Know and understand characteristics and uses of communication media including newsletters, posters, websites, multimedia presentations, audio, video, media streaming and ePublications

Published by Patrick Mutisya · 14 days ago

ICT Applications – Cambridge IGCSE ICT 0417

6 ICT Applications

Objective

Know and understand the characteristics and uses of the following communication media:

  • Newsletters

  • Posters

  • Websites

  • Multimedia presentations

  • Audio

  • Video

  • Media streaming

  • ePublications

Overview Table

MediaKey CharacteristicsTypical Uses
Newsletters

  • Periodic (weekly, monthly)

  • Text‑heavy, limited graphics

  • Distributed electronically (email, PDF) or in print

  • Internal company updates

  • School or club announcements

  • Marketing bulletins

Posters

  • Large visual format

  • High impact graphics, minimal text

  • Printed or displayed on digital signage

  • Event promotion

  • Safety notices

  • Advertising campaigns

Websites

  • Hyperlinked pages

  • Interactive elements (forms, menus)

  • Accessible via browsers on many devices

  • Corporate presence

  • E‑commerce

  • Information portals

Multimedia presentations

  • Combination of text, images, audio, video

  • Slide‑based, often linear

  • Delivered via software such as PowerPoint, Google Slides

  • Classroom teaching

  • Business pitches

  • Conference talks

Audio

  • Sound only – voice, music, effects

  • File formats: MP3, WAV, AAC

  • Can be streamed or downloaded

  • Podcasts

  • Music distribution

  • Voice‑over for e‑learning

Video

  • Moving images with synchronized audio

  • File formats: MP4, MOV, A \cdot I

  • Supports subtitles, captions

  • Promotional clips

  • Instructional tutorials

  • Live event recordings

Media streaming

  • Continuous delivery of audio/video over the internet

  • Requires buffering and bandwidth management

  • Often uses adaptive bitrate technology

  • Live webinars

  • On‑demand video services (e.g., YouTube, Vimeo)

  • Internet radio stations

ePublications

  • Digital books, magazines, reports

  • Interactive features (hyperlinks, embedded media)

  • Formats: PDF, ePub, HTML

  • Online journals

  • Corporate reports

  • Educational textbooks

Detailed Characteristics

Newsletters

Newsletters are typically produced on a regular schedule and aim to keep a specific audience informed. They may be created using word‑processing or desktop‑publishing software and exported as PDF for email distribution.

Posters

Effective posters use a clear visual hierarchy: a bold headline, eye‑catching graphics, and concise supporting text. Colour contrast and readability from a distance are essential design considerations.

Websites

Websites require consideration of navigation structure, responsive design (adapting to screen size), and accessibility (e.g., alt text, keyboard navigation). Content management systems (CMS) simplify regular updates.

Multimedia Presentations

Presentations combine several media types to reinforce learning. Good practice includes limiting slide text, using high‑quality images, and embedding short audio/video clips rather than linking to external files.

Audio

When creating audio for ICT projects, quality depends on sampling rate (e.g., 44.1 kHz) and bit depth. Compression reduces file size but may affect fidelity; MP3 at 128 kbps is a common compromise.

Video

Video production involves planning (script, storyboard), recording (camera settings, lighting), and post‑production (editing, encoding). For web delivery, encoding to H.264 MP4 at 1080p balances quality and bandwidth.

Media Streaming

Streaming services use protocols such as HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) or Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH). These split media into small segments, allowing the client to request higher or lower quality segments based on current network conditions.

ePublications

ePublications can be static (PDF) or reflowable (ePub). Reflowable formats adapt to the reader’s device, improving readability on smartphones and tablets. Interactive ePublications may embed quizzes, videos, or hyperlinks.

Choosing the Right Media

When selecting a communication medium, consider the following factors:

  1. Audience – age, technical skill, preferred devices.

  2. Purpose – inform, persuade, entertain, instruct.

  3. Message complexity – text‑only vs. multimedia needed.

  4. Distribution channel – email, web, print, broadcast.

  5. Resources – time, budget, software, hardware.

Suggested Diagram

Suggested diagram: Flowchart showing the decision process for selecting an ICT communication medium based on audience, purpose, and resources.