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 * __LAB 1 -__ **
 * Can Video Games be considered another new mass media? What makes Video Games a different medium from conventional movies and music? Why are video games catching on? **

Video games could definitely be considered another new mass media. Much like other forms of mass media, such as television, it is evident that as a group becomes more popular and global in its reach it changes from media, to mass media. What separates video games from other forms of mass media is that video games are interactive. People of all ages have become players in these fantasy worlds where they become part of a variety of virtual worlds. Movies, television and music all send a message to the viewer or listener without any formal feedback from the audience. In video games there is constant feedback as the audience is part of the experience. Video games are catching on because they are evolving much like web 1.0 has evolved to web 2.0. They are taking the experience of the user and adapting the game to them. Asking their feedback, suggestions and creating games that they know the audience will be interested in. They are transforming single player game to virtual worlds where a group of people from around the world can interact over a game from various places. This interaction and networking is why these video games have become not only a game, but a social event.


 * __Lab 2__**

New genres are created when current genres not longer fit specific needs. As people develop so do genres. Genres could be as broad as ‘all print material’ or as specific as “Detective stories, scientific articles, newspapers, catalogs etc.” further these are, “ all forms of document that have identifiable elements, rules of form, and content supporting both production and consumption - the basic determinants of a discourse genre.” This understanding of genres would state that genres must be contained by some rules, but the creation of new genres comes from people and their interests. However, in terms of digital genres, the definition can become not as clear. “Personal home pages on the web seem to have evolved very quickly into a standard form that share many common elements and features.” Does this make homepages a genre? Well according to what we have said makes a new genre the answer would be yes, but that answer may be controversial. According to the article, “The shared matching of expectation and preference across this community of users suggests that the personal home page might be the first unique digital information genre.” Moreover, “If so, then genre emergence can be seen as more rapid than previously thought from studies in the paper and verbal discourse domain. Indeed, it may be possible to study genre formation in real-time in digital environments.”
 * Why are new genres created? Why is the definition of genre controversial and not so applicable to the formation of digital genres? **

Lab 3

Do you agree with McLuhan when states comics are an extension of photographic media? Why or why not?
I feel that comics are an extension of photographic media because much like photographic media the images send a message. The use of these images are arranged in a particular order with an intended purpose. The difference between the two forms are is that comics are sequential in the way they tell a story, and photographic media tends to be non-sequential. Therefore i agree with McLuhan and his statement that comics are in fact an extension of photographic media.

=**__Lab 6__**= Group members: Naveen Karim, Dana Pertersen, Niya Kabir The comic we have chosen from the webcomiclist.com was "Retaliation". It uses the following McCloud's web comic techniques:

· Borders Vs. Borderless – Black line borders were used to show space and show a good contrast for the readers to be comfortable with as it helps the reader to define since objects and characters are easily.

· Screen as Window – Unlike paper, the story was laid on a large, continuous path. It allows the story to engage the readers and help them read it without being constrained.

· Colors – The author uses darker colors in the background, and uses dark colors in the foreground, and uses a thin black line portraying the characters.

=**Lab 8 - Group Dana, Niya, Lillian**=


 * Select an article under any section and critically analyze it using FAIR’s FAQ. Follow the questions and make an assessment. Decide as a pair whether you consider this specific news article objective. Explain why or why not.

ARTICLE:** Running on nearly empty (Toronto Sun)
 * Who are the sources?**

This article uses government and official sources to portray issues fairly and accurately. However, media must broaden their spectrum of sources or else they become a "megaphone for those in power".


 * From whose point of view is the news reported?**

The article is reported from the perspective of officials in the medical field. It addresses concerns made by docters regarding the lack of supply of the H1N1 vaccines.

Despite the fact that there are many individuals that have failed to receive the vaccine to date, there seems to be a lot a back peddling regarding the delivery schedule, but the article appears to with-hold judgement. Instead the article provides various sides of the argument and seems to minimize the magnitude of the situation.
 * Are there double standards?**

Stereotypes do skew coverage, in that the media's perception or bias of a group determines how harsh or lenient an article is about a groups actions.
 * Do stereotypes skew coverage?**


 * Lab 9**


 * Transparency and functionality of Google and Wikipedia**

These 2 elements of an information source help the user decide whether a site can be considered to be a worthy news site. As users we have come to understand that some site provide truthful information, and others do not.

Google is very transparent. Users see a open space, and understand that anything they search will generate results. Of these results the user also understands that there is some sort of ranking system that has nothing to do with paid advertising (as it is clear those are separate at the side). This makes Google reliable because the user trusts that the results generate will in someway match their search.

Another common source of information is Wikipedia. Unlike Google, the users of Wikipedia have the ability to input information – because this site is heavily user created, people who are searching for information know that the site is not 100% reliable. This however does make the site transparent. Users know that they can search with ease, however, they also know that the information they receive may or may not be accurate.

These 2 site differ because although they are both transparent, Google has become a reliable source, while Wikipedia still maintain the understanding the information may not be accurate.

What makes these 2 sites similar is that they are both very functional. They have clean, simple interfaces that direct the user how to use their functions. Neither site is confusing, and both apply the idea that simple is better in terms of interface, although both contain more than a simple search function.