Existing interactive products and delivery platforms (U4: P1)

 Existing interactive products and delivery platforms (U4: P1)

Learning outcome 1 (U4): Be able to compare interactive media products

App - Webtoon

The Webtoon app allows users to download and read various digital comics and also graphic novels. When downloaded, these comics and novels can be read offline. The purpose of these comics and novels is primarily to entertain readers as there are mass amounts of different fictional stories with a  variety of genres. However, some of them could also be slightly educational as they centre around topics that some people may not know a lot about or be as educated on such as LGBTQ+, mental health, and even some other cultures as there are creators from all across the world who upload their works onto Webtoon.

The Webtoon app is accessible on smartphones and tablets as well as online on a desktop or laptop, however, the layout and design of the website will differ depending on the product you’re using.

Layout on Smart Phone

(Referenced from the Webtoon app)

Layout on Laptop

(Referenced from Webtoon.com)  

As you can see, the layout on a smartphone is quite different compared to the layout on a laptop. This is because of the different resolutions and size of the screens. On the smartphone everything is more compact and vertically formatted as that's what's best for smartphone viewing, whilst on the laptop, there’s more room on the screen for things to be bigger, and more horizontally formatted.

The smartphone and laptop formats also have differing design components. On the laptop, there are days of the week which each display a different webtoon to read for each day, whilst the smartphone layout does not have this as there isn’t enough room to display it without the page looking too busy. Furthermore, on the smart phone layout, you can see the series that you’re subscribed to and in the middle of reading, this, however, isn’t available on the laptop version. Another difference is the Webtoon's displayed on the first page. On the mobile app, you see the Webtoon originals first, however, due to the days of the week element on the desktop version, you dont see these originals first page and instead, you need to click a button to take you to a separate page to see these originals. However, a similarity between the two formats is having an interactive header banner including an image as the first thing on the page. This works on both formats as they are able to be appropriate sizes for the resolutions of the platform users are using.

A similarity, however, that both of the platforms share are interactive buttons and widgets. Whilst they may be in different places in regards to the interface.  

One of the main benefits of the app is the interactivity and the simplicity of these interactions. All the buttons are simple and easy to use as all users need to do is click on them, with the exception of the swiping with the header banner. All the buttons are labelled with what page they take you to so there’s no confusion with users. Another benefit of the Webtoon app is the accessibility of it. The app is not limited to one platform as its available to on the app store and the google play store, as well as being able to access their webpage via the internet. The main target audience of Webtoon is 15-24 year olds, specifically female. This target audience is well reached as a lot of the comics featured on their app are of the romance and romcom genre. However, a the wide range of comics with differing genres and cultures uploaded onto the platform, is beneficial as it attracts a wider audience.

However there are some limitations to the Webtoon platform. For example, to download the Webtoon app, your apple device must have IOS 11.0 or later. Another limitation of the app is that it may be unavailable in your region depending what country you live in. As of today, Webtoon is read in 8 different countries: China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, Korean, The United States and India. Lastly, another limitation of the Webtoon smart phone app is that there is no horizontal display. The formatting for the smart phone app is only vertical meaning it might take longer to scroll through different pages of the app because the page is only as wide as your phone.

Webtoon is really effective in terms of its purpose to entertain users. There is such broad library of different stories and comics to read that users could practically never get bored as there’s always something new to read and entertain themselves with. The simple interactive features are also effective as they’re easy to use for users of various ages. Buttons change colour when pressed (or hovered over when on the laptop version) so you know what you have pressed on. Similarly, when on the webpage on a computer, the cursor changes from a point into a hand to show that what they cursor is hovered over in interactive.

A legal constraint that Webtoon can potentially face is copyrighted material, however, Webtoon doesn’t claim rights to any comics uploaded to their app meaning that this responsibility lies in the hands of the publisher. Publishers must make sure that what they’re uploading onto the app isn’t stolen material or else it could get Webtoon included in a lawsuit. Another legal constraint is having to make sure that the content on the app is appropriate for the targeted audience, and if they were to cater towards older audiences, then to make sure that content is clearly marked, and requires age validation. If this content is present on the platform without clearly being marked for mature audiences, then young people, not suitable to see this content will see it, which could lead to a lawsuit including the webtoon company.

On the other hand, Webtoon can also face some ethical constraints as well. For example, within the massive Webtoon library, there may be graphic novels containing offensive content towards certain groups of people. These offensive comics can get spread around and lead to less and less people supporting and using the platform which will eventually cause the Webtoon app to shut down. Another ethical issue Webtoon could run into is based around diversity. If Webtoon fail to promote and advertise comics and novels containing characters from different cultures, races and sexualities, people will see that as a fail to promote diversity and will stop supporting and using the platform. once again leading to Webtoon having to shut down. 

Website - Duolingo

Duolingo's purpose as a website is to educate people on new languages, yet it also entertains as it uses a fun layout and approach when it comes to teaching. It allows users to buy power ups and also has a story mode which tests the users skills in the language they’re learning. Duolingo can also fit into the assessment category as they gather data on the users performance as well as test them on their abilities. Duolingo has a large variety of languages (38 different languages) ready available for users to learn. 

Duolingo is mainly used as a website, however if users are on the go, it is also available as a mobile app. The layout and format varies depending on if you’re accessing the platform from your mobile or a laptop.

The layout of the website is very different to that of the app. The app format has to be more condensed as it need to fit on the smaller, narrower screen of a phone rather than the much larger and wider laptop screen. However, some of the design elements stay the same. For example, the vertically placed ‘levels’ remain consistent throughout both formats. However, on the desktop format, the levels are more offset to the left as theres a leaderboard and progress widget on the right side for users to see. In order to see these widgets on the mobile app, users will have to click on the corresponding interactive button on the bottom off the screen to be taken to the respective page.

Computer layout

Phone layout

(Referenced from the Duolingo website, and app)

Another difference between the two formats are the interactive components. The desktop layout has different interactive buttons and components than the mobile version. For example, the interactive buttons on the bottom of the mobile layout are different to those at the top of the screen on the desktop version. This is potentially down to the fact that the mobile app has a lot less space to put multiple things on one screen, so everything needs to be separated into sewerage pages, whereas on the desktop website, there’s a lot more space to include multiple elements on one page. Each of the lessons are a different button, and once you complete a lesson, an animation will play out on the button creating part of a ring around the button, users will continue completing these lessons until the ring is complete. 

Duolingo has many benefits as a website (as well as an app). It makes learning languages free, accessible and even fun.This element of fun will prompt people to be more interested in broadening their horizons n terms of language learning. Furthermore, the huge library of languages to choose from will prompt people to learn languages they may of never thought about learning before. Another benefit of the duolingo app is its accessibility. You can access the duolingo platform on laptops and computers, as well as more portable devices such as smartphones and tablets. An additional benefit of the site is the simplicity of the interactive features. On both the mobile and desktop layout, the interactive features are super simple to use as they’re all simple button, or hover interactions. All the buttons take the user to the page they’re labelled with so its simple and beneficial in terms of navigation through the site.

Limitations within the Duolingo lie within the mobile version. As the layout if formatted for a narrower, smaller phone screen, not as much content is able to fit onto one page compared the the laptop web page. This means that on the mobile app, there has to be more interactive buttons and widgets in order for users to navigate to the other widgets and activities that can’t fit on one page of the phone screen. Another limitation of the Duolingo platform as a whole, if you’re serious about learning and becoming fluent in the language, you will have to use other websites and resources as Duolingo doesn’t stand on its own. And lastly, the voice recognition software isn’t the best. Part of Duolingo's learning course involves speaking into the devices microphone in order to repeat a sentence, however, this voice recognition software often doesn’t recognise what you’re saying and can fail you on the lesson.

Duolingo is some what effective when it comes to teaching languages to users. Whilst it may not help users become fluent in a language, its good if users are trying to learn a few words and phrases for when they go abroad for a trip. As well as this, the interactive features are highly effective as they are very simple and easy to use as they take you to the exact page they’re labelled as. Lastly, Duolingo's mode of teaching is highly effective in terms of drilling words, phrases and sentences into users heads through multiple choice questions, flashcards and listening/speaking exercises.

Duolingo mention in their terms and services that they and their licensors own, and shall retain all intellectual property rights and other rights in the apps. These are exclusive rights given to a creator giving them rights over their own creations for a certain amount of time. This means that all of Duolingo’s creations that are put up on their website are protected under this law. Also, as there are lot os visual elements, Duolingo need to make sure they aren’t breaching any copy right laws, meaning they need to make sure that the designs they’re using for their website and claiming as their own, dont look the same as another companies or it could get them involved in a copyright lawsuit.

Ethical considerations that Duolingo would have to take into consideration would be diversity within their designs. A big part of the Duolingo lessons are the people who ‘speak’ to you and give you sentences to translate. As Duolingo teaches different languages, it would make sense for them to have characters from varying cultures. If they lacked this aspect of diversity, many people may stop using the Duolingo platform.

Lastly, another ethical consideration for Duolingo to take into account is if the phrases and scenarios they teach are appropriate and making sure they’re not offensive to any group of people. Due to political issues in the world. some phrases they may teach to users, may not be seen as appropriate or can offend certain groups of people.

Game - Genshin Impact

The purpose of the game Genshin Impact by Mihoyo is to entertain people and act as a form of escapism. Genshin Impact is a game, and could also be classed a simulation. Genshin entertains users through the massive amounts of activities, and also interactive features of the game. Users are able to explore a massive open world, whilst completing story quests as well as side, and daily quests which allow them to interact with the characters they see (and can also play as) in game. Lastly, the Genshin Impact game includes a gacha system which users can play using in game currency. A gacha system is an in game mechanic where players can unlock the featured characters and weapons by makings a random draw from a pool of 1 or 10 items, (some being limited time characters/weapons, some not) depending on how much of the in game currency is spent.

Genshin Impact can be played on hand held devices such as tablets and smart phones, as well as PC computers. The layout and interactive features between the tablet and smart phone version stays the same, however its different on the PC version due to the different resolution size, as well as the fact that users would be using a keyboard, as PCs typically aren’t touchscreen.

PC Version (Referenced from pcmag.com)

Tablet Version (Referenced from pcmag.com)

The main different between the two versions, are the interactive controls in which users use to play the game. On the smart devices, the interactive controls are buttons in which users will press for their character to play out the corresponding action. For example, the joystick in the bottom left corner in which users tap and drag in order to move and run. However, on the PC version. However, in terms of user accessibility, those playing on a computer device won’t be able to press the screen, so the actions are linked to a certain letter or number on the keyboard in which users click in order for the characters to perform the corresponding action. For example, on the tablet/smart phone version, users will press the sword button in order to attack, whilst on the PC version, users will have to click the R button to perform attack. These controls for PC users are able to be changed to other letters/numbers in the control settings. 

Benefits of Genshin compared to other games, is that it's very easy to learn the interactive controls of the game as the buttons are marked with graphics of what the action the button corresponds to. This means users won’t decide to stop playing the game half way through due to the controls being too hard to learn which benefits the company as there will be more players of the game. Furthermore, the game is free apart from some in game purchases, but even the in game purchases are limited to just buying more in game currency meaning there are no aspects of the game limited to those who pay real money. Genshin Impacts depiction of ‘violence’ is beneficial because, whilst there is fighting and ‘killing’ involved in the game, none of it is graphic as there is no blood, and when characters ‘die’ they simply disappear into ‘sparkles’. This means they were able to make their game suitable for ages 12+. Lastly, Genshin benefits from their unique gameplay experience which includes massive open worlds, resources and treasures, bosses and mini-bosses, puzzles and mini games along with lore and a storyline. These unique aspects to the game draws new users in which is inevitably beneficial for the company.

One major limitation of the Genshin Impact game is the amount of storage it takes up. As of the latest update, it takes up 64.5 gigabytes of storage. This is a major limitation as not many people have this much space available on devices such as tablets and smart phones, and also, this is only from the latest update whilst there are so may more updates to come meaning its only going to take up more and more storage. Moreover, the graphics of the game can be really intense, meaning it can be a major limitation depending on what kind of device you’re on. Luckily you can edit these graphics settings and lower or heighten the graphics quality.

Genshin Impact has proved its effectiveness in its purpose to entertain people as it has won awards such as The Game Award for best mobile game. The games interactive features are extremely effective as they are super easy to learn as they have a graphic on the button, illustrating the action that the button triggers. Also, the fact that the buttons used to trigger the actions differ from the tablet version compared to the computer version is effective as it adapts the game for different platforms.

As Genshin Impact is a highly design based game, a legal consideration to take into account would be copyright laws.The Mihoyo company need to make sure that their character, weapon and environment designs are completely unique and their own, because if it is found out that they are stealing from other people, they could get into a lawsuit and the game could potentially get shut down. This copyright law stretches to the music involved in the game, as well as trademarks. Mihoyo needs to make sure they haven't put in any trademarked companies and establishments into their games without permission from said company.

Lastly, Genshin Impact needs to take into account ethical considerations. These considerations include things such as including diversity within their character designs. This means including characters from varying races. Mihoyo very much took this consideration into account as they have characters from varying cultures and races included in the game. 

(Referenced from Genshin Impact Wiki)

Another ethical constraint is making sure the games age rating is appropriate. Whilst Genshin Impact is a graphic game with blood, there is still ‘death’ and weapons involved, so its important that Genshin set a high enough age rating, yet also not too high that they can miss out on large amounts of  potential users.