I came up with the concept of having three random introductions for the exhibition, three random introductions for the groups, three different transitions and about eight idle chatter or banter videos. This will be picked at random on a flash program when introducing the work etc.
This was discussed with our tutors, as well as confirming the advanced booking of the green screen studio.
For this tutorial, only the four of us turned up: Me, Sandy, Andrea & Katie. We all discussed our propositions and ideas. As the four of us would be acting as the avatars.
Easter was coming at the end of the week so we delegated the work.
My individual work was to produce visuals, video prototypes and work on the transitions.
Virtual reality tour guides (Archive at bottom of the page)
Thursday, 29 March 2012
Monday, 26 March 2012
Blog Entry 6 - The Presentation
The day of the presentation, only Me, Andrea & Katie turned up. Sandy had a legitimate reason as to why he couldn't come in, however the other two members didn't even bother explaining, just ignored texts and never turned up.
Me, Andrea & Katie started off by going to the pub and organised our presentation, we planned who would say what and discussed our project further, so we were all clear on what to present.
After this we went on to a computer room to finish the last few slides. Then before the presentation we took it upon ourselves to book the green screen room, the sound studio and get ourselves organised.
When organising a schedule and list of work: we still involved Mekalia & Jack, but because of previous disappointments we worked the schedule around work we could easily catch up on or afford to miss.
When we got to the room we were the third group to present. We were all a little nervous because the previous two groups didn't do so well and the classroom was full up.
We got started and emphasised off of the slides, which meant it sounded natural and we were talking directly to the audience and not reading off of slides.
We were explaining our concept idea and how it would work. It all seemed to be going well, then we got to the slide with my UI Design. Our tutors stopped us there... At this point we were panicking, but what seemed to be a dark moment in the presentation turned out to be an unmissable opportunity.
Our tutors were very enthusiastic about our idea and asked us if we would consider orchestrating the entire exhibition. This would mean fusing all the group projects together in our piece. This would be done by acting like virtual tour guides and introducing both the groups and the exhibition.
Our tutor also got us an advanced booking for the film studio.
Me, Andrea & Katie started off by going to the pub and organised our presentation, we planned who would say what and discussed our project further, so we were all clear on what to present.
After this we went on to a computer room to finish the last few slides. Then before the presentation we took it upon ourselves to book the green screen room, the sound studio and get ourselves organised.
When organising a schedule and list of work: we still involved Mekalia & Jack, but because of previous disappointments we worked the schedule around work we could easily catch up on or afford to miss.
When we got to the room we were the third group to present. We were all a little nervous because the previous two groups didn't do so well and the classroom was full up.
We got started and emphasised off of the slides, which meant it sounded natural and we were talking directly to the audience and not reading off of slides.
We were explaining our concept idea and how it would work. It all seemed to be going well, then we got to the slide with my UI Design. Our tutors stopped us there... At this point we were panicking, but what seemed to be a dark moment in the presentation turned out to be an unmissable opportunity.
Our tutors were very enthusiastic about our idea and asked us if we would consider orchestrating the entire exhibition. This would mean fusing all the group projects together in our piece. This would be done by acting like virtual tour guides and introducing both the groups and the exhibition.
Our tutor also got us an advanced booking for the film studio.
Tuesday, 20 March 2012
Blog Entry 5 - Presentation Preparation
I started the preparation off by tweaking parts of our idea ready for presenting, I set up a group meeting and organised the times people could do; to work out a schedule so everyone can contribute.
I turned up late to the meeting so I delegated the work via text message and organised a pick up to collect the work.
Although I was an hour late (because of personal reasons) I was disappointed to find out that next to nothing got done. After further discussion with one of the photographers I discovered the two noncontributing members were messing about and became more of a hindrance than helpful.
When I got there only the idea development and a slide of images was done. Neither of which was asked for in the brief. So I knuckled down on my own and tidied up the three slides the photographers done and started working on it.
After re-designing and tidying up what was already there I produced an outline for the presentation of what was specified on the brief. I worked on my own on the presentation for a couple of hours then met up with Katie.
Me and Katie worked together to get most of the presentation done. We spent a couple of hours working on it to get most of it done.
I contacted the entire group and told them what was left as well as what me and Katie done. Then discussed the presentation with them and delegated the work evenly between them.
From this only Sandy & Andrea contributed, so I worked on it more to get the majority finished.
The main thing being the User-Interface Diagrams:
In the end two things were left to do as a group before the presentation itself.
I turned up late to the meeting so I delegated the work via text message and organised a pick up to collect the work.
Although I was an hour late (because of personal reasons) I was disappointed to find out that next to nothing got done. After further discussion with one of the photographers I discovered the two noncontributing members were messing about and became more of a hindrance than helpful.
When I got there only the idea development and a slide of images was done. Neither of which was asked for in the brief. So I knuckled down on my own and tidied up the three slides the photographers done and started working on it.
After re-designing and tidying up what was already there I produced an outline for the presentation of what was specified on the brief. I worked on my own on the presentation for a couple of hours then met up with Katie.
Me and Katie worked together to get most of the presentation done. We spent a couple of hours working on it to get most of it done.
I contacted the entire group and told them what was left as well as what me and Katie done. Then discussed the presentation with them and delegated the work evenly between them.
From this only Sandy & Andrea contributed, so I worked on it more to get the majority finished.
The main thing being the User-Interface Diagrams:
 |
| UI Design - By Toby Cooper |
 |
| Projection UI Design - By Toby Cooper |
In the end two things were left to do as a group before the presentation itself.
Monday, 19 March 2012
Blog Entry 4 – Session 2
A new member has joined our group: Sahand Jalali. I caught him up on Facebook, added him to the group and exchanged contact details. He is a music student who was moved to our group to replace Theron UDennis - who has a poor attendance record.
I was thinking about my groups project before the session. Because I'd be the one to do the code work etc. I started thinking about how doable the piece was. Especially in the amount of time we have.
It wasn't doable to research how to make a program appear differently on two terminals/projection in the space of time we have. Neither would it be doable to test this before the exhibition and having two work spaces at the exhibition would never be accepted.
Not only that but the idea didn't really fit the criteria. So before class I tweaked the concept around avatars. This is because they are extensions of our personalities classing them as virtual forms of cyborgism. I also thought about portraying them in a virtual reality to add a sci-fi touch to it.
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| Avatar - Mr. House - Fallout New Vegas |
When we got to class two of the photographers didn't show up, which at this stage makes the group "Forming" hard and makes them unaware of group progress.
I pitched the idea change to the group that had shown up: Katie, Andrea & Sandy. They agreed it needed changing. Katie suggested making it just a video showreel that could be interactive via remote control.
We decided to go with mine and Katies idea, Sandy pitched the idea of making it so we communicate with the audience by saying things like "Oi pay attention".
I came up with a visual concept of making it a computery looking room that is constantly glitchy, Andrea & Sandy were discussing how the ambience, music and sound effects should sound. I suggested mood music and for the ambience computery sounds, drips, dark and dramatic.
As a group we came up with this concept:
- An Interactive projection that is manipulated by us via remote control.
- The format is video, that will be recorded on a green screen.
- By keying out the green screen we will photoshop computery designs.
- At all times there will be a male and female, who will have idle chatter.
- Mood music will be played while the characters talk, emphasising the moods: amorous, hostility, comical, happy, embarassed etc.
- "The Virtual Reality Comm." is glitchy and the avatars often glitch off the screen and are replaced with another one.
- The avatars communicate with the real world: the exhibition audience, this is the main concept of the "Virtual Reality Comm."
- There will be glitchy transitions and effects.
After our session we had to plan for the presentation that was coming up the following week. So I negotiated a day with my team and set up the event on Facebook for those who didn't attend.
Monday, 12 March 2012
Blog Entry 3 - First Idea
Original Concept
We came up with the concept of User controlled avatars. The original idea was to have two groups of people (Group A & B); there would also be a room and a terminal controlled in another room.
Group A would be placed inside the room and Group B would be on the terminal. The terminal controls what is happening in the room, this includes interactivity with the main feature being an avatar that banters & chats with Group A.
The
avatar would be controlled from the terminal - the avatar can record
'String' memory and say the name of people in the room, if the person
controlling the avatar was to write it in to the program. This will be
quoted via dynamic loading with a speech bubble and text to speech
software.
As well as the avatar, background visuals, eary music and sound effects are also being controlled on this terminal. In the room where this is all taking place, there is a webcam that records what is going on, the user on the terminal can see and hear the reaction of Group A from Group B's manipulation to the room.
The idea of this was that everyone had a different outcome within the room and at the terminal. Making each experience unique.
We came up with the concept of User controlled avatars. The original idea was to have two groups of people (Group A & B); there would also be a room and a terminal controlled in another room.
Group A would be placed inside the room and Group B would be on the terminal. The terminal controls what is happening in the room, this includes interactivity with the main feature being an avatar that banters & chats with Group A.
 |
| Idea concept similar to the Wizard of Oz |
As well as the avatar, background visuals, eary music and sound effects are also being controlled on this terminal. In the room where this is all taking place, there is a webcam that records what is going on, the user on the terminal can see and hear the reaction of Group A from Group B's manipulation to the room.
The idea of this was that everyone had a different outcome within the room and at the terminal. Making each experience unique.
Blog Entry 2 - First session & Group Forming
The first session started by getting in our groups and sitting through a lecture about Cyborgs. I have had a similar lesson before in Media Histories and Cultures so I understood and followed this lecture easily.
After this we were told to sit in our groups, start exchanging details and brainstorming ideas.
Group Forming
In "Tuckman"s group development model he describes the first stage of group development to be the "Forming Stage".
From previous group experience I found this is the most important stage in group development. I wrote a case study about my last group and how we didn't develop properly in the early stages. So I made sure I didn't make the same mistakes as I did in my previous project as co-ordinator, remembering fully my last recommendations and the group roles, development & styles theories.
Forming defined
The forming stage is the most important stage. Because it is the stage where the team gets to know one another and exchange contact details.
In this stage each member is gathering information and impressions of the other members. Conflict is avoided in this stage because of a sense of belonging.
Mature team members who have had experience and understand the concept of the Tuckman's Group Development model: step up to try and get the group focused on routines and team organisation and monitor behaviour at an early stage.
There is a sense of independence at this stage as some members are still motivated but often pull away and work independently, becoming uninformed of the issues and objectives.
After this we were told to sit in our groups, start exchanging details and brainstorming ideas.
Group Forming
In "Tuckman"s group development model he describes the first stage of group development to be the "Forming Stage".
From previous group experience I found this is the most important stage in group development. I wrote a case study about my last group and how we didn't develop properly in the early stages. So I made sure I didn't make the same mistakes as I did in my previous project as co-ordinator, remembering fully my last recommendations and the group roles, development & styles theories.
Forming defined
The forming stage is the most important stage. Because it is the stage where the team gets to know one another and exchange contact details.
In this stage each member is gathering information and impressions of the other members. Conflict is avoided in this stage because of a sense of belonging.
Mature team members who have had experience and understand the concept of the Tuckman's Group Development model: step up to try and get the group focused on routines and team organisation and monitor behaviour at an early stage.
There is a sense of independence at this stage as some members are still motivated but often pull away and work independently, becoming uninformed of the issues and objectives.
Blog Entry 1 - Setting up the Facebook page
The project started before our first session, our tutor posted up the groups on the "Studynet".
I downloaded the group list and found out what group I was in: Group 12.
Because this was the first time Interactive Media & Screen Cultures congregated with Photographers and Music. I thought it'd be a good idea to break the ice by getting everyone in a group before the meeting. I had a search around on Facebook but only managed to find one of my future group members. I contacted her and then set up a group putting myself, my friend from Screen Cultures & the Photographer I made contact with.
This helped when it came to the first tutorial because it made making contact and even recognising each other easier.
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