Organism – D.U.D.O Production 2

Now that we have the method sorted out, we were able to put it into practice and have so far come out with a layout. This isn’t perhaps final, but is pretty close to what is our goal.

Here you can see it has recorded my IP address, and as follows, are the buttons for the user to select depending on which is most true. Once all neccessary buttons are selected, the user simply presses submit. The results are then added up and averaged against everyone elses votes, contributing to the overall mood.

Here are 3 images representing the faces of just 3 overall moods of a user.

Hot and Happy Face..

Cold and Tired Face..

Bored and Ill Face..

Organism – D.U.D.O Production 1

With our idea in mind and finalised, work has begun on D.U.D.O. We needed to work out a system of how to get the votes recorded and then used later on for the final outcome.

The votes are sent to a MYSQL database via PHP. Everytime someone submits their vote, javascript will write a cookie of the date and time the vote is sent. When someone tries to vote, the javascript checks to see if its been at least an hour since the last vote from the cookie. Then, D.U.D.O. uses a PHP file to parse an XML file from the MYSQL database. It then extracts the data to use in actionscript (flash) and walla!

Here’s a diagram to show this.

Organism – Finalise Idea

After some consideration, we decided that the web-based application would be more suited to an organism compared to the barometer idea, as the barometer would just be depicting real life and not an organism, where as the application would have user input and alter an overall picture.

The name for this application is D.U.D.O – Digital User Driven Organism. After some thought on how to get it widely available to people, we came to the conclusion that creating it inside a facebook application would be the best idea, as the majority of internet users have a facebook account and also makes networking a lot easier. People can invite their friends to install and use the application, thus hopefully bringing a wider spectrum of moods.

Simulacrum idea – #4

After watching some tutorials from lynda.com I started to understand 3Dmax a bit more and became familiar with the material editor.

I was amazed at how easy it was to turn something flat into something that looked almost real. In this instance, and for use with the cartwheel, I applied several different wood effects to the wheel to see how it would look. I decided that an old wooden effect matched what I was looking for the most.

Here’s a screenshot of the finished cartwheel.

As you can see, it looks a lot more authentic with the wooden material effect applied compared to the original.

Organism – Meeting/Brainstorm

Andi and myself met in the babbage cafe to discuss ideas for our organism project.

Our previous idea was to have an animation of a body which is cosntantly under attack from different viruses. For each virus it kills, it upgrades its antibodies and gradually grows stronger. It’s purpose was to simulate the human body and how its immune system works.

Unfortunately as we got our group together later than preferred, this task seemed a little far fetched. So we had to come up with something easier.

We thought of 2 other possible ideas. 1 was a web-based application which recorded people’s mood in a number of steps. We decided that hunger, thirst, energy and temperature would be a good mix of attributes to determine someone’s mood. Once someone has submitted their mood, it will be recorded in a database, along with the user’s IP address.

The idea is to have a record of as many people as possible, to create an overall mood for everyone.

Each person’s mood will be labelled with an face regarding their mood. The overall mood of everyone will be depicted in a larger face displayed on the main page.

Our 2nd idea was based around a barometer. Basically animating the barometer’s face with the different weather types. Storm, Wet, Hot, and Cold. Somehow connecting this with a live weather feed from e.g. weather.bbc.co.uk

Simulacrum idea – #3

Just been working on the cartwheel in 3ds max. its quite a figity program to use but i guess i’ll get used to it sooner or later.

here’s what i’ve managed to create so far..

Simulacrum idea – #2

I’ve decided that as we have to include some history behind our object, i will construct a visualisation of the wheel, starting back with an old wheel, maybe something like a cartwheel..

and evolve it into something newer, like a tyre off a car…

not sure how i’m going to animate it yet, as im only starting to get used to 3dmax!

Simulacrum idea – #1

Ok, so basically my idea for the object we have to create is the wheel.

My reasons for choosing the wheel is that we were asked to research our chosen object heavily to develop a full understanding of the social contexts in which it has and does exist. This includes its form, historical development, practical and social function.

I came to the conclusion that the wheel would be excellent to recreate, as it is a heavily used object in today’s society and also has a lot of history which would be easy/brilliant to write about.

 As yet, i’m not entirely sure what to do with the wheel but i’ll think of something eventually.

IDAT 201 – Trans-Spatial Design – Part 1

[Brief]

Simulacrum (70%)The simulacrum is an individually produced presentation that encapsulates a reinterpretation or innovatory development of an object. The presentation of the object should be in the form of a 90 second animation / video. Through the lecture series you will develop an understanding of what ‘object’ may represent and your simulacrum will be the vessel in which you present it.Whatever your chosen object is, it’s design, soundtrack, visual presentation and physical packaging of your project should all be derived from the properties held within your object and its history. Hand in deadline: Friday 30th November @ 2pm to the faculty Office Your process should be: Think carefully what we mean by ‘an object’, particularly in the context of the lectures and practical sessions. Choose an object. Research your chosen object heavily to develop a full understanding of the social contexts in which it has and does exist. This includes its form, historical development, practical and social function. Explore the form and function of the object through a process of remodeling and experimental redesign. Construct a three-dimensional model of the redesigned object. Produce a simulacrum for the object that conveys all aspects of your redesign including history, dimensions, tactility, weight, sound and social context.

IDAT 205 – Creative Industries – Part 1

[Brief]

AUTUMN TERM: GROUP MARKETING PROJECT (35%) The brief will be delivered in detail during the Week 2 lecture on Monday 1 October. Each group will present itself via a live website as an independent media company or digital arts agency/organisation. Whatever form it takes, each group must ‘sell’ its products or services by demonstrating its professionalism and excellence through superior web content and effective marketing, such that it will immediately attract and impress any potential client or visitor to the site. The information presented must be based as far as possible upon actuality, so that you are really demonstrating the combined skills of the members of your group. You should research as many existing sites as possible, in order to find inspiration and guidance for your own site. You will be expected to reference these sources and any other books/journals/materials and incorporate them in a webography to accompany your site, with annotations explaining why you were drawn to these sites. You should include the following elements on your website: Original idea for company/agency/organisation Description of same (mission statement) Products/services offered Profiles of individual members Selection of best work (based on course projects) with annotation Compelling images/sound/text Content and form appropriate to such a company/agency/organisation