1.6 - Information Formats

Information formats are ways in which information can be viewed online. There are a multitude of different information formats:

• Web Pages: Digital digital document accessed through the world wide web. There are two types of web page:
• Static: Web page that displays the same content to every user and is unpersonalised to the individual. These are easier to create and code.
• Dynamic: Web page that can adapt the content it displays depending on the user based on their inputs and preferences. These are much more complex to create.
• Blogs: Updating documents concerning specific topics or people. These can be shared to people who have similar interests. They support multiple media types and information styles but as they can be created by anyone, they may be poorly written or contain misinformation.
• Podcasts: Audio files consisting mostly of dialogue about specific topics or with specific people. These can be downloaded and streamed offline but an internet connection must be available to initially download the file.
• Streamed Audio and Video: Media files that are can be viewed in real-time allowing users to access the content without having to download the file. They require a constant internet connection.
• Social Media Channels: Online platforms that allow individuals and organizations to create, and interact with user-generated content. Information consumed on them may not always be factually accurate.
• Emails: Digital communication systems that allow large information to be shared quickly between individuals and organisations. They require a constant internet connection and some emails may be unsafe.
• Document Stores: Cloud storage services which allow large amounts of data to be stored and shared online. An internet connection is required to access the data.
• RSS Feeds: Updating content which can be used to share personalised content to users and notify them when it is created. RSS feeds are often used to share news updates to users however, they are  used rarely and often unsupported by browsers.