Interactive media
Interactive media is a type of digital content that gives the audience the option to engage with it rather than consuming it passively. this can include games, VR, websites, apps and interactive videos or quizzes. the main idea is that the user has some control over what's happening, sometimes offering different endings and new content with different choices. Swiping, tapping, clicking, interactive storytelling, branching narratives and content that changes depending on user input are all elements that can be considered interactive.
​
Adding interactive elements to media makes the experience more immersive and personalised to the consumer, boosting engagement and making the time spent with the content more memorable.
YOU VS WILD:
OUT COLD
You vs. Wild: Out Cold is an interactive film on Netflix, starring Bear Grylls stranded in a mountainous forest. It begins with bear hanging from a tree, breaking free and realising he's lost his memory.
as a result, the viewer must help him make decisions, like whether to set up shelter or find water and food first. this presentation allows the audience to put themselves into bears shoes and enact their own wilderness survival mission from the safety and comfort of their own home.
UNDErtale
Undertale is a 2015 indie game made by Toby Fox.
In the game you play as a human child - frisk- as you explore the "underground", home of monsters. you have the option to spare enemies or kill them to increase your health. Depending on who you decide to spare or kill the game will provide you with different endings as well as new fights and characters. for example, a "Genocide" run in which you kill every monster you fight will result in a new, extremely hard boss and new ending. On the other hand, a "Pacifist" run where you spare everyone results in more backstory for the characters and another new ending.
elements of a WEBSITE
BANNERS-
Banners are sections of a website
with separate information that has been made distinct from the rest of the site.
navigation-
This is how users find their way around
the site. Navigation can look like a menu at the top or footer of the page, or occasionally a sidebar menu. this could be considered an interactive element as people interact with menus and buttons to get around.
body content -
Body content is the main
content and information on a website, located in the big space in the middle. content on a website must be relevant, up to date and concise, too much text can overwhelm or bore visitors, you must keep them engaged.
images & videos -
Visuals can often make
or break a website. low quality images or videos may deter people checking out the site, whereas higher quality content may attract them.
higher quality looks more professional.
call to action -
A call to action is a short
prompt that pushes the viewer to perform an action desired by the creator. these are typically the creator urging people to check out their other work and social medias.
socials & contacts -
having a
way for your audience to keep up to date and get in contact with you is crucial for a website. always include some form of a "contact us" page as well as social media buttons for easy access and usability.
website considerations
1)
content
content on a website must be concise and to the point to avoid scaring visitors away with walls of text. you also must ensure that all information is factual, up to date and relevant to the site.
2)
usability
the layout and functionality of a website should be user friendly, as well as adaptable for mobile with an intuitive design. this means no hiding content behind hyperlinked images or a really convoluted menu. the more accessible your site is the more people can access it, the larger your audience.
3)
aethstetics
the layout and functionality of a website should be user friendly, as well as adaptable for mobile and an intuitive design. this means no hiding content behind hyperlinked images or a really convoluted menu. the more accessible your site is the more people can access it, the larger your audience.
4)
interaction
consider implementing interactive elements to your site in order to engage visitors and keep them on there longer. buttons, swiping, games, comments, submissions or anything else a user would have to physically enact would be considered an interactive element.
bearbrook website
Bear Brook is a true crime podcast that goes over unsolved cases. their website has multiple interactive elements, as well as being well designed and filled with additional information.
social media buttons. they have a contact page, but having these links first and foremost is helpful and very user friendly
"click here to listen" call to action. also adds a layer of interaction with the act of clicking.
imbedded link/videos. adds an extra layer of context for the podcast since obviously you cant see what theyre talking about.
Top menu - how visitors will navigate the site. it features a season 1, season 2, contact, donate and more.
very minimal text that gives a brief overview of the case and their investigation so far.
another call to action - not too wordy, short and simple.
Top menu - how visitors will navigate the site. it features a Season 1, Season 2, Contact, Donate and More.
Extra context and information about the case taht you cant get from listening to the podcast. this adds a lot to the case and would be helpful for a fan of the podcast trying to know more.
(also images have been implemented, they're of high quality and look good with the site - on theme)
If I was a fan of Bear Brook and went to go see the site i'd be very satisfied. they don't leave a single stone unturned in the cases they follow, their site packed with additional context and insight. Not only is it incredibly informative, its also easy to get around, well designed, concise and user friendly. its also mobile friendly!
Cartoon network website
The cartoon network website is crammed with games, quizzes and clips from the most popular shows at the time. everything is clickable.
this bar is also a menu of kinds. each character bubble is clickable and takes you to a compilation of all content featuring that character available on the site - an easy way for kids to navigate a headache inducing website.
Top menu - how visitors will navigate the site. it features a Games, Meme-maker, Climate champions, videos, Toon cup and apps. This site is clearly aimed at a younger audience than bear brook.
if you tell a kid not to do something the likelihood of them doing said thing goes up by 5000%.
This footer menu is added for extra information, out of the way so kids don't randomly click it and get confused. this bits for the grown ups
the menu offers extra information about the company and operations, as well as ways to get in touch
This site, I must admit, isn't as well designed as bear brook, but children are stupid and don't care if colours clash or whatever. And, unsurprisingly children are CN's largest audience, so that's who they be appealing to. It DOES feature multiple interactive elements, like clicking buttons, icons, watching videos, doing quizzes and playing games. its a little cluttered and vibrant for me, I prefer how it looked in 2004.
they decided to stop being cool as soon as i was made
comparison
there's a stark contrast between the sites, one being for a podcast about an unsolved murder case and the other being for one of the largest children's entertainment conglomerates in the world. these are two very different websites that serve different function for different organisations, however they share some similar elements. Both use a top menu for the main information for ease of access, as well as embedding images and videos that relate to the sites purpose. both have calls to action like "donate now" or "sign up now" etc.
visually the two couldn't be more juxtaposed. in my opinion, cartoon network is too bright and busy, and bear brook is too plain and empty- at least on the first page. when creating my own website for my podcast, ill try and find a comfortable medium between these two, not too much or too little. I may try and emulate the look CN had from the 90s to 2005-ish, I think that older sites had so much more personality and looked way better overall. <h1>Page title</h1>