Luciana Haill

Luciana's thing is how the brain works, she discovered her interest while she was ill in hospital and was staring at this strange equipment and now makes cyber dreams into reality utilising medical biofeedback technology. San Francisco scene inspired her and she bought a second hand IBVA (device that uses brainwaves to control visuals and sounds), this device can send signals to macs but she pointed out she is not a programmer. Travelling to Venice inspired her too in particular Miriko Mori, a New Yorker/Japanse Artist, Mariko had a credited input on the famous Minority report.

She has been to the Steim in Amsterdam. Advised us to look for Bio tracking in Brighton. People in Sweden created Brainwave and it works best when relaxed. She works alot with sound and has just done a tour around the UK. futureofsound.org also google lucianabrain.

People who buy it, has alot to do with hypnotherapy, lots of pop groups and artist buy it.

Sega has done a deal so in the future there will be games which involve ECG.

IBVA.co.uk and Institute of Unnecessary research.

Rona Innes

Really helpful talk today about physical computing. A book she recommended was Dan O'Sullivan - Physical Thinking. Rona brought in some Arduino boards to show us. We could purchased these over the internet. A website called www.wiring-org.co.uk tells the user how to connect these wires to the computer and to flash.

PHYSICAL COMPUTING


Stelarc (Australian performance artist): http://www.stelarc.va.com.au/


http://wiring.org.co/ Wiring boards
http://processing.org/ Processing
http://www.arduino.cc/ Arduino boards
http://www.nastypixel.com/instantsoup Flash Physical Computing



CONTROLLING FLASH WITH A WIIMOTE

Windows
http://wiiflash.bytearray.org/?p=52

Mac
http://screenfashion.org/releases/motedaemon/



WEBCAM INPUT


http://www.setpixel.com/ -digital art project using webcams

http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flash/articles/webcam_motion.html -good starting point, Adobe webcam capture tutorial

http://www.neuroproductions.be/portfolio/misc/webcam_tutorial - good starting point - Flash webcam games


MICROPHONE INPUT


http://www.kirupa.com/developer/actionscript/microphone.htm -controlling Flash animations using the microphone

http://imm.sheridanc.on.ca/imm2004/chin/tutorial/ -blowing grass


http://www.nastypixel.com/prototype/?page_id=73 -webcam motion detection
http://www.nastypixel.com/prototype/?page_id=86 -Gesture controlling Google Earth

http://gskinner.com/blog/archives/2005/08/flash_8_webcam.html -snowstorm & game etc

http://members.westnet.com.au/lmwan/projects.html - Wan's webcam experiments

http://www.protozoo.com/?p=179 - generate and pop bubbles

http://www.discombo.co.uk/cam-experiments.htm - cupid game etc


http://www.webcamtastic.com/ -webcam goo


http://www.extendedreality.com/webcam_games_info.html - eyetoys type games - Eyekanoid etc
http://cam.playdo.com/default.htm


FLASH WEBCAM INPUT BASICS


http://www.adobe.com/support/flash/action_scripts/actionscript_dictionary/actionscript_dictionary817.html

http://livedocs.adobe.com/flash/8/main/wwhelp/wwhimpl/common/html/wwhelp.htm?context=LiveDocs_Parts&file=00001942.html _bitmap data

http://www.adobe.com/designcenter/tutorials/fla8at_cameraobj/ -making a video box


TROUBLE SHOOTING: Not getting a webcam feed?

This issue is most common for systems with several video drivers. After making sure that you have a working webcam plugged into your computer, try this:

1. Right click on the flash application.
2. Click on 'Settings...'.
3. Click on the tab with the camera icon.
4. Choose the appropriate camera driver.

For Mac users, your choice would likely be 'USB Video Class Video' or 'IIDC FireWire Video'.

I really liked the idea of using an interactive web camera or a microphone.

More thinking

Recently all I have been thinking about is interaction obviously. What can I do my project on? I need a theme. I have been using loads of tutorials at home in flash. Some may say this is the wrong way round, maybe they would say get your idea first then concentrate on the output but I have to be confident I can use the programme before I can get out of my depth.

The main problem is the theme. I want the user to navigate the person around a room, not sure which room yet. I also wanted to design an interactive web site. This obviously needs more thought. More reading is a necessity as I missed a couple of the discussions in class about the text.

Ellie Rees

Ellie talked to us about her interest in fine art with a touch of clasiical music and drama background. She emalgamted these aspects together and showed us some videos she made. Her first main influence was the Radiohead video No Surprises other influences included William Wegman, Maria McGramovich, Martha Rosla, Sylvia Plath - The day of the 24 cakes. Sophie Calle. She has a very theatrical approach to her work with a huge interest in opera. The first video was with James Redwood - a musician with whom she did a synchrinised musical piece with their toothbrushes. 

Another piece she did was including her interest in pop music and it was an Elton John classic. She had her arm in a coat pretending to be a man and another arm pretending to be a woman. She likes unedited film.

Discussions in class

Discussions about Interactivity, Beyond Inclusion, Interactivity is a tautology?? We discussed Marshall, Cybernetics and covered surveillance. Talked about Beyond Inclusion explaining how the users are becoming the actor. The users of new media are becoming the content of form. Points raised were how are we immersed into this media world. Are people more aware of the way media manipulates people. Do we feel that TV shows like Lost are a bad thing?.

Some websites in which we looked at for inspiration, this was an idea from Dan just to really start us off and see what floats the boat. Really good one was Tokyo-Plastic others were:

http://www.neonbible.com/
http://www.box10.com/
http://www.samorost2.com/
www.multiplication.com/interactive_games.htm
www.ferryhalim.com/original/g3/spider.htm
http://www.vansowerwine.com/
http://www.hoogerbrugge.com/
http://www.creaktif.com/
http://www.youthedesigner.com/
http://www.korn.com/

I really want to do a website for this project that interacts. I spoke to Dan about my idea of an interactive flash site but he did explain that I need to think of a theme and an end result - what is the purpose of it?. I am interested in Red Interactive agency - http://www.ff0000.com/. I love the way this site is so interactive and so addictive - with that I mean it keeps me hooked something Dan mentioned I should remember. The user doesn't want to be bored. Another website was http://www.feedthehead.net/ also love http://www.hoogerbrugge.com/. Like their whacky style but still kept the look clean.

Interaction project

Mike Blow

Mike spoke to the class on Monday 26th November about Physical Computing, examples like museum exhibits i.e. walking towards something and voice starts. and walking into a room and saying lights which come on.

We talked about Affordance which is an offered way of using something e.g. a handle to pick up a cup. Ergonomics designing things for us to interact with. Multi-touch like Tenon-on, Jazz Mutant, Graphic tablets, Microphones, remotes etc. also links to the way we play the guitar for example.

We looked at sensors like switches to pressure pad. Certain sensor names may include: Proximity that tells you where something is, PIR like a security sensor. Light sensors for example street lamps. Sound sensors in microphones, hydrophones (underwater), accelerometers, vibration. Infrasound this is used in haunted houses.

Analog and Digital input and output

• Analog Signal, continuously varying in level, non-discrete e.g. photoresistor.
• Digital Signal, only two levels, discrete e.e. switch

Output

Some devices can be controlled directly from the output board others like motors need circuits. Anything can be controlled electrically like LED's, lights, buzzers, sounds, smells, air, playback and household appliances.

Sarah Strickett

Sarah started her talk off from the very beginning, she was extremely honest which I admired her for. The film that she reallt aspres to is Close Encounters of a Third kind. Others were Journey to the Moon and Monty Python. She loved David Bowie especially Ashes to Ashes and Terry Gillian producer of Brazil. A pointer she made was to look up JIBJAB. Her website is http://www.sasskid.co.uk/. She showed a couple of her movies the favourite of hers had some snipets from the "White as the come" film, the original dracula movie also she had her friend perform as a mad guy. Many animations and lots of After Effects used. A video she showed was from Chris Shepard whom is her main influence at the moment. She mentioned she worked on 2DTV and Have I got News for You. Her advice to us was:

• Keep sketchbooks


• Listen to music


• Look at CD covers


• Take pictures


• Go to exhibitions


• Go to student shows


• See films


• Look online......One dot zero, resfast.

I really liked her work. We had a chat afterwards and because I was thinking of doing film at this point she mentioned I may want to look at Chris Cunningham or Sophie Calle.

Idea-Generating Exercises

What traditional ritual have you participated in, or are aware of, that reminds you in some way of an interactive narrative? What is it about this ritual that you think is like a computerized interactive experience?

-I was thinking of daily rituals such as eating, drinking, sleeping, waking up, going to sleep, needing food, needing excerise, needing social interaction. I thought of The Sims which covers all of these aspects and makes the user interact with the character. Also made me think of our need to socialise as a ritual and this could also lead to xbox racing games where you can connect to the internet and have conversations and play with other people on-line.

What game or sport have you played that you think could be adapted to a work of interactive entertainment? What would remain the same, what would have to be changed and in what way?

As a runner I was thinking of a game which involved a treadmill like in the gym but in a virtual room so while running there is something to look at and also some kind of shooting game. The treadmill would have to remain the same but the environment in which it is in would change obviously, a room with three screens one at the front and two either side maybe.

What work of traditional storytelling (a novel, a play, a movie, or even a comic book) have you read or seen that contains a narrative technique that could be applied to a work of digital entertainment? What is this technique, and how could it be used?


Can you think of any work of traditional entertainment (poem, short story, novel, play, movie, TV show etc.) that breaks the "fourth wall"? Describe how the fourth wall is broken in this work. Could the fourth wall be broken in a similar way in an interactive work? Why or why not?

....and finally

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My idea is to emphasize the fact all these low-cost carriers are trying to find new ways of getting passengers and at the same time making more money but with attractive price offers. The new add-on war with these airlines is apparant.

The other day when I was on a flight I remember an old lady saying to me, "I remember all those years ago when things were free and seats were bigger". It started to occur to me that it is more and more unlikely we will be going back to those days especially as population grows. With airlines pushing their staff to sell sell sell and advertisements spread all over national newspapers and airports it is clear that the competition is fierce.

As the seats in economy are pretty standard across the board and for years the economy passenger has been lumbered with the same old seat, I am proposing to make the seat a better place to be. A better entertainment system, internet, massage for legs to prevent DVT. A system on the aircraft that will store your information from e-ticket and this will also enable you to order items from your seat at ease as the system keeps the credit card details.

All these extras will be of-course add ons to be more appealing to this particular market.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2007/may/10/theairlineindustry.travel

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/10/23/npopulation423.xml

Update

It's been a while I know. I have been busy researching and finding ways I can make this idea work. I spoke with several engineers at Monarch and we chatted about the likelyhood of the new Nasa aircraft they suggested not and with future developments we have already seen the new Boeing 787 and Airbus 380 with engines that are taking more cost 20 percent more fuel efficient. As the States are trying to phase out oil as the prices have now gone up to $100 per barrel. This year alone we are using 80m barrels a day and they predict in 2030 we will need 116m barrels per day. Although some suggest that because the cost will be just too high we will find other ways instead of oil (Newsnight 8/11).

With Hydrogen fuel in high talks in the future it looks as though flying will be as accessible as ever. The idea of creating a new aircraft with faster engines and better for the environment appears already to have been done, I spoke to Captain Jason Newton at Monarch and he pointed me in the direction of the Blended Wing.



Another Engineer pointed out that because average commercial aircraft engines can only take 1200 degrees centigrade of heat from the engines, more and more they are wanting to use ceramics like Nasa use for their shuttles.

My idea seems to have taken a back seat as I was hoping I was the first to have thought of it! Although I must say I have enjoyed my journey so far. My tables are tured back to the interior of the plane.

Monday 15 October

After listening to Dan's talk I wandered off to the library for some more inspiration. I looked at the New Scientist and also The Economist. I got a couple of Computer Arts magazines out. Spoke to Dan about 3D animation for a plane and he advised after effects. I also mentioned my ideas about quicker air travel, found another link for Branson's quotes on half an hour to Sydney. Could I expand on that, I think so.

http://66.102.9.104/search?q=cache:km_kuT4_rYMJ:mgproductions.com/articles/ET0507-BransonProfile.pdf+richard+branson+half+hour+to+sydney&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=uk&client=firefox-a

Dan Mellor

Trained as an artist/graphic designer. Dan taught himself how to animate and the work he showed us was excellent. A pro in after effects he showed us his project for the Compton road www.comptonskyline.com. Very impressive and very jealous that he can animate so well but I guess he has been doing it for ten years or so. He advised the following links:

blinksstudio@blink.tv
www.now.com
www.gamer.tv
www.creativeaftereffects.com
and pete's plugin's for after effects which you can download for free off the Internet.

Thursday 11 October

After listening to Rona's talk I had to get to work but whilst I was there I chatted to a few people trying to get more ideas for my project. I spoke with a Purser who has been with the airlines for 16 years. I asked how things may have changed. We walked about and looked at things such as security and how that has advanced over the last ten years. So has certain aspects of the aircraft such as the electronics for the video but not much else. I was thinking of the idea of interiors in aircraft over the years to come, how advanced can they get. The new A380 has been delivered to Singapore airlines and the pictures show how developed things have become over the years, it looks more like a cruise ship.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/07/business_first_airbus_a380_delivered/html/10.stm

Another interesting article from 2000 about airbus interior:

http://www.cbc.ca/money/story/2000/06/23/airbus000623.html

An idea I had about the whole flight experience in the future is developing for example what will happen to check-in facilities, there will no doubt have Internet on the aircraft's but with low budget carriers will this go the other way and it become a worse environment for the economy traveller. The cheaper the ticket the worse the experience?. There was also another article I found which I was very interested in which was the BBC news article

"how will we get around?"

The prospect of a revolution in air travel has been raised by Nasa's successful test of a 5,000mph plane. But are we likely to see similar advances in other forms of transport?

The way we get about has a profound impact on the way we live - affecting where we set up home, work and holiday.

Nasa scientists say their experimental X-43A jet has the potential to make the world a much smaller place. It has already led to predictions that passenger planes will one day fly from the UK to Australia in two hours. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/3580337.stm

Rona Innes

An insight into Rona's designs and her website http://www.moshimachine.com/. Rona brought in some storyboards to show us. These were presented to her clients such as Greenpeace and Roky Erickson. She was very honest and gave us some good tips for freelance such as it is a good idea to keep an eye on www.wiredsussex.com. They also help students when they get out of studying. She advised against freelance work straight away and if possible try to get a job in a large company first. As Rona has worked from home being a Sole Trader, as the taxes are cheaper, she has pointed out it does get lonely and found herself even nipping to the corner shop just to have a chat with someone. She is mainly a flash animator but does the occasional website.

Wednesday 15 October

Today I got on with more research, more searches on google led to future of travel agents. Future of Air carriers and trains. Gizmodo was a good site for gadgets and gave me ideas of what various companies are coming up with. www.gizmodo.com. I have decided to present my work within a website because eventually that is what I'd like to do as a career. Paul showed us a good bookmark site. A good website I found today was http://www.futureforall.org/ giving an insight to what is possible, virtual worlds, digital money, virtual presence. I drafted out a possible scenario for my site although still unsure as to what I am doing my project on.

Mike Blow

Mike gave an interesting talk on his work. He expressed his interest in the science and art and showed us his creations of machines for singing . It was both daring and intriguing. He gave us tips to get us started such as:

Keep the idea of the piece you are doing in your head.
Technically keep it simple and sweet.
Always be critical of others work and your own.
Collaborate with industry and artists.

Useful sites include:

http://citeseer.ist.psu.edu/

www.futurist.com

http://panmental.de/idiofact/

http://www.arduino.cc/

Monday 8 October 2007

After missing my first week due to my late booking of days off with my work I have finally started the course. It was my first proper look at the project brief and my thoughts went into overdrive as to what I would do for this project. Typing into the google search engine enabled me to achieve more ideas such as video games in ten years, robot drummers, robot nurses, recycling possibilties for the future. Will we be cancelling out more service assistants in stores such as tesco's and clothes shops, even today more and more places have the self-service checkouts we all love to use!!. Could we see a robot saving somebodies life in the future? Maybe but in ten years? I don't think so, I came to the conclusion that ten years really isn't a long time. I thought back to what was available to me ten years ago, internet and mobiles were about although of course not as advanced. A conversation with Micheal prompted me to think about an industry I'm familiar with which is travel. Firstly I thought of a flying car, how original! Although these are starting to develop through a handglider type of look. The thought of how aircrafts could develop in ten years was of interest not so much the body of the plane but the interior. Also how people will book flights, how will carriers charge. Will it get even cheaper?. My research will start with reading Flight International, Flight Global, New Scientist and trying to find something I can work with.


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