DIMENSIONS OF MEDIA AND INFORMATION

OBJECTIVES:

1. Identify the different dimensions of media and information.

2. Provide examples of Dimensions of Information and Media created informally
and formally;
3. Generalize the important lessons learned and how to apply it in daily living.

TEXT Information and Media

are data or information sources which exist as references in textual, numeric, or

similar formats. These include various types of publications as well as
unpublished manuscripts, databases, and documents.

Text information can be found in:

● BOOKS
● NEWSPAPERS
● MAGAZINE

BOOKS

a handwritten or printed work of fiction or nonfiction, usually on sheets of paper

fastened or bound together within covers

NEWSPAPERS

a publication that is periodically published (daily or weekly) that presents news

and informative articles

MAGAZINES

a type of thin book with large pages and a paper cover that contains articles and
photographs and is published every week or month

CLASSIFICATIONS OF TEXT INFORMATION AND MEDIA

FICTION- pertains to stories that are IMAGINED and NOT TRUE
NONFICTION- pertains to stories that are based on FACTS and REALITY
DESIGN PRINCIPLES AND ELEMENTS OF TEXT INFORMATION AND MEDIA

1. EMPHASIS- Importance or value given to a part of the text-based context. It

makes the text bold, italicized, darkened or lightened, and enlarged.
2. APPROPRIATENESS- How suitable the text is used for a specific audience,
purpose or event.
3. PROXIMITY- How near or far the text elements from each other
-When two things are closely related bring them closer together.
4. ALIGNMENT- How text is positioned in the page. Left, centered, justified
5. REPETITION- Consistency of elements
-Unity of the entire design
6. CONTRAST- Creates visual interest
-Two elements are different from each other.

VISUAL Information and Media

use of one or more of the various visual media with or without sound. Generally, visual
information includes still photography, motion picture photography, video or audio
recording, graphic arts, visual aids, models, display, visual presentation services, and
the support processes.

MAKING VISUAL INFORMATION

Visual information is the artistic or creative representation or interpretation of an
idea, concept, or emotion using different media. It is created by painters, photographers,
graphic artists or designer, and sculptors, among others.

PAINTER- A painter refers to a person who produces a work of art with colors, lines,
and shapes using paint as medium. A painter also described as an artist because his
work nis artistic in nature.

PHOTOGRAPHER- Taking pictures or images using a camera is the photographer’s

primary job. A photographer can be classified as either an amateur or a professional

GRAPHIC ARTIST AND DESIGNER- A graphic artist or designer sees the images,
illustrations, charts, and tables on the manuscript. He is also responsible for the artwork
and design using electronic media.

SCULPTOR- A sculptor creates a piece of art using a variety of media, such as clay, or
even ice.
 Types of Visual Information are:

● PAINTING
● PHOTO/IMAGES
● SCULPTURE
● CARTOON/COMIC STRIP
● GRAPHS/CHARTS
● BILLBOARDS
● POSTERS

PAINTING

a form of visual art that captures the expression of ideas and emotions on a
two-dimensional surface

PHOTO/IMAGES

Image - Any visual object modified or altered by a computer or an imaginary object

created using a computer.

Photo or photograph - Anything taken by a camera, digital camera, or photocopier.

SCULPTURE

an artistic form in which hard or plastic materials are worked into three-dimensional art
objects

CARTOON/COMIC STRIP

a sequence of drawings in a newspaper, magazine, etc, relating a humorous story or an

adventure

GRAPHS/CHARTS

pictorial representation of the relationship between two or more variables that hold
quantitative values

BILLBOARDS

a large outdoor advertising space designed to capture the attention of motorists

POSTERS
a usually large printed sheet that often contains pictures and is posted in a public place
(as to promote something)

AUDIO Information and Media

media communication that uses audio or recordings to deliver and transfer information
through the means of sound.

Types of Audio Information are:

● DIALOGUE/CONVERSATION
● LECTURE/TALK
● NEWS
● PODCAST
● AUDIOBOOK
● MUSIC

AUDIO INFORMATION

DIALOGUE/CONVERSATION

The most common way of obtaining auditory information is through dialogues and
conversations. As this is practiced in everyday life, it is hard to go through a day without
verbal exchanges.

LECTURE/TALK

Lectures or talks, while similar to dialogues and conversations in the way of

transmission of information through a verbal exchange, are mostly done in a formal
setting.

NEWS

news comes in many forms, especially with the constantly evolving technology. This can
come in text, visual, motion and in audio. News information may be coursed through
radios to reach the public whatever frequency is available.

PODCAST

a relatively new form of audio information that is described as a series of audio digital
files downloaded to a device. Podcasts usually have a theme or a focus that the
episodes would follow.

AUDIO BOOK
Audiobooks, as defined by Cambridge dictionary, is a “recording, on a CD or made
available on the internet, of a book being read aloud.” This is a new way for readers to
enjoy their favorite books without the aid of text.

MUSIC

It is hard to picture the world today without the influence of music. Music is done by
combining a range of various instruments and vocal techniques, creating a harmony
that is easy on the ears. From music comes different genres that would suit a person’s
taste.

AUDIO MEDIA

You have identified what type of information you could receive on a daily basis
and the people behind the audio materials. This section of the lesson will introduce you
to the different media used in transmitting auditory information.

RADIO

radio has been omnipresent since its establishment in the 1800s. The signals used by
radio are carried on the electromagnetic spectrum to almost anywhere in the world. In
the Philippines, radio has become a big part of the typical Filipino household, as a
portable medium for news and music.

WALKMAN

Walkman is the brand name for a portable cassette player from Sony in Japan. The
name of the device was assumed to have let people know its use: which is to listen to
sounds while walking. It was released to the public in the year 1979 and shot up to
success soon after.

DISCMAN

Almost similar in purpose to the Walkman, the Discman is made for the purpose of
playing CDs. This was released by Sony to the market in 1984. It played music or any
audio from CDs by determining the reflection of light cast off by the disc.

MP3 PLAYER

a portable music player that plays digital music files. Originating from its predecessors
such as the Discman and Walkman, this is comparably lighter in weight and smaller in
size, making it easier to carry around. The reduction in file size is also glaringly different
from compact discs for Discmans, making it easier for MP3 player users to store their
music in their devices.
iPOD

a portable music player wherein users of iTunes can transfer songs they purchased or
downloaded through the use of computer and the iPod software.

iTUNES

a software under Apple that is designed to let people play, download and store music.
This application can serve as a media player, media library, online radio broadcaster,
and mobile device management.

Producing Audio Information

Besides the various audio media used to disseminate audio information, it is also
important to note the following ways of producing audio information.

CASSETTE TAPE

This medium became a hit with teenagers in the United States in 1964 because of its
mere accessibility and as a way for them to record sounds and voices or collect music
at a low cost. Through the years, the cassette tape has evolved and many
improvements were made on the original product.

VINYL RECORDS

These discs, compared to the cylinders, are easier to mass produce and distribute. The
vinyl record, on average, has a diameter of 10 inches while its rotational speed is
varied, depending on the manufacturer.

PHONOGRAPH

Thomas Edison made use of an electrical diaphragm that would convert the voice into
electrical signal with a stylus attached to a telegraph that would then convert this into
dots and dashes on paper. It was said that the first sound ever recorded and played
back was of Edison narrating the nursery rhyme, “Mary Had a Little Lamb.

COMPACT DISC

The Compact Disc was born from the meeting between Philips and Sony in 1979.
These big companies convened to find a way for audio encoding to happen, or the
process of recording audio signals in digital format.

LIVE PERFORMANCE
Another way of obtaining audio information is through live performances. These are
conducted inside halls or arenas or generally areas where the public could watch and
hear the performers.

Evaluating audio information

Like any form of information, audio information is open for evaluation. The following
criteria to consider in evaluation audio information is identified by Magpile (2016):
1. Sound quality– one factor to consider in evaluating audio information is the
quality of the sound produced by the device. The audio may either be too soft or
too loud, or it may have distinct cracking and other unnecessary noises that may
be caused by technical errors that could distract you from obtaining the audio
information.
2. Voice quality– the quality of recorded voices of people is also important in
evaluating audio information. Unnecessary noises and sounds unrelated to the
person speaking may cause distraction to the receiver of the message, deeming
it not suitable for listening.
3. Type of content– Aside from the quality of the audio, it is also important to take
a keen look at the type of content the audio contains. Through the evaluation of
the type of content, you’d know its target audience, who would benefit from it, is it
suitable for listening.