WEEK 5 LECTURE

This week's lecture consider much about the submission for the Project 1
But still there are lots of interesting Mrs. Blachnitzky shows us
3 videos about popular, experienced designers and their interviews on their own projects, inventions.
1) Bill Atkinson
Design the interface : combine folders at the bottom
Scroll down menu bar to save a lot of spaces
Better for users know where to go

2) Rob Haitani
what we should design is what the users use the most frequently, develop the steps into one simple to save lots of time (good design depends on observing)

3) Cordell Ratzlaff
Nothing really impressed me, so...

The fourth video is about a new invention (actually it is announced two years ago but now is totally better for a so-called "beta)
4) The sixth sense

Pattie Maes demos the Sixth Sense on TED.com

The student who made this thing is truly a genius. The object is amazing, I would say it is absolutely awesome (I'm impressed a lot).

I felt like : "Wow, the fictional movie actually showed true things". The "sixth sense" object is a combination of all the the touch-air screen in the very-far-future movie. 

DESCRIPTION FOR PROJECT 1

6 SHOTS FOR MY FINAL MODEL

Trial with green and dog footprint shape

Trial with yellow and butterfly shape

Green only

Green with arrows shape

Blue only

Blue with dog footprint shape

DRAFT RENDERED IDEA FOR PROJECT

The light channel behind colours and shapes changers

QUICK SKETCHES FOR NEW IDEA - LIGHT BOX

1) The box lies with quite long colour papers roll (Idea with the old slider)
2) Make a sphere with the light at right the center
        2.1 - The roll with spin handle in horizon; the texture go on the surface with some holes on it.
        2.2 - The sphere with a lot holes on it; very bright light at the center; spin around for changing colours and texture
        2.3 - The sphere divined into 2 parts which can spin reversely at each others --> move a cog wheel inside to change the whole system colour changing

1) A sphere is fixed with a stick go through the center; a frame strengthen the stick and all the structure ---> spin the ball really fast to make the changes
2) A small light at quite far behind the colours mask (colours changer)
Colour changer : a half-sphere with the mirrors inside (change the directions of the light into a smaller focus spot). Spin the sphere vertically to make the changes
3) A light box a little bit far from the colour changers. The box make a hole so it looks like a channel for the light go through (limit on the light for more excitements). Make 2 or 3 frames have slits on them so can put cards as colour changers in. Even I will make some textures (simple picture like : butterfly, dog, cat, hand, foot...)

SLIGHTLY TEST LIGHT WITH MY SECOND MODEL

I tried to put a quite bright light beneath my second model (made before). I also tried a colour glass papers (which are see-through) onto the roll.
Problems :
The connection between two colours of the roll is too thick and it causes loosening on the papers' surfaces.
I did buy a 12V light with an AKALINE 12V battery (Energizer). It didn't work at all. Then I tried with an AAA 1.5V battery, it worked but the light lit on very slightly. Final solution : I connected 8 of the AAA batteries together (=12V), it worked well but it ended up being too long for the model.

Feedback from Friday class :
Make a box with quite lots of holes on it for more effects
Fix the light so it can move
Make the roll horizontally, so the users can reflect the light onto the wall or any dark surfaces horizontally.

WEEK 4 LECTURE

Last Monday, Mrs. Blachnitzky showed us a very interesting video (in my opinion) about improving the listening skill.
5 Ways of listening better

The first project is under half way. I was feeling kind of interesting to this project, quite lots of work to do but the crafting skills and experience I've acquired are considerable.

CONCEPT FOR NEW IDEA

I'm going to put a light (must be really bright) beneath my conveyour belt (it was supposed to be the images roll). When the user spin the handle the paper strip roll over and change the colour as well as the texture, so the light comes out with different shapes and different colours. Even I will try the different shapes onto my box, I think of the cone, the sphere, or a cut-off cylinder. I had a plan to go around and find some plastic papers, carton, lights, wires etc. but still not have an idea how I am going to arrange all of them into a box.

MORE INSPIRATIONS

Magic Moving Images

 

Bolz spinning top 

Japan Technological LED Spinning Top

 

 Ideas : the lights really attract me, I thought of :"Why don't I just do the light box which can change the colours by spinning instead of the animation slider?". Also, mucked around the youtube.com give me more relaxations, all great.

COMPARISON : 1 VS. 2

 1

2












Feedback for second one :
- Make everything bigger and have some way of isolating the animation image line blinder glasses or something
- Need to get the two rolls spinning at the same time
- Something to come out at you
- Maybe a tighter rubber band and skinnier groove will get them both spinning
- Try to make a little wheel and put a rubber on it
- Have an animation that isn't quite complete so the user can alter it

THE SECOND MODEL

The second model took me a little bit longer than the first one (about 6 hours). I was about to keep it simple, but my crafting skill didn't allow me. Overall, I once again improve my skill and even my thinking to make objects. I felt so good when I've done this.
The test showed the result was much better than the last one. I tried to change as close as the feedback I'd gotten. The problems are : the rubber band are not strained enough to keep the spinning good; the size is not precise between two rolls; and the balsam wood is easy to craft but too soft for a firm structure.
Mrs. Blachnitzky once again asked me to change my idea, maybe somehow add more some "second element" into my model to make it more interesting. hmmmm.... I'll give it a try.