IGCSE ICT 0417 - Topic 9 Audience

Objective: Know and understand showing a clear sense of audience and purpose.

Understanding Audience

Before creating any ICT product, it's crucial to consider the audience. The audience is the group of people who will use or view your product. Understanding your audience helps you make informed decisions about the content, design, and functionality of your ICT product.

Why is Audience Important?

• Relevant Content: Tailoring the content to the audience's needs and interests makes the product more useful and engaging.
• Appropriate Language: Using language that the audience understands avoids confusion and enhances comprehension.
• Effective Design: The visual design should be suitable for the audience's age, technical skills, and preferences.
• Suitable Functionality: The features and functions should align with the audience's requirements and expectations.

Identifying Your Audience

Consider these factors when identifying your audience:

• Age: Is the audience children, teenagers, adults, or a mix?
• Technical Skills: Are they tech-savvy or beginners?
• Interests: What are their hobbies, needs, and motivations?
• Cultural Background: Are there any cultural considerations to be aware of?
• Purpose of Use: Why will they be using the product? (e.g., for learning, entertainment, work)

Defining Purpose

The purpose of an ICT product is the reason it was created. It's what you want the audience to achieve or experience when using the product.

Importance of a Clear Purpose

• Focus and Direction: A clear purpose guides the design and development process.
• Effective Communication: It ensures that the product effectively communicates the intended message.
• User Satisfaction: A product with a clear purpose is more likely to meet the needs of the audience and lead to user satisfaction.

Examples of Purpose

1. To inform: Providing information about a topic (e.g., a website about history).
2. To entertain: Providing amusement or enjoyment (e.g., a game or a video).
3. To persuade: Influencing the audience's beliefs or actions (e.g., an advertisement).
4. To help: Assisting the audience with a task (e.g., a tutorial or a productivity tool).

Connecting Audience and Purpose

The audience and purpose are closely linked. Your purpose should be aligned with the needs and interests of your audience.

Audience	Purpose	Example ICT Product
Children (ages 8-12)	To entertain and educate	Interactive educational game
Teenagers (ages 13-19)	To connect and share information	Social media platform
Adults (ages 20-55)	To provide information and assistance	Online banking website
Professionals	To improve productivity and collaboration	Project management software

By carefully considering the audience and defining a clear purpose, you can create ICT products that are effective, engaging, and meet the needs of the intended users.