Research: File Formats and Sizes

It is vital that I research file formats and it's capabilities as the ability to upload projects is a major part of my project. Here I considered carrying out another questionnaire on the most common types of files media students use for their projects. the results gathered will allow me to narrow the range of file formats down to a manageable amount in order to reduce unnecessary research and production time. 

There are many types of file formats depending on the type of data or information you are working with. A file format specifies if the data is binary or not, it then organises it depending on the content and purpose. 

Common types of image file formats:

• JPG files: 

- Commonly used in digital cameras

- Websites use this image format as it is small in size and quick to upload as it compresses the data/information

• TIF files:

- Highest quality format

- No elements within the file type reduce the original image quality as the data is not compressed

- Most adaptable typ of image format

- Websites do not allow this type of format as it is too large and takes a long time to process/upload

- Raw camera files could/ are established as TIF format

• GIF format:

- Was developed by ComputerServe

- Good format for websites and web graphics due to their small size and use of limited amount of colours

-Adds animation instead of having a still image

- This format files can be smaller than a JPG

• PNG:

- PNG file formats can be used instead of GIF's

- Most recent format implemented therefore provides other features where others do not

Common types of video file formats:

• Flash Video Format (.flv):

- Cross platform
- Files are compatible with most browsers and platforms
- Supports streaming and progressive downloads

• AVI Format (.avi)

- Audio Visual Interleave
- Developed by Microsoft
- Data can/is encoded using various forms of codecs
- Support both audio and video data
- Less compression used on files
- Codecs are supported by Apple, Microsoft, VideoLAN etc

• Quicktime Format (.mov):

- Developed by Apple

• MP4

- Audio and video files
- Expands the format MPEG-1 in order to be compatible with audio, video, 3D
- Video: MPEG-4
- Audio: AAC

• MPG

- Common type
- Uses either MPEG-1 or MPEG-2
- Compatible with both Apple and Windows media player

• Windows Media Video Format (.wmv)

- Developed by Microsoft
- Designed for internet streaming
- Common format used on the web

• Flash Movie Player (.swf)

- Developed by Macromedia
- Supports text, animations, sequences and graphics
- Flash-plug is needed to be able to be played on the web 

Common types of music file formats:

• MP3 (.mp3)

- File extension for MPEG
- Format for music files
- Compresses music files

• AAC

- Advanced audio coding
- Lossy compresses audio formats
- iTunes and Youtube downloads use this

• OGG Vorbis

- Developed by Xiph
- Open source lossy compressed format
- Spotify uses the format to stream music

Apart from researching common file types I felt that it would be appropriate to create a survey where i can ask students about the file formats and programs that they use. Again it was vital to provide the participants to the survey with a non-disclosure form stating that their information and answers will not be distributed to any other 3rd party organisation. 

Non-Disclosure form:

Introduction to the Research

Good Morning/Afternoon,

My name is Roxanne Martos and I am a 3rd year student at Swansea Metropolitan University.

I am carrying out research into creating a Moodle website directed for media students where they can upload content other than word documents. Within this survey I would like to find out what types of file formats and programs media students use.

The questionnaire consists of 7 questions some are multi choice although most rely on your input of information.

This questionnaire is only for research purposes within this study it will not be used or distributed to any other organization. We will not identify you or your personal details, the results of this study are anonymous.

Thank you for your participation

Please Sign or Print your Name as acknowledgement that you agree:


......................................................................................


Below is a link to my survey you will not be able to access it as it is now closed therefore I have provided the results from each question on a separate bar chart:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ZFCWKKW

Results of the Questionnaire

From the results gathered I made a list of the most common files mentioned and carried out further research in order to understand it's use and format type:

.odt
.gdocx
.zip
.cpr
.ens
.mp4

I felt that asking detailed questions was important in order for students to understand what I was attempting to research. 

I asked the participants if the idea of being able to preview work would be ideal, most of the responses were no as hand in's should not be then looked upon until feedback time by supervisors. Although one of the students left a comment saying that it would be ideal only for the purpose that their own saved copy had been lost.

On the other hand most participants were keen on having a user profile where they can save their work, as it is another form of saving files (extra backup).

Following the positive responses of the previous question all participants agreed that uploading and saving work files onto this system would be ideal as they do not have to worry about carrying any hardware with them. Some left comments stating that using a database as a backup gives ten piece of mind that they will always have a saved copy of their work. 

Sources

Webopedia. n.d. File Format. [online] Available at: http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/F/file_format.html [Accessed: 7 Nov 2013].

Scantips. n.d. Image File Formats - JPG, TIF, PNG, GIF Which to use?. [online] Available at: http://www.scantips.com/basics09.html [Accessed: 7 Nov 2013].

Lavorgna, M. 2013. A Guide to Common Music File Types and Formats. [online] Available at: http://www.audiostream.com/content/guide-common-music-file-types [Accessed: 7 Nov 2013].

libtiff. 2007. Video File Formats. [online] Available at: http://www.libtiff.org/video-formats.html [Accessed: 7 Nov 2013].