Major Studio



Assignment 1: Identity / Self / Collective / Mapping

Part 1: Who are you, and why are you here?

Who Am I? I'm a surfer from Long Island...

What am I here to do? I have entered the Design and Technology Program, to once again surround myself with artistic and creative individuals in a creative environment. I want to get back to my creative roots and gain a deeper knowledge in both creative and technology aspects of the industry. I am not sure what specifically I would like to do... possibly combine my passion for surfing and "play" into my work on deeper level.

Why do I want to do it? After spending a large portion of my career working in a corporate environment, I felt I had drifted a long way from where I began my career. I was unhappy, and no longer satisfied with my work. I want to feel the energy and excitement for creating work again.

Where am I from, and where am I going? I began my studies at SVA studying computer art, specializing in 3d animation. During this time I was offered a job at HBO. In the beginning I resized ads and assisted the Studio Manager as well as the Art Directors. Once given a little freedom, I began retouching and handling larger campaigns. On the cusp of their migration into digital photography, I moved into the photo department. It was there where I aided in the creation of a digital asset management system and an archival server structure. In order to help our clients, I created manuals and cheat sheets that had tutorials described in layman's terms. Creative projects became less of a primary function as my role expanded into a system administrator and process management. I left HBO in order to pursue a career where I am not limited, and am able to push technology creatively. I no longer want the "safety" of a corporate career, rather a career that is satisfying.

How am I going to get there? Just as I learning a new location to surf, I am going to explore new breaks, take on new creative challenges, and continue to use technology as a tool for creative means.


Part 2: Mapping You

Completed Final Assignment As I looked through my ansers to the above questions, I found it hard to interpret myself as data. I started by pulling words out of the answers and creating a jumble. I made more important words hubs... and in the process felt that since surfing played a huge role in where I am, and who I am, and how I am going to get where I want to be... I needed to incorporate more so. Hence my final piece. Below are some iterations of the piece before it took its final shape.

Classroom Presentation At first, I was concerned that people would not understand how to read it - which is why I created a time line on the bottom - but the numbers were what my presenter looked for.

Morning after thoughts... Something that hit me this morning was that while I used the metaphor of surfing as a way of navigating my skill growth and life events... I saw the water/waves as a creative envoirnment... something that feeds my happiness and satifaction. The larger or more plentiful the waves the more challenged and satisfied I felt. Also, I remember my presenter mentioning courage... which I don't really consider myself, but leaving HBO in order to pursue my dreams was probably the hardest decision I have ever had to make.


Assignment 2: 7 in 7

Day 1: Long Beach

Creative Constraint Every morning, without fail I check the Lincoln Blvd. (Long Beach) surf cam so I chose the surf report to be my constant, and its data my variables. This location is my home spot Lincoln Blvd. I took screen grabs of the web cam to work with, as well as taking notes on the conditions for the location.

First cam video location.

Second cam video location.

Actual report for location

First iteration of representing data. The waves on the bottom represent the tides, the orange represents the wind direction, the edge of the island's southern border coinsides with the swell heights, and th red strips represent the best time to surf.

Final iteration..


Day 2: Oahu, Hawaii

With the surf going flat, I checked the report for Hawaii, the home of surfing. Also, home to many JAWSOME surf sots such as "the pipeline" and "the back door".

Screengrabs from web cam videos from locations around Oahu, Hawaii. I started by checking out "Pipeline" and "Backdoor", but surprizingly they were hardly the 13ft waves I have read and was told about. (Apparently, the swells are different in the winter.) Since there are so many surf spots in Oahu, I had to narrow it down. I chose at least one from each side of the island.

Sample reports from island locations.

Final iteration.


Day 3: Gilgo Beach, NY

Surf reports have been extremely low. The Surf competition had to cancel two days down in long beach for being so flat. I think the surf gods hate me...

Here is another one of my favorite surf spots. As you can tell, there is no height on the swells causing waves. This is making this project very hard...

Final iteration.


Day 4: Laurelton Avenue, The Surf Gods hate me...

Surf reports are still reporting 0-1ft waves. There are no surfers out, and really only one person even on the beach. This is calling for drastic measures.

I went down to the beach today, thinking this can't be... and to start to re think this project. Sure enough there were slim to no waves. My sanity from being out of the water so long and my 7 in 7 project seemed in jeopardy... what to do?! And then I thought what do I do when there are no waves... how does this evolve...

Stand Up Paddleboarding! Take that surf gods!

Final iteration.


Day 5: Tahiti

Tahiti is known for its killer waves, although the surf gods still hate me... Here's the report...

The North side of the island is flat.

The South side is getting some nice 5-6 ft, now time to think of what board can handle both situations. Low level action but with a bit of higher performance for the decent sized waves on the other side of the island...

Final iteration.


Day 6: Pacific Beach, CA

...

Some small surf break, but nothing for a real ride. Only option Skimboarding...

Final iteration.


Day 7: Kleinmind, South Africa

The surf gods are happy in africa! Awesome waves... but where exactly is this place?

No Cams?! How do these waves break?

Final iteration.


Day 8: What did I learn?

Completing 7 projects in 7 days was an interesting experience. There were many things I tried to do to make things easier, but in the end this project taught me that art needed to evolve, and grow sometimes in a way we were not planning for.

In order to save myself some deliberation on each day, which is always the part of the assignment that I struggle with, I set a tight constriction. I thought this would help me in the long run, as there would be less deliberation and more creation. In the long run this is probably what hurt me the most.

I decided to create some data visualization for different locations based upon the surf reports each morning. Unfortunately, every place that was chosen… or even looked at was flat. By day three in the project with unexpected poor data feeds from the surf reports, I had to modify my constraint. I actually went to the specific beach I picked. This cleared the production "woa's" from my head, and allowed me to refocus on what the project was about. Just because the surf sucked didn’t mean my project was stopped, or that I couldn’t use the knowledge that I had.

Day four’s project became a turning point for me. I made a break through on how to use the poor report to my advantage. What could I take away from this? What would a surfer want to know about these waves? How could I adapt these streams of data into my own prototype? After a nice paddle out, I designed a surfboard to give optimum performance for the report that was given. This was probably my biggest accomplishment doing this project.

Looking back there were so many more visualizations that could have been created, i.e. an interactive version, video with how each wave actually moves or is formed, creating a prototype of a surfboard out of clay or something as a smaller scale representation, or even creating a webzine for what each hot spot has to offer and what you can expect. Every morning after the project i woke up thinking how I should've done something different. I don't feel my projects ever are complete, rather just presentable.

Although I don’t feel my whole project was a success, it forced me to look at things differently. This allowed my project to evolve to the next level. I also learned that tight constraints aren’t always the best way to approach every project. I need to allow for growth and creativity to take control, no matter how risky it is. Sometimes you catch a wave you’re not ready for and it will wipe you out, but most certainly it will be one of the best rides you remember.


Assignment 3:

Location: Grace PLaza, 1114 Avenue of the Americas

Morning Observations:

Friday Lunch Observations: The plaza gets very crowded at lunchtime. Many people choose seating around the perimeter of the table arrangement. Some come in groups but many come alone, sit and eat then leave shortly after. Some linger and wait around, meet up with friends or co-workers. There aren't many smokers (if any at all). on the north side of the plaza are food carts, and on the east side there is a resturant with an out door eating area. The outdoor resturant seating only has one or two tables occupied. No one sat for their full lunch hour, rather just to eat and leave. The longest I saw anyone stay was 15-20 minutes.

An example of the chosen seats of people around the perimeter of the table set up. Very rarely does a person choose a center seat if an exterior one is available.

People line up for smoothies, gyros, etc. Then they usually take a seat along the wall and eat before heading on there way. The smoothie truck is there in the morning as well.

Upon further investigation, I found there was a smoker's corner hidden away on the north east corner. There people who came out of the grace building would go and have a ciggarette under the building or on the exterior facing benches. They would head back in shortly after.

Security makes rounds through the plaza, starting closest to the Grace building, to where the inner resturant seating ends, and continues to the entrance. I witnessed him/them (there are 2 or 3) interact with the janitors, as well as people who need directions/information.

The janitor(s) make rounds as well, they sweep the perimeter both outside and inside the plaza with their rolling trash cans. They make rounds about every hour to ensure trash is cleaned up.

Friday After Lunch Observations: As the lunch crowd leaves the plaza becomes a bit calmer. Many people just pass through, stopping to text or talk on there phones. There ae a few people who sit at the inner tables reading, and a couple that look like they are doing homework.

In one of the more private seating sections, four ladies met for a meeting. They were kind enough to answer a few questions, i.e. Why were they there? Do they meet there often? Do they work nearby? etc. They like to go outside for meetings in the afternoon (in the more secluded areas) because it tends to be more quiet. They also hate meeting indoors on sunny fridays, it makes them feel better about working on a nice day. They work in the grace building and rarely get to go outside throughout the day, so they try to hold their meetings outside when they can.

In another more private sitting area, a couple sat all afternoon. Not sure if they were hanging out, or having a "talk"... I didn't want to intrude if they were having a "talk" or else I would have tried to interview them.

Throughout the afternoon (from 3-5pm) a few people still stopped by and ate. Pidgeons did occasionally walk through the area. One person fed them while a child with his mother tried to chase them away.

People would also bring their children to the plaza. A few brought babies in strollers to meet for lunch. One met what I can assume is the baby's father and left together. Other's brought children there to feed them. And the woman above brought her children there so she could eat!

As I sat and ate a sandwich, I noticed a girl with textbooks spread out on the table next to me. Her name was Amanda. She attends school at queens college, but lives near by. She loves coming to the plaza to do her homework, because it helps her concentrate. She said many times it gets too crowded for her to get her work done. She likes to go there mid to late afternoons to avoid the crowds. She would not let me take a picture but let me take a picture of her books instead.

Friday Evening Observations: At about 4:30-5pm people started to flood out of the grace building. The plaza was filled with people on their way to their next obigations. Aat about 7:30-8pm the rush was over and the sun was going down. There were lights that went on to illuminate the plaza. The people that remained in the plaza throughout the day had left and it was empty except for a few stragglers.

Saturday Afternoon/Evening Observations: On my way home Saturday, I stopped by the plaza to see if it was just as crowded on the weekends. Surprizingly, there was no one there. The tables had been moved into a large outline of a square blocking the walk path created on Friday. I spoke to the security guard and he told me that they moved the seating around for an event that was happening there this weekend. He also said that unless there is an event the weekend are very quiet and never as busy as a weekday.


Sketches & Other Observations:

Unlike many other outside public spaces, Grace Plaza has no public wifi.With the amount of people using their phones in this area its odd there are no charger stations or a public wifi to connect to.

This study was done on Friday at lunch time. The red circles represnt the most frequently sat at tables, and the red squares represent the most sat at benches. The sitting bars along the north and east wall by far got the most sitting action. The green arrows represent the paths people took to walk through the plaza.

Source Videos:


Assignment 3: Prototype 1

The Making Of:

Using Photoshop we merges a picture of Bryant Park, which is behind the Grace building, and the the Grace Plaza. We printed this image at 34" x 100", folded it and mounted it on cardboard for support.


Final Product: See the final images below of the final product for this prototype.


Assignment 3: Prototype 1 Testing

Using Photoshop we merges a picture of Bryant Park, which is behind the Grace building, and the the Grace Plaza. We printed this image at 34" x 100", folded it and mounted it on cardboard for support.

Results: .

Summary Video:

Source Videos:


Assignment 3: Prototype 2

The Making Of:

Using a QR generator and an anonomous website tracker, created QR codes on 8.5" x 11" paper. These were mounted on matte board for support and stands.

Final Product: See the final images below of the final product for this prototype.


Assignment 3: Prototype 2 Testing

Using an ananomous website with a visitation tracker, we spread the QR codes around the park and waited for people to use the technology that distracted them as a window into our project

Results: .

Summary Video:

Source Videos:


Assignment 3: Final Prototype

Control Study:

Since we did not expect a significant change in the the plaza, we did an indepth observation to compare our final observations to.

Summary Video:

Source Videos:

The making of... This time we printed two images 48" x 120" each. One was a close up of the wall to provide a better camoflage, and the other a beachy bridge scene with type that read "Made you look. They were then mounted on scored foamcore for support. Finally dowels were added at ever two feet to prop this into the ground. Double sided adhesive was also added to secure a firm mount to the wall.

Other "Side B" Possibilites: Some other iterations we played with for the reveal...

Final Product: See the final images below of the final product for this prototype.

Assignment 3: Prototype 3 Testing

Results: .

Summary Video:

Source Videos:


Assignment 3: Final Presentation and Reflection

Google Presentation
My Reflection:

When the class initially discussed “Instructions for Strangers”, I immediately thought of Grace Plaza. I had worked in the area for years and had seen it in many phases. The last time I passed through, there wasn’t any outdoor lunch tables and there were few planters that shifted depending on what the season was. I thought this would be perfect, we would definitely be able to make a significant change there. Then I saw it in the Whyte video and thought maybe we should pass on this one… After discussing it with Gabby, she wasn’t too keen on the idea and suggested a few other places. The next morning, we somehow had settled on observing Grace Plaza. I was open to do a second location just in case but to quote Gabby… “Grace is our girl!”

I wasn’t overly excited at the window wall. I had never done an installation piece, and felt it was too complicated for the timeframe we had. I also felt that it wasn’t going to draw the crowd we wanted. Well, actually, I didn’t really want to draw a crowd… I was more interested in making people walk away with a thought that would stay with them and continue after the project was over. After the first presentation, and witnessing the classes reaction to “Window Wall”. This was clearly the strongest project, and we should pursue this one.

The one of the biggest obstacles we faced in doing this project was keeping it within our means. Many times Gabby and myself would feed off of each other inadvertently adding unnecessary layers of complexity to the project. It was important for both of us to keep each other in check and focused on the project we began. We both set high standards for our projects, and are disappointed when they don’t turn out as expected. By the end of this project, we learned that sometimes things just won’t be perfect, and the more complex the idea isn’t always the better one.

This project hit me a little close to home. A little over a year ago, I left HBO to pursue creatively and technically challenging projects. I can’t even remember how many times a day I walked through Grace Plaza without a thought other than getting to work or catching a train home. Many times I did not even stop to think about where I was, or what was happening around me. Every time I sat in the plaza I wanted people to come to the same realization I had… there was more to the path they were on.


Assignment 4: Research Algorithm

Google Presentation

Assignment 5: Game Play Write-up

Game One: Luxuria Superbia

I played luxuria Superbia's Beta on my Mac Laptop. Although, I was unable to fully experience the game's touch play, I did gather some interesting thoughts about it. This game starts off with the player touching the flowers within the flower. The more you touch the more intense the color of the flower gets.The flower sublty speaks to the player enouraging touch. It is almost like touching the flower brings a more intimate pleasure to the flower. The subtle phrases spoken through out the game such as "pollinate me" bring the experience of the user to almost an uncomfortable level. It is much like you are having sex with a flower while on acid. It was interesting how this game made the user feel the intensity of the game as they continued to build the flower's intensity.

After playing, I looked up more information about the game and the latin meaning behind the game title... which is "lust" and "pride". This is exactly what the game creates. You build the pride of the flower, as it indulges on an intimate action. (for some reason I think of a peacock.)

Game Two: Sound Dodger

This game was available on the adult swim website. This game used music to control the obstacles within the level. The beets and melody control how many of the arrows are projected. The slow motion option the player has adds an interesting mix, which allows players to manuver between tight spaces. Unfortunately, doing this will not give you as many points. This game forces the user to stay in a "concentration zone" in order to score points. The player at time needs to quickly plan a route in between the triangles to get through. This game kept my attention much better then Luxuria Superbia.

Game Three: Flow

This game played with the idea of a water based organism and its evolution. Instead of moving to a new level, you are able to travel between layers with a level of transparency. There is a sence of simplicity within the complex creation of different organisims. While the user remains focused on growing their organisim there is calming music played, almost allowing the player to feel like they are in a pool of water.

Thoughts

I really enjoyed this assignment. Between working, school, assignments and other life obligations it has been hard to sit down and explore new games. It became more then just playing games, it became a research algorithym for me. I found a part of a game I thought was interesting and I explored that topic.This lead me to explore a solution to a problem I saw in my final project.

The most metitative part in surfing is that you have no other option but to clear your mind. At any moment you can be over taken by a wave, but you can also enjoy some of the sea's most peaceful moments. I thought I would need to use an installation for that to be accomplished but by playing Sound Dodger and FLow, it creates a similar enviornment where you need to commit focus to your task. It may be possible for a digital enviornment.

This assignment introduced me to games I may never have looked to for inspiration.


Part 1: The First Prototype

Choose Your Own Story

Originally, going off the idea of building a game where you chose the location, and a real time feed would create the obstacles on the level, I created a choose your own story book. This was an attempt to show the unknown consequenses of the choice made. This prototype is not applicable anymore.



Part 1 Revised: Final Project Ideas

Google Presentation

Part 2: Breathing & Balance Prototype

Goof Board Balance and breathing

As a preliminary prototype I explored the effects of breathing with balance. The original plan was to build an interactive board and visual set of waves that was affected by the users breathing pattern. The faster and more shallow the breaths that were taken the more chaotic the visual waves became and the balance board was supposed to shake. This was meant to force the end user into breathing in rhythm with their body to maintain their position on the board, as in surfing. This should also result in the user having to clear their head of any other thoughts, but maintaining balance.

The first step in creating this prototype was to create a visual that would change with the measurement of someone’s breath. The visual was created using Adobe Illustrator to create different layers for the horizon: a gradient as the sky, the sun and its rays, two layers of water. Another layer of water was added by creating vertical lines as p-vector images across the screen. Using processing and the internal microphone on a Mac Book Pro, I mended these together in the scene below. Adding interactivity through the microphone as it sensed sound, or in this case breath, it would cause the waves to react. Sample code from this part of the prototype can be found here.

The second part of this prototype involved the use of a product called a “Goof Board”. This item was a piece of wood cut in the shape of a surfboard that sat on a tube. The objective for using this object was for users to balance on this board, and roll from, with a three-inch diameter, end to end without falling. As a test to see how users would react if the ground that they stood on shook with the waves, I used the board and manually shook it as needed.


This is a screen grab of the processing game created. Here is a video to demonstrate how the code actually works. The code is also available on github.



Findings:

This prototype was tested on Colleen Macklin’s section of Major Studio 1 (MS1) Class at Parsons The New School of Design. While many users wanted to try this prototype, users had difficulty keeping their balance. Many of them needed to use chairs as side rails to prevent them from falling over. The microphone cable was too short for the user to wear to have an accurate reading. It also picked up and created waves for other noises within the room. The display was small and hard to see when standing a distance. A weird feedback loop was also created when I manually shook the board as in time with breathing. The stronger users got stronger and the weaker users were set up for failure. This was not the aesthetic I wanted to create

 


Part 3: Breathing In Digital Prototype

Breathing in digital

To improve upon the original breath sensor, I began exploring more accurate methods of sampling breath. Two different sensors were recommended for this, one is the stretch sensor and the other is built from liquid flow regulator. I began playing with the stretch sensor, a conductive piece of rubber that can measure resistance in movement that was acquired from the New York University Book Store. I connected one end to the power and one to the data input and a resistor to the ground on an Arduino Uno. Using a sample code from the analog input tutorial in the Arduino examples I attempted to make the screen change colors based on the amount of resistance in the stretch sensor.

Unfortunately, due to a system and software update, there were many obstacles to conquer in order to create the serial connection to input the data into processing. When the connection was finally made, I was unable to get a consistent reading out of the stretch sensor. This Sample code for this prototype can be found here.

I need to put the technology down and re-explore the aethetic/end-user-experience.


Part 4: Exploration Prototype

Sound, Balance & Video

In an effort to remain focused on the aesthetic, in stead of pushing this as solely a technical piece, there not only needed to be a resolution with the accuracy of the breathing sensor, but the board itself needed to be reconsidered. This prototype is a series of experimental situations using a white room with a speaker system, projector, camera and the goof board in an effort to continue to explore the more "healing" aspects of surfing.

Footage Used:


The first test run was having each user to breath with the wave sounds played (exhaling as each crashed). Next each user was given a few minutes to acclimate themselves with the goof board.
The users continued while wave sounds were played. Finally, a video shot from my surfboard as I was paddling out was projected on the wall in front of them. I had some users test the board the way it was supposed to be used, and others test it sideways to provide more glide.






  • Findings:

    I was unable to get the Veteran I planned on to come, and I am still waiting on a meeting time for the behavioral therapist. I have pulled more research together about PTSD, anxiety, autism, etc. and piece together how surfing, or the aspects of) may be beneficial to their treatment.

    Two of the users were under stressors from their daily activities. Both were feeling the stresses of academia, one also had some relationship issues. These two talked for part of their “testing”. It wasn’t planned rather just happened when they were practicing on the board they started talking and didn’t stop. What was weird was as they were talking they swayed back and forth on the board naturally and for a longer time then they did without. This questions if a social component is needed. The Jimmy Miller foundation has group sessions after there "water" sessions. Surfers go in packs... very seldom do you just see one out there (and they cheer each other on).

    Part of the test group included a man with severe ADHD. He was very active and was not patient when waiting for the previous participant to finish. He was very interested in the board and was not afraid of falling off. He remained balanced on the board longer then any other participant. After completing the testing, he was asked what is experience was like in relation to his own self-medicating. He compared it to his own forms of self-medication, saying that it was better because he felt accomplished.

    Overall, the first section of this exploration proved to be very relaxing, although at times the waves in the recording seemed to be spaced out awkwardly. Upon adding the board in, many users struggled and needed the aide of something to help their balance. More often then not, the majority of users did try to balance without help. Placement of a chair to aid in balance if needed, helped those users who were feeling frustrated trying to balance on the board. The audio and video that were added did not affect all users. Some noticed this and it added to their experience, others remained focused looking down at their feet. The users who were affected felt as if they were in the ocean.

    So now I am feeling a little lost. I am not sure what my next steps should be… There are a bunch of things I could play with, but I don’t know if its the right direction to go in. I am not even sure what my final project will be at this point (which is a little nerve wracking)… I am thinking of creating a room with all four walls with the projection of a surf video. North wall would be looking out into the ocean, south would be the shore, left and right would be those sides respectively. The video would just loop as it did in the test, creating the experience of being in the water far away from life on land. I would also like to have the waves crash as the user exhales… giving a sense of release. The board I am unsure of what to do. I can make it wider or I can change the pipe underneath to a ball. The risk is a necessary component, without that the user loose focus. It is important that they can fall, it makes the goal of balance all the more glorious.

    Source Videos:


    Part 5: Video, Sound and Balance Prototype

    New Board, more envoirnment

    This prototype was built in an attempt to decrease anxiety about riding the board. A new board was built approximately 24 inches wide and about 35 inches in height, giving the user an additional 10 inches across and five inches in length to maneuver balance more comfortably. In addition, two more levels of difficulty were added using PVC piping, an inch in diameter, and a metal pipe, two inches in diameter. Two different videos were tested, one static and the other moving with the motion of the water. Both were played on a large screen (70 inch) television, approximately three feet away from the user.

    Findings:

    Offering different levels, welcomed more users to balance. The majority of users chose the middle size to ride. Out of the two videos users preferred the cleaner day of surf waves, where the camera moved with the motion of the board. The wave sounds were calming, but one user suggested some lower beach ambience in between. Using the TV screen instead of the projector allowed for more lighting around the balance board. This made uses more comfortable and the view was not obstructed by their shadows.This made pe ople more comfortable and the view was not obstructed by their shadows.


    Part 6: Wii Balance Prototype

    Newer Board, new envoirnment

    This iteration used new video footage with a Wii balance board. Using Osculator to route the raw data from the blue tooth Wii Balance Board through a local port, which fed into Open Frameworks. This information was interpreted and a dot was drawn to represent the users shift in weight. Sample code for Wii data import into Open Frameworks can be found https://github.com/compagnb/MajorStudio1/blob/master/oscReceiveExample3.zip

    As an experiment, multiple (north, south, east, and west) views of paddling out and riding a wave were prepared to be displayed on four perpendicular walls.

    The video was a placebo, remaining on a consistent rotating loop, to see if the end aesthetic would be affected if there were no physical risk to falling from the board. In the center of the screen a target was drawn, to give the user a goal. The user needed to get the weight representation dot into the target while the video played.

    Wii/Of Testing:


    Findings:

    Users needed to get themselves in similar weight shifting positions as they would when surfing. The uncomfortable and awkward stances were needed in order for the users to keep their balance. This tasked proved to be a challenge for all. Users enjoyed seeing the tip of the board as they moved. It made them feel part of the environment.


    Part 7: PlayTech Testing

    Now with rotating video!

    Using the same set up from the previous prototype, there were changes made within the code that shifted the rotation of the video. The footage was edited to crop out the board, and a loop was put in to create an endless feed if needed. The user needed to remain balanced on the board for a total of 1000 counts, or about three minutes. There was an error in the code and it was additive not three minutes per count. Sample source code for this prototype can be found here.

    Findings:

    This was tested at the PlayTech Event at Parsons The New School of Design. Overall the feedback was positive. Users enjoyed the experience created, many felt like they were there. Some wanted more, or a reaction for meeting the goal of remaining balanced for 3 minutes. Some of the smaller users were too light to get the ball on the target. Many of the users who took this experience seriously commented that it was quite the workout. Those who did not use the headphones said that it needed sound.

     

    Source Videos:


    Part 8: Wii Balance Prototype 2.0

    Now with breath sensing!

    The stretch sensor was reworked twice with the production of this iteration. At first it was only part of a non-stretch piece of material/rubber. This allowed for some movement, but often interfered with data readings, and proved hard to put in place and remove from the user. A simpler band replaced the ornate corset-like monitor.

    Source Videos:

  • Using the Firmata Arduino library example, readings were imported into both processing and open frameworks. The sensor data was used within a conditional statement to play an audio file when it was set to expand as the user took a breath in, expanding their chest cavity. In order to remedy the inconsistent readings prior, higher resistors were placed in between the ground and data end of the sensor.  The wireless shield did not arrive in time to make this a wireless data import; longer custom wires were created from old RCA cables. Sample code for Standard Firmata can be found at here. Sample code for importing sensor readings from the conductive rubber can be found at here.

    Adhering the sensor to a person seemed trouble some. After playing with some options, I decided t attach the rubber to a snap clip. Eventually it may be easiest to do this with conductive thread and an arduino lily pad.

    Calibration for the breathe sensor needs more testing, as each person has a different "norm" and thickness.

    Source Videos:

    The frame size was modified in addition to the video repositioning to hide any blank area left as the video rotated. Images were also added, one for the title and a “wipeout”. Collision detection was also added to show status. The targets and positioning cursors were changed once more to a semi transparent set of three circles to eliminate distraction for the user. If the body marker is within any of the targets a different video plays, the top (or lean back) is a short ride into shore, the middle (or slight lean forward) is waiting for the next set to roll in, and the lowest (or lean totally forward) is a barrel wave. There are also invisible barriers sets put within the scene to prevent the users from drifting too far away from their center of gravity. When these are hit it exits the game and shows a picture of a “wipe out”.

    Videos were stabilized in Adobe After Effects, and rendered out as longer clips and without sound. The ambient sound placed in the background of the project was custom designed in Adobe Audition using a royalty free sound clip library, as was the different sounds for each of the target states.

    The final iteration of code can be found here.

     

     

    Part 9: Questions

    Question 1: What is my aesthetic goal for the project? Or in other words, How do I want the participant to feel?

    Answer: “The purpose of art is to wash the dust of daily life off our souls…” (Pablo Picasso) 

    Anxiety disorders can hinder the way of life for anyone who bears the burden of having one. For much Surf has been a healing experience to cope with this disorder. “Let Go Or Be Dragged” is the exploration of replicating the healing experience of surfing in a digital environment.

    Question 2: If you were to present this project in a public venue (like a gallery, publication, or conference) what venue would be best?

    Answer: The ideal location for this project would most likely be a crisis center, therapeutic office or home use. This would allow the people who most need mental and emotional clarity, and are not physically able to surf would have access to this project. It can also be used within physical therapists offices as a way to exercise both the mind and body as it needs for recovery.

    Question 3: Who else is doing this kind of work, and what inspires the project?

    Answer: “Wheels 2 Water”, “The Jimmy Miller Foundation”, “Surfers For Autism” and “Surf For All” are groups to make efforts to heal people with helping people find healing within the surfing experience. “Wheels 2 Water” is a non-profit organization that facilitates people with spinal cord injuries to experience surfing. (Wheels2Water n.d.) “The Jimmy Miller Foundation” treats veteran soldiers who suffer from PTSD with a series of surf sessions followed by group therapy sessions on the beach afterward. One participant in this program claimed that he was not able to sleep after coming home from the war, but after one session in the water he began sleeping again. The physical exertion from surfing tired him so that he was able to begin his healing process. (Jimmy Miller Foundation n.d.) The “Surfers For Autism” organization specializes in treating children on the autistic spectrum. Many of their participants find a sense of ease because there is a consistent pattern in which the water behaves. (Surfers For Autism n.d.) “Surf For All”, which is run by the Skudin family in Long Beach, New York, encompasses all of these groups and does outreach for all people.

    Question 4: What is cool* about your project?

    Answer: Unlike many of the surfing games in production now, this is more then a navigational steering game. This project incorporates first person video taken from real surfing experiences to recreate not only the environment but also how it made the witness (and now user) feel. By learning to put ourselves in uncomfortable situations we feel safer taking the risks necessary to our own “healing”.

     

    Part10: Final Documentation and Presentation

    Final Presentation can be downloaded here in PDF format.
    Final Documentation can be downloaded here in PDF format.