Category: Interaction Lab

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Final Project Essay–Vivien Hao

Our Planet

As from the research Vivien has done for the first stage, she has realized unsustainability/climate change is one of the most vital issues that the United Nations has addressed lately. Vivien would want to work on something that illustrates the outcomes of unsustainability. But in the project, we would also like to show how humans could participate in the process of lessening the harms of unsustainability. Ian is highly interested in doing something that requires collaborations among people. He has proposed an idea of encouraging four people to make some movements simultaneously for the project to function. If only one person participates in the process, the project will not provide an outcome. Thus encourages collaborations among people, even among strangers. We both are highly interested in each other’s ideas. And we have worked together to combine these two ideas into one doable thought. Then we have figured out that we would want to create a project that requires movements among several people to lessen the unsustainable global issue. For the movement part, we want to make it very specific. The participants need to physically use a shovel and plant trees to push back the time of the earth explosion. The faster they plant trees, the longer the earth would stay away from the explosion. However, if the participant chooses to work alone, then there is no way for him to get fast enough to beat the accumulated speed for several people. We would set the number in our codes to be ridiculously high to make sure that no individuals could accomplish this goal by himself. In this project, we want to raise people’s awareness of the harmful outcomes of unsustainability. However, we would like to highlight the positive effect that we can bring forth through the collaboration processes. Our targeted group of the audience would be everyone on this planet. Overall, the earth is everyone’s plant. We all have to take part in helping to solve the unsustainable issue.

         We need to be certain about the detail of the design by prototyping and test it with the users. User test should be in every step. The details include: whether or not to include mask in our project; what types of sensors we decide to use; what material we will use; how will the user interface look like; sound, start and end, layout and position. We will test with the comfortability and the cleanness of mask. We will finish discussion for all the details and have a blueprint by Sunday, Nov. 24. We need to build the circuit and the program that are both scientific and humanized. This will be very practical work. We may encounter many problems. We will refer to online references and asking for help. Once when we finish the user interface, we will have someone to test playing with it to make sure it makes sense to the audience about the expression of our initial design. Finish before Dec. 1. We need to get the materials and build up the basic functional prototype. This is practical work as well. We only need to make sure it can support our project to work. It can be done by Dec. 1 as well. We need to test with the accuracy of counting the movement of shovel and breathe. Also bug fixing work. This process needs our constant revising and test among ourselves and our users. We will list out all the bugs the project has and fix them one by one until it works exactly what it is supposed to be. It should be done by Dec. 6. Beatifying the project and adding something to improve using experience and accessibility. This step we will need to decorate everything, make the wires invisible, test the projection. After we think it works, we will invite many groups of people to interact with it. By hearing form their feedbacks, we can make some little changes to better make it user friendly and accessible for as many people as possible. It should be done by Dec. 8.

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Final Project Essay by Barry Wang

Final Project Essay – Aircraft War
A. PROJECT STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

The final project we would like to create is an aircraft shooting game called Aircraft War, in which the user controls the aircraft to attack other enemies to reach a high score or to finish a specific task.  We would like to create a strong sense of participation for the players who enjoy this kind of airspace, shooting themed game and all users who just would like enjoy the thrill of destoying and winning. 

Preparatory Research:

Sky Force Reloaded

This is a popular game that runs across plalforms from PC, mobile devices, Nintendo Switch and so on. Also, this is the game we would like to re-create. But the flaw of this game is that, though is a thrilling flying and shooting game, the players are always controlling the game by joystick, button or keyboard. Here, another research project enlightened us.

Kinect Flying Game

We would like to strengthen this experience by introducing a high level interaction. We would like to build our interaction on the level of all body. Which means that the user controlls the banking of the aircraft, shooting actions and other features by moving their body around. The fly lovers would always want to have an experience of flying, though we could not make it realistic, but still we try to improve their experience. This way of controlling adds fun and challenge in the game, which we believe would facilitate the gamers batter. Though Kinect and Leap Motion are banned, but we will try to figure a way out.

Besides, we would like to add some new elements to the game. Most of these shooting games are just composed of different levels for the users to pass. While we would like to add story to this game, so that the user does not only get an experience from the achievement made in the game but also viewing through a story. By doing so, we would like the game to be a kind of media that conveys some other emotions other than joy from the game itself, maybe sorrow, sad or relief, moving etc.

B. PROJECT PLAN

The plan goes parallel for me and Joseph. Joseph would try to write a story that fits the theme of this game, and prepare pictures, video and other forms of media. The preparation of the medias can last longer, but we would like to finsh the basic frame of the story by the end of next week. While on my side, I need to figure out a way as a substitution of Kinect. I need to check out the acclerometor, gadgeteer, distance sensors and see if some combination of these sensors can create a good user experience. This should also be finished by the end of next week. In the following week, we need to work together to finish the coding and fabrication process. We are going to help and cooperate, but basically I will be in charge of the coding part while he focuses on fabrication. Since we are going to consider the aesthetic value of our project, it also take some time to utilize and polish our project. In the last week, we are going to make some final adjustments to the project accoring to the feedback from the users and other new ideas.

C. CONTEXT AND SIGNIFICANCE

I would like to reclaim my definition of interaction again. A successful interaction should be continous, interesting, and strongly user involved. The most significant impact that the preparatory researches make is that, we need to give the users a continous and strong interaction experience. To make the interaction continous, we decided to make a game so that the user is constantly focusing on the input and output of the interaction. To make the game interesting, we tried to add different elements to the game. To make a stronger experience, we believe the way of controlling the game should be our whole body instead of just fingers and keys. It is these ideas that guide us to create a unique experiecnce that users cannot get from a similar game. The unique points we would like to realize are a improved, strongly user involved, body controlled game experience and the story mode in this game, which can bring the users some other feelings and emotions while playing the game. If this project works successfully, more improvement can be made such as using a better system of motion capture or using some relatively advanced game engine (like Unity) to add other complicated features and cool effects, so that the user experience improves in a deep and comprehensive way.

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Final Project Process: Essay——Cindy Xie

FEEL ME, CATCH ME

  • PROJECT STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

The work I’m going to do is a game with three players, one “ghost” and two “people”.The player does not know the identity of the others, the purpose of the ghost is to find and identify two “people”, and the goal of the “people” is to avoid the “ghost” at the same time to find another companion. Each of them would wear a headset, and when the “ghost” and “person” approached, they would hear a rapid heartbeat. When “person” and “person” are close, the heartbeat will be heard more gently. In this way, both parties can tell which is a “person” and which is a “ghost”.The game is aimed at everyone, and anyone can play it.

The inspiration for this work came from another idea I had. I originally wanted to make a teddy bear that could generate simulated heartbeat vibration while remote hugging, but this idea was overlapped with a product called pillow talk, so I wanted to continue exploring with the inspiration of heartbeat vibration and remote control. At the same time, there is a famous game called Dead by daylight.Image result for dead by daylight

I refer to its game design. One player in this game is a killer. The killer wants to kill all the other players. The other players have to work together against the killer. Although my game has simplified a lot of content, I have applied the core idea of Dead by daylight to real life, using heartbeat simulation to let players feel the tension and stimulation that the virtual game could not provide in real life.

  • PROJECT PLAN
  • Equipment:

Arduino,  infrared ray receiver and exporter for Arduino, headphones, independent power, speakers……

  • Description:

I think this work needs to generate different reactions by judging the distance between players, so I need infrared sensors to receive and export infrared rays to judge the distance. Meanwhile, I need processing to control the sound of the heartbeat. I will use the knowledge I learned in class to connect processing programs with Arduino. Arduino mainly controls the receiving and output of infrared ray, that is, the estimation of distance. Processing, on the other hand, generates different vibration frequencies according to the distance, that is, plays the heartbeat vibration. So I might need A to P code. I also need to put the Arduino into the headset, which means I need a separate power source to put the Arduino into the headset. And I need speakers to put into the headphones to play sounds.

  • Steps:
  1. Buy equipment above on Taobao or borrow from the lab. (DDL:11/24)
  2. Write codes to receive and export infrared rays by using Arduino and build the circuit. (DDL:11/30)
  3. Using processing to mimic the vibration of the heart beating. （DDL：12/3）
  4. Connect the circuit that made in step 2 to processing code.(DDL:12/5）
  5. Assemble the circuit to the headphones. (DDL:12/7)
  6. Add independent power to both circuits to let the circuit work without computers. (DDL:12/10)
  7. Try to use in the real-life and gain some suggestions from others.
  • CONTEXT AND SIGNIFICANCE

In the mid-term, our project was a library noise sensor. At that time, my definition of interaction focused more on the communication between humans and machinery. It was more important to analyze human behavior and make responses mechanically than just receives and export simply.After a period of study and the unique experience of the field trip, I have a deeper understanding of interaction. In the beginning, I found some products suitable for long-distance couples, such as vibrating bracelets and message boxes, etc. These products are not only meaningful but also have aesthetic value. At the same time, they can achieve interpersonal communication through the communication between people and machinery, that is, the machine becomes a bridge for interpersonal interaction.

For this product, I think it is a good reflection of my thinking process. First of all, I think it satisfies the most basic definition of interaction, namely, receives, process, and output. At the same time, it has certain playability, not only practical value but also entertainment value. It also serves as a bridge between players, allowing players to feel the scene of mobile games in real life, and it also allows players to establish an unusual connection. This connection is not through language, but through hearing, through feeling, through observing others’ emotions.

Although the idea for my product originated from the game Dead by Daylight, applying this game to daily life can promote teamwork ability, and at the same time, the actual stimulation and tension can’t be provided by ordinary games. I think my products can be applied to large team activities, such as ice-breaking activities, this time we can add more players and there may be more roles for it. This allows you to quickly familiar with each other because each player doesn’t know the identity of the other party, only after hearing the vibration and watching each other’s facial expressions that they can decide whether they are”ghosts” or”people”. Using this product into ice-breaking and other activities can not only deepen the ability of teamwork but also help team members get familiar with each other quickly.

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Final Project Essay — Jiayi Liang (Mary)

Project Title Animal Mirror

Project Statement of Purpose

This project is an interactive mirror that change people’s face into an animal image. When we look at the mirror in the first minutes, the mirror will reflect the real human face. After you knock the mirror, the image will gradually turn into an animal face, which looks like the magic mirror in Snow White. The mirror can customize a unique animal-like image for every user according to their personal feature that be used as a personal avatar.

Nowadays, many people are confusing with one simple but sophisticated question: who I am.  I think my project “Animal Mirror” can help the confused users to have a clearer understanding of their personal identity by giving them a cute and vivid animal avatar.  The different animals will stands for different features. For example, herbivores embody the women and carnivores embody the men. What’s more, it challenges on humans’ previous arrogant attitude that humans are superior to animals. Contrarily, it uses animals to describe humans.

Project Plan

 My project aims at using the facial recognition technology to replace human face with an animal figure. To make my project come true, I point out several important steps I have to complete in each specific time. The first step is to design basic animal images. What I want to do is to create some sample animals such as rabbits, lions, wolves and cats, and randomly change the fur color accordingly to the users.  Step 1 is due in 11.23. The second step is to make the frame of the mirror. I want to use the laster cut technology to make a wood frame. Step 2 is due in 11. 26. The third step is to write the code to realize the main part — replace people’s face with the animal figures I have created. I have researched on the Internet that the combined use of processing and faceosc can help me realize I want to do. The coding work will be complicated so the due date will be 12.4. Step 4 is to make the mirror much more like a magic mirror. I will  write a code that if the noise sensor hear the knock sound, the arduino will send message to the processing and the animal face will appear. The 4th due date will be 12.6. In the following days I will work on adding more extra effects to the mirror. For example, changing the background into a forest. The final project will be a mirror whose animal-like reflection will act according to the users, which make the audience understand that the animal in the mirror stands for themselves.  

Context and Significance

I was originally inspired by a Japanese Cartoon called <Beastars>. The story mainly tells about the conflicts between the herbivores and carnivores. I think the cartoon is reflecting something happening in real life. The animals may stand for different social groups in society, such as male, female, the black, the white etc., which is a very common technique that is used in books, comics and films. For example, <Zootopia>,<Animal Farm> and<Maus>. Thus, I come up with an idea that using animals to stand for personal identities.

Then I work on how to deliver the concept in an interactive way. I researched on several projects, and I find the interactive mirror very useful. The mirror is used as a virtual dressing room in a department store. When I am changing positions, the clothes I wear on the screen is changing too. This project gives an idea that maybe use the item mirror to enhance the users’ empathy when they see the animal figures. When the user is looking at the mirror, they are seeing themselves. And after they do something, for example, knocking the mirror, their faces turn into an animal figure. With the facial recognition technology, the animal will act vividly according to the users’ face, which make them believe that the animal is an embodiment of themselves.

The Animoji on iPhone lets the users to choose cute images as a personal avatar. It tells me that people love using cartoon images to stand for themselves, which gives me confidence on my project.

Thus, based on my research, my proposal is that using a mirror to reflect people’s different social identities(black and white, male and female, tall and short etc.)  by turning their faces into animal faces.

My project aligns with our definition of interaction because there is a procedure of “input, process and output” as Crawford claimed . The mirror interact with the audience by seeing their faces, recognize and analyze their faces, and change their face into an animal face as an output. The procedure is cyclical because it is constant. The uniqueness about my project is that it is raising people’s awareness on their social identities in a funny and acceptable way. By sharing them a vivid animal figure, they get to know more about their person features and their social status. Compared with Snapchat that only using the facial recognition technology to decorate the selfies, the project is reflecting something deeper on self recognition. My project is intended for every member of the society to offer them a chance to review their identities. 

For the subsequent projects, I will make a kind of illustrated handbook to record the different animal images, which shows the diversity of a society. Thus, the project can teach people to accept, tolerate and respect the diverse society. 

Work Cited

www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhOzN2z3wtl

www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFqOjoQcIro

The Art of Interactive Design, Crawford (pages 1-5)

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Final Project Essay

A. The Labyrinth Maze

B. PROJECT STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

Based on our task to create an ongoing, interactive experience using Processing and Arduino, I aimed to create a device that would engage the user and would provide for a fun gaming experience. Inspired by traditional corn mazes and labyrinths mazes, the intended audience for this device would be anyone aiming to challenge themselves through utilizing strategic forms of strategizing a way to solve a complex maze. The maze could additionally boost the user’s patience and persistence level, whilst improving their hand-eye coordination and concentration levels. I seek to address the challenge of successfully combining virtual projection upon a physical object, in which its complexity challenges the player in completing the challenge. I hope for the device to cause the user to strengthen their cognitive thought processes and heighten their abilities of problem solving. 

C. PROJECT PLAN

I plan to create an interactive one-player game, with the physical labyrinth placed on top of a surface that would allow for it to rotate. The player would utilize a joystick in order to tilt the surface of the maze, wherein a marble would navigate the paths of the labyrinth. The marble would act as the physical “player” in the game, starting from the point of entry to the point of exit, while navigating various “obstacles” throughout the challenge. The obstacles would be virtually projected through Processing, through projecting an image onto the physical maze. For the first week, I will first create a cardboard prototype of the physical maze, that would include the maze and the walls surrounding it. I would additionally work on the Processing image for the projection, utilizing Photoshop to draft an image of a maze with its obstacles integrated throughout it. I would Photoshop a visual of a complex maze for the player to solve that would act as the physical labyrinth. For the second week, I would work on the codes that would connect the hardware and joystick to Arduino, and that would also connect the image in Processing to the maze. I would additionally work out the details of the projection through Processing, and making sure it would correspond to the physical maze smoothly. I would utilize the laser cutting for the box and prepare the materials for the maze, including the joystick, marble, and a smaller-scale projector. For the third week, I would finalize the design and assemble the materials together, while focusing on ensuring the final design would hide the wires and hardware of the game. 

D. CONTEXT AND SIGNIFICANCE

Inspired by these wooden labyrinth games, this project would be highly reliant on the user’s input in order to work successfully. They would have to play the game and focus on navigating the marble throughout the maze from one point to the other, making for a continuous loop of interaction between the user and the device. Similar to a conversation, interaction can be closely defined as “a cyclic process in which two actors alternately listen, think, and speak,” as outlined in The Art of Interactive Design (5). For a continuous loop to occur, the user needs to be constantly using and interacting with the device, as the device responds to the user’s endless input. This sequence consists of three steps:  input, output, and processing, as outlined in Introduction to Physical Computing (Igoe & O’Sullivan, 20). This device closely aligns with interactivity, as the player is constantly giving input through using the joystick to rotate the maze, while the device is moving the marble for the player to navigate the pathways. After successful completion, the project may lead onto more advanced mazes, including adding levels of difficulty or an increased number of obstacles for the player to navigate.