Our group created an info-graphic timeline of social media platforms, focusing on major developments in the area. Part of our motivation was the current debate that is occurring over social media, and the shift that has occurred in our perception of social media as a whole over time. We chose the info-graphic as it was seen as the more user friendly and mostly to have consistent engagement. While video and audio may have created a certain dynamism, the timelines interactivity and detail seemed an interesting project .Upload speeds and bugs from use on different OS and devices may also have been an issue. Users are offered a brief summary of developments and may chose to further engage by clicking in without it being intrusive. Progression is organic rather than narrative.
The navigation of the timeline is linear and intuitive. It builds from overview to description/analysis to summarised timeline of key events within the particular platform. The timeline is informative without being overly complicated.
My role was to make the composite images used for the platforms that we went into depth with. It added a unique user experience, while priming users for the content and the particular slant from which we discussed them. Rather than the conventional timeline of a literal line with nodes giving details, we chose to add novelty to the process. It seems almost un-academic, but we wanted an enjoyable user experience. I also wrote the section for the Parler app. As the recent events effecting Parler dovetailed with my own interest, this gave me an opportunity research and observe the platform.