Week 11: Prompt 1

Abols, I. 2010. “Vestibular (Balance) System”. Photo. Audiphone: Company of Akron. http://audiphoneakron.com/vestibular-balance-and-vertigo.html Accessed on November 8, 2010.

Content Analysis

The image is a diagram of the inner ear and all the different microscopic parts that work together to create our sense of hearing.

The image is about the various structures of the inner ear and how it collects information from the outside environment and sends it to the brain to be interpreted.

There are no people in the image. The ear is presented as a colorful diagram to accentuate each individual component of the outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear.

The picture really cannot be looked at in different ways. It is presented as a clear diagram of the ear and it is meant to be interpreted and looked at as an illustration of the ear.

Unfortunately, without much explanation, the image is not very effective at sending a visual message. It needs an explanation so viewers know what they are looking at and why it applies to the topic. Both the description/narrative and picture work together very well to reveal more insight into the topic.

Visual analysis

The image is composed as a colorful illustration. The background is plane (so as not to distract the viewer from the main subject) and the foreground includes labels of each individual component.
The most important visual element in the image is color. Color is used to separate the various elements of the ear. Instead of viewing the image and seeing one ear, the different parts of the ear are clearly marked and labeled, bringing one’s attention to each individual component.

Color is used to separate the different parts of the ear so they don’t all blend together as one. Because each part is a different color, it causes viewers to look at each component as an individual.

I don’t think that the image could be looked at different ways. The color makes it clear that each individual component has specific functions that eventually come together to result in our sense of hearing.

By using a colorful design choice, the picture is more aesthetically pleasing to the eye. It stimulates excitement for the viewer because it gives them a whole new perspective on what really goes on inside the ear. Instead of using an actual image of a human ear, the illustration was created to help viewers better differentiate the various elements.

Contextual Information

There are labels that accompany the image that aid in an explanation of what individuals are viewing.

The text makes me see the image is a bit more credible because the labels aren’t placed carelessly across the image. Rather, each label has a clear location and is specifically pointing to one element in the image. Also, the font helps to create a more credible source because it’s a professional-looking font without appearing dull.

The textual information is intended to be factual and inform. Most individuals are not aware of the various components of the inner ear, much less their names and locations. Therefore, the source has provided viewers with labels to provide facts and relay information.

The context provides viewers with facts, like the specific names of each individual element that makes up the ear as a whole. The context does not specifically provide very much information. The viewer right away knows that it is an image of an ear (if not because of the image, the labels contain “ear” in them). As far as answering how, the picture does not provide viewers with specific information on how the ear works but they can imply from the picture that sounds come in through the ear canal, work their way through both the middle and inner ear, and eventually the information is sent to the brain. The question “why” is not specifically answered by the image itself. The narration will provide viewers with why this picture was used and how it helps them better understand the topic. The picture doesn’t directly answer for whom it was made but judging from the labels and colorful components, it was made for the general population. One doesn’t need to be a doctor to understand what the image is a picture of. Yet, it also works to educate individuals who may not know anything about the ear.

Image Source

I received the image from Audiphone Company of Akron. It is the longest running business dedicated solely for the purpose of hearing healthcare in the Akron, Ohio area and surrounding communities.

In regards to the origins of the image, the source provides no information. There is no link to a source where the image came from, no description, and there are no links in the text surrounding the image.

Based on the above mentioned information, the source may not be the most reliable and trustworthy option out there, but based on the information that I found regarding the source itself, the company seems to be a reliable business focused on furthering the knowledge of ailments that affect the ear specifically.

The image was not found in a database. Rather it was being used to help readers visualize how the vestibular system works to maintain balance and control dizziness as well as reveal to them where this system is located in the body.

Technical quality

I find that the image is large enough to show my viewers where the vestibular system is located in the body. It’s not too large so that it appears to be overwhelming, and it’s not so small that viewers have to squint to note the details and labels.

The color, light, and balance are not true to an actual image of a human ear but for educational purposes, the various colors work to distinguish one element from the next. Each element may not be to scale as it would be in an actual human ear, but once again, this is for educational purposes to help viewers better visualize the location of the system.

The image is an illustration so I really do not notice any pixilation or distortion. The image is actually very clear and crisp; each color is very precise.

The image is in a file format that I can use for my slideshow. It has been saved as an image to my “105 extras” folder that reveals just the image and I also have the URL saved to view the source itself.

As far as I can tell, there are no copyright or other restrictions that may affect my use of this image. I have searched the sources website and have not found anything but that could also be attributed to the fact there is no information about the origins of the image.

In conclusion, I think that this picture could provide a lot of information that is easy to understand and aid in their visualization of the vestibular system. However, the source is not the most reliable because they don’t provide any outside links or information regarding the image and the source doesn’t mention any copyright laws involved with using their information. Therefore, I will proceed with caution as I continue to search for reliable and credible images.