DSDN104 - Project 3 - Narrative Development

DSDN112 - Project 2 - Development - Interface Colour Scheme

Colour Scheme Designer 3 is an intuitive interface that creates schemes from a primary colour and mood.

I decided to go with a mono aqua colour scheme for my interface. Because I wanted my interface to be intuitive I wanted as little distraction as possible from its function whilst retaining a nice clean aesthetic. 

DSDN104 - Project 3 - Development - Three Final Iterations/Test Renders

DSDN104 - Project 3 - Development - 15 Iterations

DSDN104 - Project 3 - Iteration Development

DSDN104 - Project 3 - Precedence Development

DSDN112 - Project 2 - Vibration Testing Experiment

DSDN104 - Project 3 - Concepts

DSDN104 - Project 3 - Precedence/Initial Concepts

DSDN112 - Project 2 - Navigation Function Development

My interface uses different vibration patterns to navigate the user left or right. When the user is moving straight forward the interface does nothing. The idea behind this is to make the interface as subtle as possible, removing as little influence on how the user navigates from point A to B as possible but still allowing the user to navigate to their desired destination quickly and accurately. With long enough use the user will theoretically become subconsciously aware of the vibrations registering them purely as thought impulses telling them to turn left or right. The flaws with this comes in human error, not being able to negotiate the turn fast enough after the vibration. I will do trails getting someone to negotiate a course using a cellphone in their pocket. Another person will then text them when to turn and the vibration of the phone in their pocket will dictate their turn. If this test proves successful my interface will be applicable to real word negotiation. 

DSDN112 - Project 2 - Development - Vibration Testing Cont.

In failing to find and application for iphone which allows me to program patterns of vibration into the phone i have devised a way of trialing my concept for vibrating navigation using more primitive means. The iphone 4 allows the user to program different ring tones to different contacts. Each ring tone has its own individual vibration pattern so when the phone is on silent the user can theoretically feel who is calling/texting. Using this method i will set up a trail with an iphone. The user will assign two different numbers to separate ring tones. Then the user will begin walking in a straight line. The user will then get texts from the two other phones in a particular sequence that will dictate his path. The data can then be reviewed to find out if the user was able to accurately distinguish between the different vibrations and relate the applicable one to the relevant turn (right or left)

DSDN112 - Project 2 - Development - Vibration Testing

 Interface developed to measure vibrations

While attempting to develop a method of running tests on if my vibration navigation works i have come across an app that works in a different way by measuring vibrations and vibration strength. This tool could be intergrated into my app to allow the user to have a more accurated live feed of when they will need to turn. the app could thoredically be used in conjunction with the gps to measure the length of each footstep and therfore calculate how fast you are aproching the point of the turn.

DSDN112 - Project 2 - Development - Vibration

The success of my navigation interface relies on the user being able to distinguish their left and rights with different vibration patterns. The app will vibrate with three different patterns. One will tell the user to turn right, one will tell the user to turn left and one will make the user turn right then the third vibration pattern will notify the user that they are heading in the wrong direction. By keeping the patterns to only three it will make them easy to remember and distinguish. by keeping it simple it is my thoughts that the vibrations will work their way into the users subconscious quick enough so they will no longer have to consciously think about when and where to turn. There are a few problems i will need to address so the app has fewer bugs when it is tested. Firstly, the vibrations need to be prominent enough so every user, regardless of his or her sensitivity can feel the vibrations. This will be addressed with the vibrations strength control in the options menu. Secondly the vibration patterns will need to be different to those of text alerts or alarms. I think the app may have to disable any other vibration alerts and turn them into sound alerts while the app is active. Thirdly the user's initial orientation, which direction they will begin walking. This may have to be dictated buy an in app directional arrow that is displayed on screen before the user put the app in their pocket.

Summary of initial bugs

- Vibration strength slider.

- Distinguishable alerts (Text, Alarm, Phone call)

- Initial orientation arrow

DSDN104 - Project 2 - Final Compositions - Handin

 Final Photographic Composition 

 
Final Re - Rendered Composition

 

Final Render/Photo Combination Composition

DSDN104 - Project 2 - Final Re-Render Lighting Setup

Lighting Setup for my final re-rerender 

 

For my final rerender I wanted the image to be as close to my final photographic image as possible. I have used a camera in 3DS Max with the same 30mm lens and fstop for consistant depth of field. I then duplicated the lighting setup I have used for my final photographic image so the lighting is also consistant. 

DSDN112 - Project 2 - Paper Prototype

DSDN112 - Project 2 - Final Wireframe

Intuitive Interface wireframe 

I have decided to do a cellphone app and i will be developing my second concept, the intuitive interface.

The best design is design that is hardly noticeable, that fulfills a task without the user needing to give it a thought. Keeping this in mind i developed a concept that uses the operators subconscious to guide them and act as an internal radar. The interface its-self involves the user typing in the destination on their phone and putting it in there pocket. The phone will then vibrate in different way in order to navigate the user around the building. For example if the user needs to go straight the phone is silent, then if the path requires a right turn the phone will vibrate twice seconds before the turn is needed, twice to turn right etc. The idea behind this is that with enough use of this app the vibrations will work their way into the user's subconscious, allowing them to arrive seamlessly at their destination without having to pay attention to the vibrating (like when you drive somewhere and arrive only to realize you have no recollection of the trip its self). The only downside to this is being able to fully adapt the concept to the brief as it would not need that much of an interface at all. 

DSDN104 - Project 2 - Render/Photo Overlay

First attempted composition combining a render and a photo.

I feel this subtle combination of my first render and final photo make and interesting composition. The photo is obviously the focal point of the composition, however the render gives it some added depth and is harmonious with the photo. 

DSDN104 - Project 2 - Photography Concept

First Edited shot from the first shoot

I feel this shot with the lights gives the background plenty of depth and make my model look like its coming to life. I think I will try playing around with some HDR effects on the model to push the idea of it coming to life further. 

DSDN104 - Project 2 - Test Shoots

Raw, unedited shots from the first shoot of my model. I like the idea of shooting with white light behind the model, i feel that it gives the edges more definition and make it look more lifelike. 

DSDN104 - Project 2 - Sketch Model 6 - Stand

Acrylic lasercut stand for final model

My laser cutting file contained a stand for my model that i attempted to construct so i could create the illusion of my model being suspended in the air. I found the stand to be intrusive in the design so i will be using fishing wire to suspend the model from the ceiling instead. 

DSDN112 - Project 2 - Concepts

Using my precedence I have crafted three ways which I can see becoming hybrid navigation interfaces, but are each unique in the ways the navigation itself is approached. They vary in virtual to physical and stretch the bounds of the project 2 brief. 

Concept 1: Teleportation Interface

I feel that the most paramount form of navigation would be an interface in which takes you seamlessly to you desired location without having to lift a foot, such as a teleportation interface. The interface itself would need no more that voice recognition. Or to take the idea even further you marly think of where you need to go and the device takes you there. Obviously there are major pitfalls with this concept as the technology has not been created as of yet, and i feel the interface itself couldn't be fleshed out enough without knowing any restrictions the technology itself faced, however I felt this idea had to be addressed if only to reverse engineer the concept, in sight of arriving at todays paramount form of navigation  using current technology.   

Concept 2: Intuitive Interface

The best design is design that is hardly noticeable, that fulfills a task without the user needing to give it a thought. Keeping this in mind i developed a concept that uses the operators subconscious to guide them and act as an internal radar. The interface its-self involves the user typing in the destination on their phone and putting it in there pocket. The phone will then vibrate in different way in order to navigate the user around the building. For example if the user needs to go straight the phone is silent, then if the path requires a right turn the phone will vibrate twice seconds before the turn is needed, twice to turn right etc. The idea behind this is that with enough use of this app the vibrations will work their way into the user's subconscious, allowing them to arrive seamlessly at their destination without having to pay attention to the vibrating (like when you drive somewhere and arrive only to realize you have no recollection of the trip its self). The only downside to this is being able to fully adapt the concept to the brief as it would not need that much of an interface at all. 

Concept 3: First Person HUD

This idea integrates video game's use of a heads up display on screen to navigate through a building in real time. The screen will use photo realistic images showing what you are seeing infront of you in real life except with the addition of data such as arrows to guide you around the building. The top display will show all the main info such as your destination and current location. There will be a mini map of you current floor with a blip on it showing where you destination is and arrows giving you primary and supplementary directions of when/where you need to turn. I also came up with the idea of a gradient to display you elevation inside the building. The gradient will go from blue to red and a slider in the middle displays your current elevation. Blue being the ground floor and red being your destinations floor. I feel this method would be easily replicated in flash and there are enough current technologies to make it possible. However it is very close to applications that already exist and there is only so much originality i can add to the concept. Video games have been using this method for years so there is alot of inspiration to draw from however I run the risk of creating something that someone has already done with the saturation of similar interfaces on the market already. 

DSDN112 - Project 2 - Precedence - Video Game HUD (Heads Up Display)

 "Forza 4" has a HUD that efficiently navigates the player the fastest way around a track.

"Grand Theft Auto: Vice City" uses its HUD to gives a minimal, colorful way for the user to orientate and navigate a virtual world. 

Video games have for years offered well crafted interfaces to orientate and navigate the player in a virtual world. This interface is commonly known as a HUD (Heads up display) and gives the user not only information and about where they are but where they need to go, how to get there and other data essential to the game. Microsoft's "Forza 4" uses a HUD that incorporates live navigation with a mini map. This gives uses a live view of the current/fastest rout to take while the minimap provides a larger scale sense of orientation. Similarly in "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City" the player is given a mini map in the bottom left of the screen to orientate themselves as well as live on screen arrows showing the direction of a self appointed destination or one the computer has set allowing the user to successfully navigate in a virtual city. I feel the idea of a HUD in a real time first person navigational interface would provide the user with necessary live information and would incorporate itself easily into a cellphone application. 

DSDN104 - Project 2 - Final Assemblies

Acrylic assembly  

Card assembly 

These are my final illustrator files that will be laser cut next week. I have used stacking method, taking slices from the 3ds file of the torso and tentacles to achieve a 3d form from 2d planes. Because my final 3ds model is suspended in the air, I have constructed a stand that will be made out of acrylic so the stand will be transparent.  

DSDN112 - Project 2 - Precedence - TomTom

TomTom is a portable GPS unit that is the leader of its market.

TomTom is a portable GPS unit that's interface provides the user with a live up to the second update of where the user is anywhere in the world. Unlike google map's interface TomToms is not free and each unit cost around $200usd. However the advantage of this you do not need a computer to access its data. The interface itsself uses a combination of ariel and street views to orientate the user. However unlike google's "street view" tom toms first person view is animated so it could make it harder for the user to relate what they are seeing in real life to what they view on screen. I would like to adapt these views in my interface so that the user can experience a photo realistic first person view of the route they where taking and interact with opportunity to take different routs. 

DSDN112 - Project 2 - Navigation Interface - First Thoughts

Google maps and "street view" give users a multiview experience and provides a well orientated interface. 

Project two requires a design for a navigation interface. Having little experience with GPS or mapping applications I have had no outstanding first thoughts or inspiration. So I have gone back to basics and considered the process in which i would go through in order to reach a location I have never been before. I would first google search the adress or name of the building/location then use google maps "directions" function to find the fastest way to the given address. If the adress is central, with a lot of buildings i would use "street" view to give more of a visual aid to this process. I have found this works almost always when I need to find my way around. I would like to find a way of combining these two methods of navigation. However there has been no interface to my knowledge of allowing the user to navigate in a live feed through a building. I would like to exploit this untapped corner of the market for this project and create a user friendly first person live interface for navigating through the Te Aro campus.      

DSDN112 - Project 2 - Research - Campus Navigation Interfaces

Signs for use of navigation round the Kelburn campus.

 The physical "interface" Kelburn campus uses for navigation is very primitive, using arrow and maps of the exteriors of building. I feel this would be a valuable factor to add to a virtual navigation interface app. I do however feel this is restrictive and two dimensional as the various levels are not throughly accounted for. Also the interior navigation needs improvement. I feel this would translate to the interior of the Vivian St campus as the architecture has been changed throughout the building at different times causing a confusing room and studio layout.