Animation for Enhancing Communication

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Asian Journal of Behavioural Sciences e-ISSN: 2710-5865 | Vol. 5, No. 1, 21-24, 2023 http://myjms.mohe.gov.my/index.php/ajbs

Animation for Enhancing Communication

Rasfan Abu Bakar^1*

1 Faculty of Animation & Multimedia, ASWARA, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

*Corresponding Author: [email protected] Accepted: 15 March 2023 | Published: 31 March 2023

DOI:https://doi.org/10.55057/ajbs.2023.5.1.3

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Abstract: Graphics and animations are inevitable when it comes to education nowadays. It is quite obvious that the present generations are more attracted to learning formats that involved technologies. A lot of studies have been carried before successfully proved that present generations prefer computerized formats over traditional ones like books or play cards, when they learn. Therefore, computer graphics and animations have become vital to be included in order to enhance the lesson understandings in learning institutions. This paper aims to elucidate the effectiveness of animation for enhancing communication in general. Computer graphics and animations used for communication mediums need to be readable and understandable because the combination of text, graphic elements and images formed a powerful communication link, a print or screen media message can easily persuade a viewer by its content. It is recognized that graphics is the potent instrument of communication.

Keywords: graphics, animations, communication, learning, computer

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1. Introduction

Communication between people who do not share the same language can definitely be improved by using a 3D animation as it has the ability to lift the inherent limitations of written text. A new language that can be understood by any nationality can be created based on animation sequences because text and graphics can be swapped. This will develop a grammar linking text and animation and it will also allow the conversion between those elements. Such a grammar will allow us to lift the inherent ambiguity of natural languages. Using the powerful multimedia capacity of animation, it will be able to move from an abstract representation to a more concrete graphical view.

A lot of animated scenes have already been used and utilized as an effective and good medium to aid the communication between adults and children. Animations are used to illustrate domain specific activities such as car accident stimulations or for clearer purpose like storytelling. The adaptation of 3D data is also used for automatic scene creation. Animations are believed to facilitate the understanding of a text even in different languages. The principle of compositionality is also applicable to animations. Being able to compose various animations in order to produce a plausible sequence is possible as the computer graphics field is mature and rich enough to be used as a good communication medium. Irony enough, animations do not necessarily need to have too much realism like some games nowadays have successfully achieved. This is because the goal of animations must be communicating a certain message and too much realism could in fact limit effective communication between non-native speakers due to the reason of every culture possess its own visual standard for representing or characterizing

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emotions, as well as complex actions. Therefore, it could easily be misinterpreted by the audience.

Meaningful and not too complicated animations will enable graphic designers or animators to reconcile the text and the animated image which distinct types of representations, as animations are trusted with its ability to help facilitate the understanding of a text, in different languages.

Through proper usage of semantic tools, applied to the computer graphics domain, the amount of objects and animation to be modelled can be minimized, thus significant and relevant animations can be produced for more effective communication.

2. Literature Review

According to Adair John in his book, “The Effective Communicator”, published in 1998, media started as an institutionalized approach to generate awareness and inform the masses, but it has become an instrument to govern our lives. Rather than a form of cultural expression, it has a culture in itself. It was supposed to report on the way of life of people. It has now become life itself. When we can see and listen through media and understand the meaning it is trying to convey, that is visual media. Animation is one of it as well. The development of the media and the progress of education are intimately related to each other in many ways (Rajendra Pal & J.

S. Korlahalli, 2000). The visual media not only provide information and entertainment but they also provide directly and indirectly many opportunities to the people to be better educated.

Since Aristotle, human language has been considered a partial way of representing the human thoughts. Aristotle once claimed in De Anima (431a, 15-20) "The soul never thinks without a mental image". With the development of computer graphics and animations, a new family of tool has emerged to improve communication. To put it in a simpler way, Aristotle’s opinion explained that we do not think without visualizing the messages in our minds. Therefore, communication through visual images (like animations and computer graphics), we will understand the meaning conveyed better and easier.

B. Senthil Kumar, Dr. L. Jayasimman, Dr. Nisha Jebaseeli provided proofs through a study entitled “Animation and Computer Graphics for Effective Communication” that was carried in 2015, that the communication industry is developing due to animation and computer graphics.

It contributes a lot to the society and it provides entertainment, awareness in the means of cultural, social etc. On the other hand, science and technological advancement must also be adopted. When more applications of computer graphics and animations the originality of the communication will be an unquestionable thing. Today’s higher education systems mostly focus youth, and children who belong to the age between the ages eleven to thirties. Through their study, it is clearly observed that the computer graphics and animations work will strengthen the communication and it is a compulsion due to the generation gap and global perspectives.

3. Discussion

Animation and graphics have considerably influences communication medium. It has the capacity and obvious ability to simplify the communication process. It reduces the complexity in visualizing process. It has a positive impact on the learning. Animation itself has a powerful digital tool. The animation and computer graphics attracts generally children and young people.

It reduces stress and helps convey messages for clear and quality communication.

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Visual Communications covers any type of media that expresses the intent of communicating the gamut of ideas. The medium used does not necessarily assume the relevance of the ideas communicated; neither does the form. Animation is a great way to communicate an idea, as it can enhance the viewer’s experience. This visual form of communication takes a bit more time and effort but has been proven a lot of times before to be the most effective. Animation communicates information with a sense of motion, correlating ideas with visual stimulation. It is a great way to express ideas while keeping the audience visually intrigued.

In a research conducted by B. Senthil Kumar, Dr. L. Jayasimman, Dr. Nisha Jebaseeli which aims to analyze the role and impact played by animation and computer graphics in the visual and communication process. The importance of visual media in communication has generally been verified through that particular research conducted based on its result. This research adopted convenient sampling which means respondents selected are those who were available at the time the researcher’s arrival in the area. 70% of the respondents fully agreed about the importance and attraction of animation for better understanding in learning institution while only 6% have disagreed. The research also asked respondents whether or not animations and graphics help to simplify learning and predictably 90% of the respondents fully agreed with this opinion and only 2% of the respondents have disagreed. This research was carried with the total number of 50 respondents and 90% out of 50 people means 45 people strongly agreed on how communication is definitely made easy through animations, which is legit enough to become the evidence of how it helps to enhance the understanding of whatever message conveyed.

4. Conclusion

These days, a lot of animations and graphic visuals have been comprehended and integrated in teaching and learning process because educators want to liberate the communication between people of the textual or oral language limitations, by using animations. Today’s higher education systems mostly focus youth, and children who belong to the age between the ages eleven to thirties. Through this study it is clearly observed that the computer graphics and animations work will strengthen the communication and it is a compulsion due to the generation gap and global perspectives. It is fascinating to think that people who speak different are able to overcome the language barrier with animations. Animations or graphic visuals are unlike written text that inherent limitations of people understand towards the context of its messages.

If people go on Google and search for tips to enhance and improve their communication skills, most tips provided have included ‘’use animation or animated video in any presentation’’. This is due to the reasons that have been mentioned in this study before animations help to boost conversion rates by simplifying the message and engaging viewers. One thing for sure is animations will definitely ace in gaining the audience’s attention. The hardest challenge when you’re trying to communicate with a larger group of people is to gain their attention and through animation, communicator can overcome this particular difficulty.

Animated video is an engaging instrument that can help people to tell their story more comprehensively as 65% of people are visual learners and 90% of the information transmitted to the brain is visual. In accordance with a molecular biologist named John Medina, vision is the most dominant sense in human beings, taking up half of our brain’s resources. Visual information is also processed about 60,0000 times faster than text. This is why animations have the ability to make communications more effective and enhance people’s communication skills

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as well. There is the superiority effect in which images and visuals are more likely to be remembered than words for the majority of people.

Last but not least, animations are said to be able to simplify complex topics because it brings concepts to life that text cannot. With the help of animation, how mechanisms and processes work can be shown because animators can make characters fly, jump or even travel in time.

Written text can describe but it does not serve the visual which will guide and make understanding easier. Unsurprisingly, it simplifies otherwise difficult topics like how the food consumed by humans affects their brain or even the physics of ballet’s hardest move. That concluded the fact that animations not only help the message conveyer to simplify what they are trying to deliver better, but also aid the receiver to understand the message more effectively.

Animation helps to enhance and improve not only the one way, but two ways communications productively and constructively.

References

B. Senthil Kumar, L. Jayasimman, Nisha Jabaseeli (2015). Animation and Computer Graphics for Effective Communication. International Research Journal of Engineering and Technplogy (IRJET), 2, 801-804.

Ki Hoon Kim & Ji Sung Suh. (2012). A Case Study on The Making Process of Stop Motion Animation Characters. Journal of The Costume Culture, 20(5), 655-663.

Kroeber, A. L. & Kluckholn, C. (1952). Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions. Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology, Harvard University, American Psychological Association, 47(1), 223.

Normah Mustaffa, Faridah Ibrahim & Mus Cairil Samani. (2009). The Effects of Pictures on The Order of Accessing Online War Stories. Malaysian Journal of Communication, 25, 13-20.

Sushil K. Gupta. (1981). Non-Verbal Communication. Journal of the all India Management Association, 2(9).