Final Project Step 1: Preparatory Research and Analysis by Min Jee (Lisa) Moon

Part 1: You visited the Chronus exhibition where you saw technology-based art pieces. Some of them use the same components you have been using in this course. Discuss the experience you had in this exhibition compared to other exhibitions of non-technology based artwork you have visited before. 

During my visit to the Chronus exhibition, I realized that the user experience with the air pieces is essential. There was a lot of different artwork using the similar components we were using in our class. The experience in the Chronus exhibition was very different from the experience that I had in other non-technology based art exhibitions. First of all, it was very interesting for us to look at the devices that were moving. Second of all, because one of them was interacting with our movement, we kept on going back and forth trying to interact with the artwork.

Above was the artwork that would bend the claw based on the movement of the people who is entering the exhibition room. Lastly, I realized that it would be most interesting to the user IF the user can see what the artwork is doing just by looking at it. Though each of us had different taste of the artwork, one artwork that most people chose as their favorite was the wheel that was rolling based on time. 

Just by looking at the wheel turning at a very different speed, the user can see that the artwork is about the time and that the speed of the wheel is based on the time. Therefore, it reminded me of the fact that it would be most essential for the user to know how to interact with the artwork without the artist explaining it. 

Part 2: Research at least two other interactive projects to serve as inspiration for your Final Project. Find projects that align with what you think a successful interactive experience is and at least one that you think is less successful.

While I was searching for some interactive project, I got to find this project which shows the butterfly instead of a footstep where the user’s foot touched. I chose this as one of my inspirations for my Final Project because at a young age, everybody usually thinks of wanting to fly through the sky without the airplane. In addition, in Korea, there is a folk tale about two beloved lovers (Altair and Vega) and magpie becoming the footstool. The butterfly reminded me of the magpie in this story. One aspect that may be considered less successful is the fact that the butterfly is already there and the user has to step on the butterfly in order to make the butterfly glow. It would have been even cooler if the butterfly formed when the user steps on the rug.

The second project that I found very interesting was this alive painting. This project, whenever the user tilts the drawing, the objects inside the drawing would roll around as if they really do exists. I consider this project interactive with the same reason many people liked the time-wheel from the Chronus exhibition. Just by looking at it and tilting the artwork, the user would be mall enthralled by the artwork. However, I wish this artwork could also be taken out of the wall so that the user can shake it. Maybe it would have been more efficient if the monitor was in the shape of a phone or so (so it is easier for the user to shake the screen). 

In addition, when I was searching for what I might be able to do with the processing, I found this amazing video. Despite the fact that I might not be able to create something like that, I would also love to do something similar to that using the processing as a form of a mirror. 

Part 3: Go back to your definition of interaction as you defined it during the group project. Based on the initial definition and your experience developing and executing your midterm project, in your own words, explain what an interactive experience should consist of to be successful. Support your explanation by your analysis of the projects you researched in point A and B, and by citing references from the readings, and other artists or online articles you have read.

Drawing back to several previous posts that I made about the interactive researches, I still believe an interactive project has to be a project that the user can easily figure out the usage (how to use the device) without the artist standing next by to explain about it. In addition, the device must show a clear sign of processing based on the input that the user has put in. 

Projects that I referred to back from part 1 and part 2 have one thing in common: it is easy for the user to see how the artwork/devices work. The wheel that was turning based on the time, the user could see that the wheel was turning based on the time going by just by looking at different speeds each wheel is turning. The rug that I mentioned in part 2 because it is a rug, it is obvious that the user would step on the rug to interact with it. Lastly, for the alive art piece, though it may be the least interactive out of all three mentioned above (because people usually do not turn the artwork), the user would know that they would have to do something with the artwork (like touching the screen and so on). Therefore, I believe a successful interactive project would be the project that is the self-explanatory project.

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