Experiment Ideas for Usability Testing

Ideas for user testing prototypes
Installation Prototype
1)    Under the box – The box will be simply constructed from the cardboard and suspended from the ceiling. The gap between the box and the ground will be big enough for a person to lie down under and look up inside the box. At the top of the box, there will be a white screen which the movie from the Apple Store will be projected on. The audience would have to lay down on their back and look up under the box to view the movie.  The box is just enough for a person to view at once.

What happen if we discard the box and project the movie on to the ceiling? This will allow more viewer to participate in the experience.

2)     The next step is to project the random movie again from the Apple store to the top of the box. A computer program such as MAX/MSP or Openframeworks will control the shuffle of these small movie clips. This is an exercise for us to understand the concept of non-linear narrative, or they will be only random non-sense experience.

3)    The next step is to incorporate the audio component. Simple beats will be used according to each vdo clips.

Domains Paper Outline

DOMAINS PAPER OUTLINE V02
Thesis Concept
-    Recent concept  : “UND-VIS”
-    Expected Outcome : Narrative Installation
Domain Overview
-    Main Domain : Film Art
-    Sub Domain : Changing in Perspective in Art/Architecture
o    Renassiance discovery of linear perspective
-    Sub Domain : Spatial Perception of human

Main domain – Film Art
1)    Avant-grade film genre : City of Symphony
a.    Definition and theory
b.    Examples
c.    Thesis concept/methodology correlation

2)    Non-linear Narrative
a.    Definition and theory
b.    Examples
c.    Thesis concept/methodology correlation

3)    Expanded cinema
a.    Definition and theory
b.    Examples
c.    Thesis concept/methodology correlation

Sub-Domain – Changing perspective in art/architecture

-    Renaissance Art

Sub-Domain – Human Spatial Perception
-    Experiencing the city
-    Changing in P.O.V

Conclusion
-    Domain summary
-    Further questions
-     Next Steps

Lists of experiments
Understanding UND-VIS
1)    Under the zoo – Animal Miniture on the scanner
2)    Under the feet – Simple 3d character walk cycles
3)    Under the Apple Store – Footages from Apple Store
4)    Under the Dance Floor – Mocap. MJ’s dance move
5)    Under the room – via RC car in the lab
6)    UND-VIS Prototype 01 – Styleframe/character design/Narrative Map
7)    Under the glass box – Human Miniture study + Stop Motion
8)    Under the 3d city – 3d animation test
…

MIDTERM CRIT.

USEFUL POINT:

Presentation

- Overtime limit

Concept/Precedent/Domain

- Need more precedents for narrative, such as Run Lora Run, Crush and some other similar plots

Execution

The execution and the scoop of the project is still large. The chosen form of narrative for both directions either for animation or live action, the large amount of resources are needed such as a team of animators, studio space, large transparent platform, funding and technology. In other words, a full production team is necessary to complete the proposed project. The challenge here is how to simplify the project into the manageable scale.The critiques raised questions on the final execution.

- Prototyping live action is crucial and needed asap.

- Purchase 3d models and contact 3d animators for help.

- Sound and audio expploration?

The Biggest Challenge of My thesis 2 (10.20.08)

Studio;

- Creating styleframes : How to visually create the scenes from the underground perspective. The challage is to find the right tool for expression. Since it is an unconventional view, the imagination come in to play. My current tool is using 3d software to simulate the scene. Since my 3d skill is limited, the futher fear has been growing. The next question after complete the styleframes is how we are going to execute it. Do i need the external help?

- Creating the right narrative for the underground perspective : From the conclusion of my precedent paper, that the non-linear narrative is the direction my thesis is heading for. My original idea consists of the non-connected narrative of 5 characters, who at the end, meet at the intersection by a tragic accident. The challage here is to simplify the story down to the essences. Perhaps, there is a need for another user test on stroy and plot.

The Biggest Challenge of My thesis

Studio:
Recently, my thesis project have been in a steady progression. It is still in the process of simplification and finalizing its direction. After a number of revisions, the main path of the thesis is now directing toward narrative of exploration on the “underground vision”. Rather than creating two separate final prototypes with narrative and interactive, the thesis outcome would merge into one installation piece. Due to these revisions,  my timeline has been greatly off scheduled. The new schedule would expect to be finished at the end of this week.
The major challenge of this project has always been the understanding of underground perspective, since it is an unnatural point of view. The previous prototype has been the visualization of this vision via simulation in 3d application. There are definitely the major differences within real world and simulation.
Secondly, to create a story from underground perspective has been indeed a challenging task, from creating the main characters, designing their movements and designing the environment. Currently, the main story has been partially developed in a slower phase. Style-frames of each scenes from the story will be expected to complete by the new week for mid-term presentation.
The future challenge is now at the technical standpoint. How can we create the stage for the story. Do we need to build a large glass platform? How much budget do we need and size of production?

Thesis Summer Research

Summer Research Presentation

Underground Vision Study

Underground Vision from tu on Vimeo.

Documentation of underground vision at 5th Ave. Apple Store, NYC