Wednesday, 13 March 2013

Brief Proposal



We were asked to write the proposal to Cristiano, so that he could know what each of us gong in to do with our final project, and assign supervisor for us.


Interactive media AY2012/2013 – Project proposal
What I want to research/design? (max 150 words)

à Here you should describe what you would like to research, explore and design. It is ok to keep this part quite open even if it is time to start to specify your area of concern. If there is any particular theoretical concept you would like to draw on, this is the place to mention it.

In this research, I want to design an installation art device that would make people enhance awareness of environmental protection and donate more money to the charity organization. It can make an ordinary Euro into an extraordinary one. The device can be placed in the public area to provide a recreational way for people who are boring during waiting time at public area, meanwhile for the charity. And it also can be placed in the playground for help increasing feelings and communication between parents and kids.


How I want to research/design it? (max 150 words)

à Here you should describe how you intend to research/explore and design the area you have just described. This is the place to include your ideas about research and design methodologies as well as you ideas about what sort of technology you would like to learn and use in your project.


First I want to make observations of what people do in the public area when they are boring or waiting for something, and do some research about children’ s interests in playground. I intend to use ethnographic observations at public areas, such as Stable in UL, park in Limerick, airport…And I will document the participators’ reflect to find out the issues in my project. I aim to implement a user-centered iterative design processing, I will possibly show people my early ideas and low-fidelity prototypes to get feedbacks. About the technology, I want to explore the gravity principle of Segway, the principle of Touch switch and to be possibly using Arduino, Pure Data, Max and Processing.



Why I want to research/design? (max 150 words)

Motivational aspects. Start with objective ones (e.g. solution of a problem, interesting way to address an issue, potential/expected impact on certain group of users, benefit for society at large, the possibility to extend your innovation to other domains, etc), and add subjective ones only when they strengthen your proposal (e.g. avoid to say: I am doing this because it is cool, because I like it…. Rather say: it fits and extends my background; I am already familiar with similar areas and I have contacts; I am particularly well positioned to do this because…)


First of all, It fits and extends my background. I want to practice the technology I just learned during the whole year. I want to design something visualized, attractive and interesting. Second, because I experienced the 2008 Sichuan earthquake in China that measured at 8.0 Ms. I saw there are so many people lived with the extremely scarce basic necessities of food and water and they really need our help. I think people should do their even the meager power to help people who need help.












Saturday, 2 March 2013

My First Idea - Maze


Here is an idea of my final project for the last semester. I need write a proposal based on this concept to my lecture. I am not sure I will make this for general public charity or for the parents and children in the playground.

It is an installation art device that I proposed to name it "the way to love". The device is a complex and difficult maze game machine, which will shape as a tree and hang on the wall in a fixed dimension (Height: 2.5m, Width: 2m). There are several hearts beside the "tree". It is a decoration too. On the ground, there is a controller where people can stand on it to control the direction he/she wants to go. When the participator playing the maze, we can see the steps of the participator as shining water flows through the limit past path in the maze within few seconds after movement, at the same time, different sound effect will play followed by participator reach different sections. When reach exit of the "tree", one heart will be lightened.

This device can be placed at many public spaces, such as subway station or airport. It aims to provide a recreational way for people who are boring during waiting time at public area. Each Euro will donate to charity organization after one small heart illumined by winner. This also makes an ordinary Euro into an extraodinaire one.


my sketches




Inspired me

Maze
“The installation is called Maze, and Mabonona uses the term to not only reflect the physical structure of these circuits, but also how we might be lost without them—along with alluding to the idea that, even though the average person interacts with them on a daily basis, we still don’t really know much about their inner workings.”  Link
Maze
Maze


Marbles

“'Marbles', Stuido Roosegaarde's latest creation, is an interactive installation consisted of large glowing forms which interact with people via sound, light and color. Each 'Marble' with embedded sensor and interactive technologies is responsive to human presence. It also communicates with each other and transforms the square into an interactive environment of light and play.”  Link




Segway-Gravity Control

"The Segway PT is a two-wheeled self-balancing battery-powered electric vehicle invented by Dean Kamen. Segway Inc. of New Hampshire, USA, produces it. The name Segway is a homophone of the word segues, meaning smooth transition. PT is an abbreviation for personal transporter.

Computers and motors in the base of the device keep the Segway PT upright when powered on with balancing enabled. A user commands the Segway to go forward by shifting their weight forward on the platform, and backward by shifting their weight backward. The Segway detects, as it balances, the change in its center of mass, and first establishes and then maintains a corresponding speed, forward or backward. Gyroscopic and fluid-based leveling sensors detect the weight shift. To turn, the user presses the handlebar to the left or the right."




Segway

Segway