Throughout the duration of this Recitation, we were able to peer-review each other’s ideas in an open critique about our final projects. This documentation post will be split into two parts: my account on the project ideas I heard, and my personal reflection to the received feedback. The exercise was useful in articulating the visions in our heads to a larger audience in a coherent manner.
Part 1
I listened to three project proposals and will be referring to them as Projects A, B, and C, from the order of our round table discussion.
Project A stood out to me for a few reasons: 1) they were taking well established concept and adding their twist on it and 2) the underlying theme is light-hearted and evokes positive emotions form the users. The interactivity part, as described, seemed slightly discombobulated as I could imagine the project running without the users’ input also – on this part I am curious to see how they further develop it. The project itself alters the facial expression of the selected subject, which means the display of the project will have a large impact in the way it will be received by its audience. The concept was explained clearly and sounds promising.
Project B established the aim very well, as their inspiration as well as end goal is the practicing of digital controls while disabled. As the aim is very clean, a simple game will be created in order to practice focusing and evolve other senses with the aid of digital creations. I especially enjoyed hearing about this idea as it was not only simple to understand but also hold true value in some kids’ lives. Hearing ideas as such is very inspiring in terms of thinking about the long-run. This semester we were introduced to a hand-full of truly inspiring interactive projects, and this proposal definitely hits the home run in that category.
Project C is an interactive story-telling game with alternate paths to victory, and/or death. The theme was established by basing the game on a popular TV show, which in hindsight is meant to provide leverage for those whom indulged in watching the show before. It will be based on the sequence of events of the eight seasons. I think it is very interesting in the way the story is being developed, and how the curiosity will be provoked from the audience to keep wanting to play further. As this is presented as a game, controls will be a big aspect in the level of interaction. By the sounds of it, this project has a clear road to the achievement of this vision. I am particularly excited in seeing how the visuals on the screen will represent elements or motifs from the show.
Part 2
The feedback on my proposal was exceptionally useful. I came in having two main questions in mind, and with the help of the table discussions I was able to tackle both of them and move into the next stage of production.
For my project I am working on a generative visual art experience with incorporated interactivity from my audience. I knew I wanted to centre my project around the visual, but the aspect of audio goes side-by-side when thinking of any art installation. Through our brainstorming, we were able to come up with an idea of allowing the user to listen to white noise through a headset. This way all other audible distractions will be eliminated, and the human brain will begin to cancel the white noise out also- allowing a greater percentage of attention to be focused through vision.
The second thing on my mind was if I should incorporate taking a picture as gratification of the experience. Since I am planning incorporate my webcam and display the user on the screen for them to look at themselves – I was thinking if an input from the user which would result in a capturing of the screen would be interesting. In the discussion some very interesting points were brought up. I realised that what it truly comes down to is what the aim of my project is; I have been so excited to use Processing for all the generative art imagery, I forgot to boil down the true aim of what I was my user to take away from the experience. This variable will be exactly determined through my decision making of if a photo should be captured or not. As I currently am entertaining this idea, I am also looking into ways of producing a QR code which could be scanned and would pop up the image on their phones. The more I develop this idea, the more I am able to develop my understanding of photos, and its increasingly growing trend. As I caught myself having this thought “but wouldn’t it be cool if after someone come to user test my project, they could have a fresh new instagram picture to post” – I realised the growing demand for more exciting visual online presence. Everyone is trying to out-post everyone with new innovative imagery, and if I will be able to produce something as such it would further push my understanding and incorporation of interactivity.