Project Proposal 2: Reveal

Chat Roulette

Inspiration was drawn from chat roulette, an online site where users can chat with others anonymously, and at random. The most rudimentary method of communication, was through speech – hence, I thought of going back to the basics for this narration project.

 

The medium of choice remains an online website, where two users, at any one time, is able to log into the site. Their identity will remain anonymous, until they decide to reveal it. In summary, the website will adopt a common online ‘messaging’ interface.

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There will be 2 boxes, where each user (who do not know each other) write into the box.

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Each user will occupy each ‘station’.

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Above the text boxes, there will be a camera input (from live webcam from each user).

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Edit: later, after writing this post, I decided to change my layout to that of the above, cutting down on ‘items’ which I have no need for.

The gist of this project is for each user to try and reveal the others. Initially, each webcam will be fully obscured. Over time, little ‘pixels’ to be revealed from each webcam at random. Such that majority of the webcam input remains hidden, increasing the tantalising factor. Users will be able to communicate with each other via the chat boxes, and they are free to take on another persona, or hide their true identity from the other.

Ultimately, what I want users to take away from the project is to play around with the cloak of anonymity, and make some mischief, or have had some fun playing around with it.

 

I am still exploring the idea, that perhaps, each user can force the other user to reveal more of what is shown in their webcam (via a toggle button), to increase the interactive factor.

Edit: Upon further discussion with my fellow classmates, perhaps moving the project in the direction of a game would give the game an enticing edge.

Further improvements to ponder on:

  • a timer to goad each users to quickly find out the identity of the other
  • a ‘puzzle’ like format, eg 3 x 3, where each block will be revealed periodically

 

Update: Ultimately, while I did not work on my own idea for my final project, it remains something I might want to work on in the future, and will shelf it for now.

In-class Assignment: Narratives Structure

Analyse an interactive narrative using a narrative layout/structure (eg. Monomyth a Hero’s Journey)

Plot Diagram: Graphic Novel for Hybrid Peugeot

plot-diagram

In brief, this interactive narrative comprises of a graphic novel, where users are able to scroll through the different scenes at their own pace. The narrative consists of a female spy, who undertakes great risk in fulfilling her mission. The website was part as part of an advertorial campaign for a Peugeot car, whose technical merits are humanized in the form of the female spy.

Beginning:

begin

The scene opens with a female, dressed seductively, the typical image of a female spy. She is in a dark room, when a troop of office workers burst into the room – she’s busted! Tension and excitement is build up by the viewers – who was she?

Graphic Novel

The female then runs away with her might – a conflict. More tension is built up. This is heightened by the conditions by which she runs away – crashing through the window, through a thorny patch of weeds, away from a pack of dogs, and even finally leaping onto a moving car.

Middle:

conflict

She is trapped! A gunmen is hot on her heels – taking aim and shooting at her, but luckily (or not), he misses. There is rising action in this particular scene – assisted by graphics which featured a moving shot comprised of various still images, breaking the monotony of stills.

End:

Finally, with a few more (exciting) leaps, she makes her escape into a building, and walks in confidently. Here, it signals the end to the audience, which was acknowledged in a text she sends – “Mission Accomplished”.

Graphic Novel 2

The narration ends with a shot of her backview, and her in a bedroom scene with her handsome beau lying in wait for her, for more ‘action’.

 


Another interesting website chanced on in my research:

http://www.ro.me/

Project Proposal 1: Who’s using your phone in the toilet?!

The formulation of this idea was based on my previous idea, the brushing of teeth, and influenced by iknowwhereyourcatlives. In my previous idea, I wanted to touch on the weariness brought about by repetition, and pull in an element of fun into this boring activity. However, I decided to focus on a different activity with a longer duration instead, which many do but most are shy (or not) to admit. Thus, I changed my idea to the usage of phones when one is sitting on the toilet, while answering’s nature’s call.

According to a survey commissioned by Kleenex, 3 in 4 Singaporeans use mobile phones in the toilet. Phones are then used to play games, watch videos, or even answer calls. However, bringing your phone into the bathroom, an unsanitary location, could risk bacteria and germ contamination. Of which, only an estimated 2 per cent sanitise their phones after doing the deed.

In Singapore, as part of a shyer Asian culture, where toilet talk is generally avoided, it would be interesting to bring this lesser-discussed topic to the surface. After all, revealing ‘secrets’ is a very exciting thing. I would like to utilise the world wide web as a medium for my idea.

 

Methodology:

Data is first extracted from twitter live streams for discourse analysis. Users who upload both hashtags (#phone, #toilet), or include in their twitter updates the phrase “toilet” and ‘phones” will pinpointed. Next, these statistics are compiled, and displayed visually as per below:

 

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Each time a user uses the key words, a single dot will appear on the website screen. There is a timestamp at the bottom: hence, we can visually pick out which timings are users (who update twitter) most often on the toilet. Using mouseclick, the website user can interact with the dots on the website, which can be dragged around the screen. The website user is able to manually manipulate the data on the site.

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Areas where more dots coagulate, the background will turn towards a redder shade.

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In order to view other timeframes, users can point their mouse right/leftwards, and scroll to other timelines.

 

Proposing Topics | Eric Zimmerman: Four Concepts / Assignment 1

Reading: Narrative, Interactivity, Play and Games: Four naughty concepts in need of discipline, by Eric Zimmerman

It was a piece of writing that was not meant to be rushed through in a single read. In fact, I had to write out some notes, and categorise the information to better understand it:

Eric Zimmerman Reading Summary

Overall, it was a pretty interesting piece that summarised and clarified succinctly my initial impression of the four concepts.

 

Assignment: think about 2 topics which you find interesting and that potentially can be turned into interactive narratives, think about what type of interaction would be important for these topics (based on the reading’s definitions), post the ideas on OSS

Topic 1: Astrology

Regarding the astrology, focusing on the meta-interactivity and functional interactivity would be interesting. The zodiacs, an ancient science, which has both believers and non-believers, and I would like to explore this metaphysical construct of divinity based on astrology. To personify this topic, would be ideal in giving audiences a physical realization and better relation to the topic, inclusively targeting non-believers. This encompasses functional interaction, where perhaps, a change in astronomical signs could change the weather. Explicit interaction would be ideal, where the change in circumstances influence the person’s choices, interspersing with functional interaction.

Topic 2: the daily rituals of life: washing up & brushing teeth

I choose this idea as I wanted to explore a common, Everyday activity, and impose a greater narration into it. I wanted to stretch the boundaries of an action so simple and thoughtless, and test the boundaries of narration. For this topic, it was a discipline that adhered closer to stories than game – a narration that is patterned and repetitive – the action of first grabbing the toothbrush, followed by the steady squeeze of toothpaste on the bristles, culminating in a brushing action of the teeth. It would be interesting to explore a functional interaction, where perhaps, the audience uses his entire body to control the movement (sensed by sensors), by which requires precise & accurate movements. The rule of even a centimetre off would invalidate the movement. Cognitive and explicit interaction could be integrated, where the user makes conscious decisions of the movement, and recalls the actions (which may be scrambled up) in playing the game. However, at this stage, I still feel a sense of dissatisfaction as mentioned by Zimmerman, with my use of the mediums available, and will continue exploring more beyond what I have at present.

However, comments given upon consultation with the professor reflected:

*focus on narrative, rather than the physical output

*might have problems with interface so be sure to edit the end product

*astrology as a topic is interesting, but has been widely used

*physical product is possible too

Thus, more effort would need to be put in to further push and develop the ideas.

“Radio” [the Singing Jacket] / Assignment 1

Finalised Patch(the singing jacket)

Use of controls to ‘play a radio’ from a playlist. Overall, there will be background music (Soincidence soundtrack) playing throughout the entire duration, while toggling various aspects of the sensors (jacket) will trigger an additional sound to be played, as seen from the playlist above.

Sensors/Feedbacks:

  1. Pressure Sensor (large) placed in pocket:
    Switch it on and off, pause, resume

    whatsapp 3

  2. Bending Sensor placed at wrist:
    Bend Wrist to change tracks

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  3. Gyroscope placed at nape of neck:
    Function 1 – [Front/back] Bend back and forth to change volume (The more you bend, the louder it is)
    Function 2 – [Right/left] Bend to your right to change pitch (high pitch with more obvious bend)

    whatsapp 1

Combine all actions and create your own unique song.

 

Comments, and reflections:

  • Prof Demers commented that having the actions not ‘fixed’ by physical boundaries will allow for greater freedom, and subsequently, more ‘fun’ in playing with the jacket. However, it is risky as the feedback is harder to control
  • Creating 2 different feedbacks for the gyroscope is not ideal: while activating one function, the other function is also inadvertently activated (unwanted feedback)
  • Difficult to control 2 feedbacks which requires somewhat similar actions to activate (for gyroscope to change pitch and volume)
  • Swinging hands to activate bending scope was unnatural
  • In reflection, perhaps limiting the scope, or narrowing the threshold for activation would help control the feedback, and simplify ways to activate the feedback
  • I could incorporate the zip/hood of the jacket, etc. zipping the zipper, or wearing the hood
  • Perhaps some sensors could be placed on the body of the user, instead of solely on the jacket as at current

See it in action:

 

Interdisciplinarity / First interpretation

(how you view, incorporate, what you interested in)

Inter-disciplines. It involves the incorporation, whether wholly or singularly, different mediums into a single piece of artwork. Based on my personal understanding, in Interactive Media, this encompasses possibly video, sound or robotics, just to name a few. As an interdisciplinary student in training, I am interested in the ‘wholeness’ of the experience, that it envelopes you by harnessing your 5 senses. I like how we are not restricted to a single medium, and by borrowing bits and snippets of different mediums, we are able to bring the best across to the audience. I am interested in mostly interactive installations, for the reason aforementioned earlier. Interactive installations provide a strong statement point, and perhaps, by incorporating little bits from other mediums, are able to make audiences better relate to the work.

One of the most beautiful installations I have chanced upon in my research earlier was Yayao Kusama’s Infinity Mirror room. It’s aesthetically pleasing, and a fresh take from Kusama’s huge, somewhat overwhelming (personal interpretation on it), polka dots.

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