Week 11. Lecture – New Media Landscape

When I first saw the name Ripplewerkz, I felt that it was very familiar until the speaker, Lionel Chin, mentioned Xiaxue’s blog and Nuffnang.

Ripplewerkz is an all in one design house which offers high quality Web, Blog, Print, and Corporate ID development.

I had always thought that designing one website can only earn around $100~$200 depending on how hard the design is. But Lionel said that it is possible to earn around $1000~$10000 per design. I never knew that designing website could earn that much.

He also mentioned that in the past, only people who have the knowledge of html or css codes are able to create a website. However, now it is possible to create one without the knowledge as some hosting websites have a very simple interface.

Web 2.0 and the old Web. He said that Web 2.0 has many other widgets and applications that the old Web is unable to have. Like twitter, “I like it” button and photo of the moment in Xiaxue’s blog.

Someone asked whether would it be better to freelance right after graduation or get into an agency. Lionel replied that it would be good if we started freelancing currently when we are still in school as it would be better to get into an agency after we graduate.

When Lionel mentioned that he was in this job industry not for the money but for the work satisfaction when the client is happy with their work. That hit me as I used to design blogskins and I’m happy when people use my designs, even though I’m not getting paid.

Bringing a guest speaker to school to share their experience and tips is good as students will know what to expect in the working world.

Creating Awareness

Diabetic Society of Singapore (DSS) is a non-profit organisation affiliated to the International Diabetes Federation and the National Council of Social Service.

Their objectives are to provide services for people who have diabetes, people who are interested in diabetes and to promote and remove ignorance of diabetes.

In order to make people aware about diabetes, campaigns or advertisements may be used.

However, as most people use the computer, the best possible way to create awareness about diabetes is through the internet.

Advertising through the television will bring awareness to adults who watches the news daily, but it will not get to the teenagers.

Using the internet will bring awareness to not only teenagers, but everyone who surfs the internet.

Good websites to advertise are social networking websites like Facebook, MySpace, Youtube etc.

Twitter and blogger is also a good choice as it you can get people to read your message and ask them to spread the message around which will then reach to hundreds or thousands of people.

The internet is therefore the best way to create awareness.

National Archives of Singapore (NAS)

National Archives of Singapore (NAS) was formed in 1968 and used to be called the National Archives and Records Centre (NARC).

In the past, the NAS had different locations before moving into a permanent one, which is now located at 1 Canning Rise, where Anglo-Chinese Primary School used to be.

Who are the NAS?
The NAS keeps many old newpapers, documents, videos and books that holds history to Singapore.

What do they do?

Archives Services – the NAS preserves national records and historical significance which includes records of citizenship rights and allows public to access them.

Archives Conservation Laboratory – paper documents which are teared or suffers from insect and fungi infestation will be preserved.

Records Management Services – preservation of important public records and management for civil service.

Image Preservation Laboratory – images from books and papers are scanned into the computer and placed onto microfilm and digital media.

Audio-Visual Archives and Exhibition – videos and sounds of the heritage of Singapore is captured and preserved.

Oral History Centre – influential people and people who have a role in Singaporr’s history are interviewed and recorded.

What type of services they provide?

Records Management and Preservation – important records are scanned and placed onto microfilms to preserved them in climate-controlled conditions.

Providing Access – the public is able to access NAS collections for reserach and understanding Singapore’s history.

Sharing Knowledge – NAS have regular seminars on archival resources, records management and oral history methodology.

Archives Conservation Services – conservation services are provided for paper records such as anoxic treatment, deacidification, leafcasting, mechanical cleaning, manual repair, tissue mounting, encapsulation and rare binding.

2) Do they use any Social Media & Web 2.0 technologies for public communication & education?
They use A20 to allow the public to access their collections.
ww.a2o.com.sg.