DSDN 142: Project 3

Mouse Toy
Research

I was shown this video in class after explaining my idea to my tutor, he had asked me what bubbles look like when they pop and I originally thought it just..well pops. But this slow motion video shows a bubble popping and the way it breaks is it starts from side and follows around to the other side. I am going to attempt to do this for my code as it will look cool if I can pull it off.

DSDN 142: Project 3

Mouse Toy
Experiment

I have developed my idea a lot more compared to my last experiment. This time I made the background lighter than it was, it's easier on the eyes in my opinion and more appealing. I kept the floating bubbles there as they are the ones that you have to click and pop, but this time I added something kind of annoying and more challenging for the user. I have added a few decoy bubbles that fly the same speed as the mouse pointer, to distract the user from clicking the bubbles. I haven't quite figured out how to code it so when you click the bubbles they explode, but I have figured how to change the colours of the bubbles every time you click. They switch from black to white which makes it even harder for the user. It is still a work in progress but I can finally start to see some real development within my work.

DSDN 142: Project 3

Mouse Toy
Experiment

This experiment here is reflected on the last research I did, where the background was black and there were glowing blue shapes floating around. I got the background right, the shape right and the floating right but it was hard to make it glow since I'm not that advanced yet. So I just made the opacity of the ellipses see through so it gets layered. 

DSDN 142: Project 3

Mouse Toy
Research

I found this cool process which inspired me more about bubbles. It's called "bubbles" (original I know) made by 'takumi'. I had a look at the code it doesn't look too simple compared to what it actually does. There's no interactivity in it at all, all it is is a blank black page that have floating bubbles going up. But what caught my attention about this one is the colours of the bubbles. They really stand out when its glowing blue with a black background. I could experiment with these colours and see if they work out alright. 

Process found at - http://www.openprocessing.org/sketch/8532

DSDN 142: Project 3

Mouse Toy

Experiments

So I started off with making a blue canvas to signify that it's underwater. Then I played around with random effects so wherever your mouse pointer goes in the page, the bubbles would follow, and the bubbles would also change from black to grey to white. The actual flow of the movement is very good, it slowly follows the pointer just the way a bubble flows through air. I'm happy about that especially for a starting point. Now to experiment with different colours and more/less shapes.

DSDN 142: Project 3

Mouse Toy

Research

My concept / My idea

Bubbles.

Yes. That is correct. I want to work with bubbles. I find them fascinating. Just the way they float around in the air captures my attention. I got this inspiration in class one day when I watched a bunch of students colleagues blow bubbles around with this little bubble blower. It made me think of how we interact with bubbles and how they move, how their shapes differentiate, what colours they form...

So my idea is I want to have bubbles fly around the page, which interacts with the mouse movement. The point is to pop all the bubbles of course, and my idea was to actually click on the bubbles and then it gets bigger and bigger then pops! Whilst this is happening I want to add like a slow-mo effect to it as well, I'm not entirely sure how that's possible but it would definitely add to it.

Bubbles make the world go round.

Image retrieved from - http://twilit.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/bubble.jpg?w=976&h=877

DSDN 142: Project 3

Mouse Toy
Research

This one I found enjoyable to use. It's called "sketching boxes" made by 'anitplastik'. The first thing that pops up when the application is loaded is the new added border within the design, it's got like a cartoon style to it and occasionally moves around. How this interacts is that you use your mouse pointer and pretty much draw a shape as you normally would on any computer. It only makes rectangles/4 sided shapes but has gravity applied, as you can see with the interaction I did below. Eventually, each box piles on top of each other until the page fills up. Very easy to use, but at the same time is fun.

Process can be found at - http://www.openprocessing.org/sketch/769

DSDN 142: Project 3

Mouse Toy
Research

This one that I found is called "Cells" made by 'Don Havey'. It's name does give it away straight away once the application has loaded up. There's also not much interactivity that goes within this, all it is that the mouse pointer controls one of the cells where we can move it around freely. The thing I liked about this one is that it is very fluid, and it runs very well. There's no lag that goes on between any of the cells created and it just keeps moving by itself in different locations. I could somehow incorporate this into mine simply because of the swift movements within it.

Process found at - http://www.openprocessing.org/sketch/6888

DSDN 142: Project 3

Mouse Toy
Research

Like all of my previous projects for coding, I visited the http://www.openprocessing.org website for inspiration and research. What I'm looking for are process applications that are interactive and are fun to use, ones that fit in the description of my project and ones that capture my interest.

The first one that came across was called the "Ragdoll Aquarium" made by 'Jared Counts'.
It is pretty self explanatory where you get a space full of little ragdoll people, and they react when you swipe your mouse pointer while holding it down around the screen. I found this very entertaining and although it is a one trick pony, couldn't help myself but play with it more. 

Process found here - http://www.openprocessing.org/sketch/22598

DSDN 142: Project 3

Mouse Toy

This project unlike the previous 2, explores an area that is unique to computer programming, which is digital interactivity. In other words, it requires the movement of the mouse. In this project I am to create an interactive application that engages the user in a fun and unique interaction. To do this I'll need to explore the difference between control and interaction. 

Lecture 13/9/12 Notes

3 important things to learn

- what is the person learning from this interaction?
- how long will it take a user, to completely learn this system?
- will it still be interesting once they've learnt it?

The actual project outline can be found here:

http://schoolofdesign.ac.nz/pluginfile.php/4752/mod_resource/content/1/Project%203%20outline.pdf

DSDN 112: Project 2

Navigation Interface
Research

Concept 3

For my last concept, I got my inspiration from the movie 'Total Recall' (2012 version). This movie is set in the future, so this idea will have to be a futuristic one. There was a part in the movie where the person had received a phone call, but the phone was actually surgically inside their hand/palm. They could talk to it and hear through it, but the amazing was the video chat. When he put his hand up against the glass, a little mini hologram like screen came up on the glass, make it a portable screen which honestly looked awesome. I wanted to incorporate this within one of my concepts. This is a futuristic idea, and I'm not all keen on the fact of getting a phone to be placed inside my hand, but this can be easily replaced by maybe a glove? Or a little device that sticks onto the glass. When putting it upon the glass, a little screen pops up next to your hand, with a map of the campus. Of course it's going to be interactive so you could enter in your location and destination and it'll guide you through the way, plus if you get stuck just find a piece of glass and search again. I took the original image from Total Recall and photoshopped my own with the map and glass in it. 

Total Recall style glass hologram map, being screened from hand cellphone or glove.Images retrieved from -
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Du4c1wF3cQs/TrAjgtNObcI/AAAAAAAABVs/cbBuEi7kXaQ/s1600/arkadentu6z.jpg
http://peraves.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/totalrecallt2012railer_monotracer_2.png
http://customize.org/thumbnails/larger/79775.jpg
Image photoshopped by myself.

DSDN 112: Project 2

Navigation Interface
Research

Concept 2

My second idea was inspired from google maps and google street view. Mostly everyone has used google street view before, surprisingly only to view their own house but we all know how it works. It's interactive, you travel through the streets and it gives you full 360 degree images that show you what the location looks like. I thought it would be cool to incorporate this into an app once again for smartphone users. It will be solely built just for uni purposes, and only contain the map within the uni itself. So it will be highly advanced and very detailed since theres only the campus to integrate into the app. Now for phone users, I came up with the idea before that it would be a downloadable app so it doesn't need constant internet access to run. You would start it up and enter your current location and your destination, then simply the map will bring you to where you currently are and show you simple arrows to where you need to go. I have tried my best to photoshop this idea into an image below.

Here I'm showcasing an iPhone user wanting to find the nearest exit of the building, with a 'green' arrow (for go) to show them the way. Images retrieved from - http://www.apu.edu/azusa/about/westcampus/galleryimages/1_West_Campus/duke_hallway.jpg
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZo0EbkMxcoqiCo8g9THyK2h5FP88liAmJdVzaA-YuFrXRwsHQUwbZ6l5YNxmJm-Bi4oL3nMIka-pzd_C_mX39tnLtyavBzAtak1sPObCaAq8oCtIyWTzUe_0qxnWs31tqg7EKc3a7mz2/s400/iphone.jpg. Photoshopped by myself.

DSDN 112: Project 2

Navigation Interface
Research

Concept 1

My first concept was inspired from video games, of course. I am a big fan of video games and online multiplayer games, and there were a few games that caught my interest. The one thing that would be awesome to see, was a real life map/radar straight on your phone, revealing your exact location. I got this idea from the Call of Duty games, and most gamers would definitely recognise it. As we can see from the the example below, the yellow triangle is the user/us. Let's just say the green triangles are other students as well and the red dots well, they could be random check-in stations (just an idea). This app will be workable on your iPhone or android or other devices, maybe it can be a device itself who knows. But as you're walking along, the yellow arrow moves with your exact location. Now that would be cool! So at the same time, it has kind of an in-game feature to it thats brought out to real life situations.

Call of Duty pause menu showcasing the map on the right hand side of the players actual position in the game, without other players surrounding them. Image retrieved from - http://lh5.ggpht.com/-gHJhY5eXxYI/UAyDeJO8TNI/AAAAAAAAAfc/i814bwX3QCk/RadarTweakerInGame%25255B3%25255D.png

Future app on the iPhone showing a student using the map to navigate around. Image Retrieved from - http://www.gadget.pdamu.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/iphone-for-student.jpg. Further photoshopped by myself.

DSDN 112: Project 2

Navigation Interface
Research

For the first studio session we had for this project, we were properly introduced to the second and last project for this paper. For this weeks homework, we are asked to have 3 concepts for our app. I have research around, having a look at existing apps, existing gadgets and have a fair few ideas that come to mind. But with this project there are 2 choices for us, we can either create an app for this modern day, or one that will be used later on in the distant futuristic future. I am still unsure on what my 3 main ideas will be yet, so I', just going to clear my mind of every idea I have and develop them to better ones later. 

Here are my modern day ideas:

I wanted to focus solely on the idea of using and incorporating this app idea, into everyone's iPhone, smart phone or android. To create an app just solely for students who need to navigate their way around the campus of Victoria University of Wellington. My first app idea is going to require me to walk around the whole Kelburn campus, and take photos similar to google street view. This way, the student will know where to go and what the place exactly looks like. The different idea with this app, is that it is a downloadable one which means it doesn't require internet access, just a one time download and then you can set your 2 location, point A to point B giving you the best directions to go with the hallway views.

The second idea is similar to the last one, but more simplified. Instead of real images used, it is more of a animated version of the map. Pretty much a simple walk here then walk there, turn right etc direction system. Using the exact map but all computer generated and drawn images instead of real life photos.

With every great idea there are always cons that go along with it. One thing I know for sure is that the hallways or building itself changes and aren't always exact, like the major construction that's going on at the moment near the library in Kelburn. If the app were to come out now, it wouldn't be perfect say in a years time. This will mean a lot of constant updates for the users which require a lot of downloading. I have an iPhone at the moment and believe it's annoying enough having to update all the apps I have. 

Here are my futuristic ideas:

Have you watched the latest blockbuster Total Recall? Directed by Len Wisemen and starring Colin Farrell. It is a science fiction/futuristic film, where there was a part of the film that caught my interest, and everyone else's for that matter. They had a mini 'cellphone' held on the inside of their palm/hand, where they could make phone calls. But the fascinating thing that happened was whenever they put their hand flat on the glass, a little screen would pop up on the glass like a hologram type of thing. They were able to interact with it, make video calls as well. An idea of this could be incorporated to my app idea of the future, where students can place their hand on glass, and use this new invention to find their way around using the in-built navigation within the palm of their hand. Developing this idea more, I could have this used on all different types of surfaces, like a table for example using a simple infrared hologram, like the ones we have today.

DSDN 112: Project 2

Navigation Interface
Research

GPS (Global Positioning System) is a satellite navigation system that provides users exact location and time information, regardless of the weather. You can find GPS or any other similar navigating systems almost anywhere and everywhere these days. From cars, boats, planes, laptops, mobile phones and more. There are a lot of different types of GPS's out there that all offer different levels of technology. But in the end it is a simple and easy thing to use. With handheld navigating devices, it's much easier to look at the screen in front of you, showing you exactly where you are than having to puzzle around a difficult map. This comes in handy when driving, since some navigating devices even talk back to you, telling you directions to go and which corner to take etc. It obviously is a safer way instead of getting distracted by the screen. 


However we can't take this wonderful invention for granted. GPS navigation units will only work when they can access the network and the satellites that allow them to configure properly. This means if you're in a place where the satellites can't reach you with a signal, such as tunnels or underground etc, then you're unable to use your GPS. In situations like this it's always smart to bring a back up plan, like a map. The GPS nowadays still aren't 100% perfect, but due to the increased number of navigation satellites in the orbit, the signals and range would be a lot stronger. Also with phone navigations, as fascinating as they are, they too only work when you have internet access. The internet access must be reasonably fast as well since the refresh rate on the maps tend to be quite high. So without internet access on mobile phones such as the iPhone, GPS would be labeled as useless.

Here below are a few of the modern day GPS devices.

Image retrieved from http://www.navigadget.com/wp-content/postimages/2006/07/gps-navigation-system-992.jpg

DSDN 112: Project 2

Navigation Interface

For this project, we are asked to design a navigation interface that will help people make their way around the main campus of Victoria University of Wellington. The main campus is the Kelburn campus. We can either choose to design the interface for a mobile phone, for example the iPhone's navigation system for google maps. That or we have the choice to develop a vision for a future tool. This project is split into 2 parts, the first part being the designing of the interface. The second part being a video/movie clip that shows our design in action, in order to explain it's functionality, design and special features. 

I have looked at what the main Kelburn campus map looks like, and have added it below. Unfortunately my campus which is the Te Aro campus did not have a map available for to look at online.

Image retrieved from http://www.victoria.ac.nz/home/about/maps/campus-kelburn#campus-map