Closure

Twilight Years

Gazing into the field of yellowish glow,
Admiring the breeze of the gentle wind,
Watching how time passes by,
With a little dispensary.

Dissecting the internet like a body,
of undoubted amount of mysteries,
Like organ transplants operation,
Internets poses risks.

Doctors, Researchers, are alike.
Needs valuable tools for operation.
Purpose, Coverage and Authority,
Are necessary quality.

Reflection for Practical 8&9

Which evaluation criteria did you use to evaluate the multimedia websites for your “Dream Holiday”? Why?

Travel Living Channel is a travel channel to introduce audience to different parts of the scenic world. I visited this website because my family has the tendency to visit this website for information regarding traveling to European Countries. Travel Agency in Singapore does not contain many information about visiting European countries, hence, I chose to visit their website to know more about this dream holiday before going to some traveling agency in Singapore to plan it for my family and I.

Apart from past experiences of following the suggestions of Travel Living channel Guides, I evaluate this website based on its materials presented about Greek. It does not only introduce this scenic country based on words, but also includes their own photographs taken in Greek while touring the country. Moreover, they filmed their experience and Samantha Brown, their host, introduces the country well and showed us what is fun and beautiful about Greek, hence, as compared to traditional way to search for a destination, visiting travel living channel websites gives me a chance to experience a more compelling experience since the website employs multimedia resources to present their information. In addition, TLC also introduce you to different tourist attraction and note important information that tourists to Greek should take note of. Hence, I find that its content is rather complete, as a traveling guide.

Furthermore, I felt that its content is quite accurate since TLC is a globally renown traveling channel and as a result, they would not want to provide inaccurate information and tarnish their reputation. Moreover, with videos, TLC convincingly presented their experience in Greek to me and it seems that their description of Greek is fun and scenic.

Dream Holiday to Greek!

I was browsing through Travel Living Channel (TLC) official website where I found their version of Greece and found it spectacular! Suddenly, I have the travelling vibe. I guessed I should have a holiday soon.

I chose Greek as a destination because I found the country really scenic and I want to enjoy different culture and cuisine for good! Living in Singapore allows Singaporean to be exposed to different cultural cuisine and practices, but traveling around the world with that notion in mind is something more unique and different. Perhaps, it is due to the fact that I am exposed to so many different culture that I am attracted to other cultures as well and traveling allows me to expose myself to such horizons.

As I was reading through the website and its content, looking through the beauty of mother nature and the superbly shot traveling videos guide and experience by host Samantha Brown, I found that vacations in Greece are an incredible chance for a modern travel experience amid the ancient cultural artifacts that exudes history of the past. The Greek Islands are perfectly situated for Greek Cruises that voyages on topaz-coloured waters. Culinary treats also await, since Greek is famed for its Mediterranean cusine.

Moreover, the website provides all the necessary information a tourist should know about Greece! I was utterly speechless to see the scenic country filled with rich cultural and historic influence.

Here are some painting like shots from Travel Living Channel.

Here is a short preview of Samantha Brown's Adventure in Greek Island in Greece! There are more videos available in Youtube but I suggest you should be going to Travel Living Channel Website to hhunt for better ones. Here is the link: http://www.travelchannel.com/topics/greece/index.html

Reflections for Practical 6

a.    Do you think it is more effective to search the invisible web (databases) than using search engines, meta-search or subject directories? Why?

In my opinion, searching through online databases is effective if you have a particular topic in mind or require certain specific information. Databases are extremely useful as it contains much information regarding a certain topic and interest and one key advantage is the fact that the information is constantly reviewed and updated. For an instance, Euro monitor International is constantly providing information on various countries consumer lifestyle, industries development and country profile. As such, if I am researching on a particular country, I can employ this database to sieve and understand that country better and more effectively.

In addition, databases sometimes contain some sort of analysis and that analysis is done by a group of professionals who have vet the content and information. As such, it does not provide a very bias analysis and often, the information obtained from databases is very reliable and as a result, enables research to be more effective and efficient. As compared to meta-search engine and search engines, databases may be lacking in images and video content, however, its information is so reliable that it makes researching fuss-free.

b.    Name ONE database which you will use for your research topic. Why?

In my research for the implications and impact of human organ transplant, I employed Lexis Nexis Academic to sieve for past articles on Human Organ Transplant. I think that articles regarding the research topic should be able to provide me with insights of patients, donors or recipients who have gone through organ transplant and could provide their experience doing the operation. Moreover, I did not manage to find any databases that have information on medical aspect and even if I could find one, I seriously doubt I could understand its presented content, since it would most probably contain many medical terminologies. Hence, I chose to research for past articles and opinions of professionals through newspapers and  Lexis Nexis allows me to search for articles across the world.

c.    Name ONE more database which you will use for your course. How will you use this database for your course?

One good source of information for my course, Apparel Design and Merchandising, is WGSN. WGSN is a trend-forecasting database which tracks fashion movement globally and writes reports of new designers, new collection, ideas, mood and colours of the season. In addition, it provides insights into visual merchandising and packaging as well. Hence, I could use WGSN to research on trends and consumer lifestyle before designing the direction and the eventual collection for my course of design.

Reflection for Pracitcal 1&2

1.    Why do you think there is a need for researchers to know the different purposes of websites? Explain using examples of websites you often visit or those which you have encountered while researching on your research topic.

Understanding the nature of various websites enables the researcher to understand the purpose of the contents within that particular website. For an instance an Internet retailing platform will employ marketing strategy to attract consumers to make purchases and such nature is rather commercial. Thus, this source of information is more suitable for people who are learning or acquiring the skills to market their product. Whereas for researches who are inquiring into more scientific related topics, such as the topic on organ transplantation that I am going to conduct research upon, commercial websites are not appropriate as they do not provide relevant and in depth information, since that does not align with their purpose to sell. However, they will most probably offer you suggestions of books that might have the contents that you are looking for.

Moreover, through understanding the various natures of the websites, researchers can easily sieve out relevant information quickly and accurately. Furthermore, another advantage of understanding the purpose of the websites can facilitate the researcher to decide whether or not the content obtained from the various websites are reliable or not. For an instance, a commercial websites will most probably employ a more persuasive tone in writing while an educational website will most probably employ a more serious tone, while an advocacy website combines both tones to better influence people about the seriousness of their beliefs.

In conclusion to this section, understanding the different purposes of different websites will facilitate researchers to better manage the information obtained through the Internet. The Internet today contains different information and as a result, it is essential for the researcher to be able to sieve out relevant and appropriate information so to make accurate and reliable analysis and report. 

2.    Choose an advocacy website. Compare this advocacy website with the shopping website you had used for your E-shopping websites by using THREE differences.

Advocacy websites contains mainly their views, and as such, the website mostly contains information to support, justify and explain their cause. I visited an Advocacy website which supports leading a vegan lifestyle  (http://www.peacefulprairie.org/advocacy.html) and it contains mainly their opinions on what is vegan and why people should lead a vegan lifestyle, so that they are able to influence people to adopt such lifestyle, almost similar to propaganda. In addition, the tone of writing used in the information is rather emotive and serious at the same time to effectively persuade people to adopt their view and change their lifestyle.

Moreover, the presentation of the advocacy website is done in a way to evoke readers’ emotion. The advocacy website I visited was promoting a vegan lifestyle to save animals, and as a result, the images, word fonts and colours are created in a less professional way to better evoke readers’ emotion. Furthermore, the style of writing differs from a E-shopping website I visited in the past, it was written in the first person’s perspective which is very useful for persuasion, while the E-shopping website was written in a third person’s perspective.

On the other hand, E-shopping websites does their presentation differently, apart from their contents, which primarily serves a commercial purpose. E-shopping websites are presented in a more professional way to market their products and they appeal and persuade buyers to buy through using clear and strategic words and presentation while advocacy websites are presented in a way to evoke readers’ emotion.

 

3.    Explain the most meaningful lesson you had learnt from Practical 1&2.

Firstly, I learnt to evaluate the source of information I obtained through the internet by understanding the purposes of the website. This understanding is crucial because it determines whether or not the information obtained is reliable or not. Moreover, I felt that I will employ the internet as a research tool for future projects because I am more confident about the information obtained. In the past, I only used books as references for my projects, hence I felt that knowing about the information source better was the most meaningful lesson I learnt.

 

E-Shopping Spree

I was browsing some children story books in www.bookdepository.co.uk and I found a really interesting book for my niece. It was titled "Tickly Christmas Wibbly Pig" by Mick Inkpen. It costs around SGD$12.00 and I thought that the price was rather reasonable for a children bed time story. What was even better was bookdepository.co.uk provides free international shipping and it will most probably arrive in three days time from the day of purchase (speaking from experience). 

The website has presented its materials well with clear website navigation. In addition, after reading the book descriptions, I found that the content was appealing to my niece since she loves Christmas so much! Moreover, free shipping services are provided and as a result, I might as well just make this purchase.

Here's the book description obtained from http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Tickly-Christmas-Wibbly-Pig-Mick-Inkpen/9780340997536?b=-3&t=-20#Fulldescription-20

Big Aunt Larlie is coming to stay and she's brought her knitting needles and lots of balls of wool. She has already given Wibbly a scarf and some gloves and now Wibbly is worried that there is another tickly Christmas present on the way...A perfect tale of a small child's anticipation of Christmas.

This is the cover page of the book! The pig is so adorable!