Using IT to Aid Communication
People who need to be aided in communication can find many guides on the Internet to help them.
People who have poor vision could for increase the font size of their OS, Internet browser and Applications. this helps because the font would be easier to see and read, the only disadvantage of this is that they must change each individual Applications settings.
People could have a hearing disability, this could cause some communication problems when watching some sort of media with sound. This problem could be solved when watching a video by using subtitles, although the fact that not all videos have a subtitle option could be a disadvantage.
People with who have difficulty with words could find it useful to use a option that allows the computer to speak text out loud, this could help in communication when reading things such as E-Mails, but it may be a disadvantage that some sort of audio output devices is need e.g. speakers.
Word:
I used Word in in my game design document
Advantages:
I found an advantage of word is that you can edit the document easily and quickly in comparison to writing on paper. This was useful because the game design document must be around 20 pages long and with out being able to edit the document quickly it would of taken a considerably longer time to complete.
You can also easily change the font type in word, so that it is more suitable for people with a reading disability, such as dyslexia. This was useful in my game design document because being able to change the font allowed me to make the game design document look more professional.
Word also has a system that allows you to easily change the entire style of the document, this was useful for my game design document because it made the layout of the document look consistent and professional.
An advantage of word is that
Disadvantages:
A Disadvantage of word is that you must buy the software, which is relatively expensive and to run the software you must also have a compatible computer system. I found this a problem when it came to purchasing the software for use in college.
Word may also be hard to navigate if you are not competent with the software, because of the complex menu navigation system. I found this a problem when I was first starting to use Word.
Word also has a poor image placing system, that could be improved drastically. I found it hard to place images in the right area in my game design document.
A disadvantage of Word is that if you are using a different edition e.g. 2003 edition it will not open correctly in a newer version such as 2007. I found this a problem when trying to open work templates from a newer edition.
PowerPoint:
I have recently used power point for my P4 task of Solutions/Mechanisms to barriers.
Advantages:
PowerPoint allows you to communicate in a professional and clear way. This would help you if you are in a pitching situation with potential investors, because they would be more inclined to like the product or idea you are trying to sell them due to your professionalism.
It can also help people who like to have some sort of visual example. This would help if you are in the situation of presenting to people who are predominantly visual style leaners, who like to have some sort of visual aid to understand information.
PowerPoint also provides a wide range of fonts, this allows you to change the font to accommodate people who mat have dyslexia, by choosing a font that is designed to be easier to read.
Disadvantages:
The PowerPoint software is expensive, making it inaccessible for some people.
PowerPoint also requires a suitable computer to run correctly.
Power is mainly used for presentations via a projector and this is an expensive piece of hardware.
E-Mail:
I use E-Mail on a regular basis to communicate with friends and family
Advantages:
One of the biggest advantages to E-Mail is that it delivers messages almost instantaneously. This makes E-Mail one of the fastest ways of communication.
E-Mail is also one of the most popular forms of communication because it uses the internet as a medium, meaning an E-mail can be sent and received almost anywhere on earth.
E-Mail is one of the most popular forms of communication because it is now accessible via hardware such as mobile phones. This can be extremely useful for people involved in business where they have to carry on work outside of the workplace, because it allows them to communicate with team members or clients anywhere.
E-Mail is also one of the best mediums of communication because it is completely free use to use, all that is necessary is that the sender and receiver have an internet connection. This makes E-Mail available to a huge percentage of people.
Disadvantages:
VoIP:
VoIP stands for voice over IP, VoIP is a form of communication that uses internet protocol networks like the internet as a medium. VoIP is similar to a telephone call but with the added ability to display the caller using hardware such as a webcam.
One of the main reasons VoIP is so popular is the low cost of a call, making it a great choice for large businesses that need to communicate frequently on a large scale.
VoIP is also very popular because it can now be used on a large range of devices from pc's to smartphones. This makes VoIP one of the most versatile mediums for communication.
