service that offers users to choose any email domain they want. It gives you the ability to archive thousands of messages due to a large storage capacity. I used to use this on http on my laptop however when the iPhone app was released I now use it mainly on there. I use this for communication mainly between me and my tutors as well as for my workplace.

• Advantages: A free service although you can pay to upgrade for premium features however I find it fits my purpose just using the basic free features.

• Disadvantages: Can be subject to some online logging in issues, I find it works more smoothly on the app rather than online.

INSTANT MESSAGING

MSN Messenger• MSN Messenger is an instant messaging client developed by Microsoft for

the Windows operating system. It connected to the Microsoft messenger service while also having compatibility with Yahoo! messenger and Facebook messenger. I used to use this purely for social purposes by communicating with friends online using my computer.

• Advantages: Real time sending of messages and replies as users have to be online to chat and once chatting is open, the replies are instant.

• Disadvantages: Was discontinued in 2013 so no updates will be available so software will become outdated which has encouraged people to no longer use this service.

Facebook Messenger• Facebook Messenger is an instant messaging service and software

application which provides text and voice communication. Integrated with Facebook’s web-based Chat feature and built on the open MQTT protocol, Messenger lets Facebook users chat with friends both on mobile and on the main website. Personally, I use this app both on my smartphone and computer depending on which is available to me at any given time to communicate with friends online.

• Advantages: Real time communication with instant replies providing your recipient is also online.

• Disadvantages: Must have an online Facebook account to access the Messenger features.

SMS & MMS

Text Messaging• Texting is the act of composing and sending a brief, electronic message

between two or more mobile phones, or fixed or portable devices over a phone network. The term originally referred to messages sent using the Short Message Service but has grown to include messages containing image, video and sound content (MMS). I use this communication on my mobile phone to keep in touch with my friends if they are not near a computer as well to make and receive phone calls from a workplace.

• Advantages: There could be more of a chance of getting an instant reply than using instant messaging as mobile phones are portable and most people in present day carry them everywhere whereas for an Instant Messaging service, a user must be online sat at a computer.

• Disadvantages: Mobile phone service providers charge for these services if they are not included in a pay-monthly, or pay-as-you-go plan.

VIDEO CONFERENCING

Skype• Skype is a free voice-over-IP service and instant messaging client, currently

developed by the Microsoft Skype Division. The name was derived from “sky” and “peer”. The service allows users to communicate with peers by voice using a microphone, video by using a webcam, and instant messaging over the Internet. I use this app on my computer to keep in touch with friends who have moved away or just to chat to others. I have downloaded the smartphone app in the past but it never seemed to work properly.

• Advantages: Can actually see the face of the person you are talking to if a video call is set up, if you are weary of their identity.

• Disadvantages: Available across many platforms however from my own experience have found they don’t all function properly.

FaceTime• FaceTime is a video telephony and a voice-over IP software application and

related protocols, developed by Apple for supported mobile devices running iOS and Mac computers running Mac OS X. The video version of FaceTime is supported on any iOS device with a forward-facing camera and any Mac computer equipped with a FaceTime camera. I use this on my smartphone as another form of communicating with my friends and to make the conversation seem more direct due to face-to-face contact.

• Advantages: Face-to-face contact through the camera so there are no questions of identity.

• Disadvantages: Only available on latest Apple mobile devices with a front-facing camera.

VIRTUAL COMMUNITIES

The Sims• The Sims is a casual life simulation video game series developed by

Electronic Arts and later by The Sims Studio published by Electronic Arts. It is one of the most successful video game series of all time. The games in The Sims series are largely sandbox games, in that they lack any defined goals. The player creates virtual people called Sims and places them in houses and helps direct their moods and satisfy their desires. I use this video game for recreational purposes on my computer. There are smartphone mobile versions available as well as console based editions.

• Advantages: A user has total control of anything and everything they want to do in their community.

• Disadvantages: Older versions of the game have been discontinued and are now considered out-of-date so all online compatibility has been removed from these versions.

VIRTUAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS

Moodle• Moodle is a free software e-learning platform, also known as a Learning

Management System or Virtual Learning Environment. Moodle was originally developed to help educators create online courses with a focus on interaction and collaborative construction of content, and is in continual evolution. I use this platform only at my college to access any class resources that my tutor has used or to download any activities or tasks that my tutor has set for us to do.

• Advantages: Can be and is regularly updated with the necessary educational material that I need for my course.

• Disadvantages: Not all tutors use this platform so not every piece of information I may need can be found.