Videos of projects I found very inspiring specific to advertising

Adobe Interactive Wall

http://www.brandnewschool.com/project.php?410/movies/Adobe_Making_of_the_wall.mov

The Adobe Interactive Wall is an advertisement that was developed in order to launch Adobes CS3 projects. As the user walks in front of the wall the tracking software records peoples movements and translates them into an animated mural. From left to right the mural develops from simple to complex graphics. This project was of great interest as it is an interactive advertisement that is developing an interest in a passer by and creating an experience through the brand.

Nike ID Generator

http://www.wonderactive.jp/award/2009/nike/nikeiD_generator/

This project was an in-store installation, where the user steps in front of the digital sign. Using a color-analyzing camera the program creates a pallet from the users clothes. This is then used to customize Nike Shoes in real-time. What was interesting in this project was the integration of different kinds of media. When the user used the installation, they received a 5-digit code printed on a card. This can then be used to buy their customized shoes.

Clear the financial fog

http://www.monstermedia.net/portfolio.php#240

The project has many similarities to this dissertation. As the user walks past the window a fog clears allowing the passer by to look inside the window. It works well as similar to the idea of people being interested in their reflection, giving them a glimpse into the office would also catch their interest.

Research Presentation

So today I did a presentation about my project. It was the first presentation I have done that I wasn't nervous about. I actually enjoyed giving it and getting some feedback from the class. So here I have embedded a copy. Enjoy..

Research Presentation

View and share presentations on PowerShow.com

After the presentation there were questions and comment of which are detailed below.

• It was noted that I had not mentioned user studies throughout. Which is a very important part, maybe up to now I have been bogged down with the technical part a bit too much. I hope to carry out user-centered design process, and will do up a plan soon.

• I was given a link to a very good paper on a similar topic, which details three projects installed into museums each which involved intensive user studies and evaluation. The paper is titled Creating Assemblies in Public Environments: Social Interaction, Interactive Exhibits and CSCW. I will talk about this paper in a separate blog post.

• I received good feedback towards some of my content ideas so far, so I plan to start sketching ideas asap

Organizing myself - Time management

Time Management:

So today I had a meeting with my supervisor and it was good to get an idea of what stage we should be at now, and a look at deadlines and where they land. So today I did up a Gantt chart of my own to plan out my project. It was more difficult than I had imagined.

For my project I have broken it down into different a

reas. The reason I did this was because each can be worked on simultaneously and independently for now and have certain deadlines which are the same, for example testing. So my areas are as follows:

• User Studies
• Projection
• Tracking
• Content
• Build

As it is hard to see the image of the Gantt chart on this blog I have detailed the sections.

LIT Review

First Draft - supervisor

Final Draft - supervisor + MF

Final Thesis - softbound

Exam

USER STUDIES

Location choice

Recording of footage of space

Analysis

Initial User Studies

PROJECTION

Email companies request sponshorship

Initial Material Trials

Material Purchase

Screen Imagery Build

TRACKING

Test current code

Camera trials + lighting trials

Re-code

Cooperative Evaluation - Test 1

Re-code

Heuristic Evaluation - Test 2

Re-code

Final Test during Setup

CONTENT

Sketch and brainstorm

Build

Cooperative Evaluation - Test 1

Re-design

Heuristics Evaluation - Test 2

Re-design 3 days

Final Test during Setup

BUILD

Setup and Build

Final Test during Setup

1 Week Installation

Footage analysis

Write-up

Storage Organization:

So from here on in the hard work on my thesis begins. So just a few bits or organization before I begin. I have setup the following...

• Blog - Rachels I-Media Project
• SketchBook - For sketches and details
• Bookmarks - Delicious
• Document sharing and updating - Google Documents
• Reference Store - EndNote
• External hard drive - needs to be purchased this week so I can have three back-ups. One in college, one on my laptop and one on the hard drive. I also plan to have version control which means each back-up will be updated with a new version (not overwritten) every 2 weeks, so at any one time I could only lose two weeks work.

Projector stuff - looking at Glass projection film VERY expensive

After seeing the importance of good lighting conditions during the installation earlier this year I have decided to battle this part of the challenge early on. Today I did a hunt on the net to find out about projection screens and how to successfully project in sunlight. I start this with very little knowledge of projections apart from what we have done in college. I focused my search on rear projections, and here are the results.

(1) So first I looked into a DIY attempt at building a screen. The best suggestion was using wax paper. It is good for rear projections but I have my doubts on its success for this project. Due to its size it needs to be weaved together then ironed. Two layers does created a good strength material with less hot-spotting but even ironing it doesn't get rid of all the creases. This was the only really useful DIY attempt I found. Other suggestions included shower curtains and plastic style sheets. Although all of these may work well for rear projection, due to the fact that it is a window display I have decided on this material would not work well due to reflection etc. so I thought I'd keep exploring.

(2) Next I started looking at blogs as I have always found these to be very useful. After a while hunting I came across this one....

http://nuigroup.com/forums/viewthread/4457/

In this post he compares six products:

• Polymex 50 micron double matte drafting film ($2 USD sq. m)
• Rosco Grey ($12 USD sq. m)
• mind.unity@gmail.com’s film ($90 USD sq. m)
• IFOHA Digiline White (169 EURO sq. m)
• IFOHA Digiline Contrast (230 EURO sq. m)
• 3M Vikuiti ($566 USD sq. m)

As you can see the price difference is large. He compares contrast, brightness, hot spotting, etc. I found it to be a very useful post, especially the image attached to it, which shows the six materials together. So I went on to all the websites and got a contact name, email address and phone number as well as a few details on each for further research. After a delve into the world of projection lingo (with the odd dictionary search for the terms I didn't understand) I put together a draft email. The email had the following layout:

* It stated that I was a student in the Interactive Media Masters in UL.

* That I'm working with a number of novel concepts for an interactive window advertisement.

* That I have a great interest in this area and a bit about my background.

* That on successful completion of this project I would hope to work in this area in Ireland as there is currently no one providing such a service.

* How I came across their product / company

* If they could give me a loan / large sample for use in my proof of concept project

* That I would be happy to share my findings and results with them, as well as video footage of the display.

Currently I am awaiting a reply, and will post back here soon....