Character Creation

So far this week we've been focusing on character creation and some clay animations using still frame shots. I've enjoyed this as drawing is something i like and find quite fun, also anything to do with building or constructing. After a few concepts i came up with a bunny figure and had a feeling that i had seen it before, like in my subconscious, but i drew him out and got the proportions close to what i felt was right. I found that all the tasks we've had have short time frames for each one which force you to get onto it and create something in a reasonably short time. I'm not saying it is bad, cause its not it get you into quickly and pulls out your time skills, but i think there could be some really impressive project if more time was given to nut out the characters and create some longer more impressive clay animations.

Here's my bunny clay animation I'll put the sketches of the bunny on later when I scan them in.

computer programming

So we've started on programming using the program "processing" it seemed reasonably daunting at the beginning especially after Jitter but it doesn't seem so bad everything makes relative sense except that some values such as transparency wouldn't be from 0 - 100 but from 0 - 255 which was just a pain. Also rotation and arc's were a right bitch because they were measured in radians and not degrees and also didn't specify where the start point was just to make it harder.

Wearable interface

7th of April I've been writing down ideas in my mini substitute diary book, so far I've only had a few ideas some of which cant be used as they are not a wearable garment and so have to be scrapped but the other ideas involved video image that changed with human interaction to create a seamless video that could have movements controlled by buttons. The idea was that i would bounce on the trampoline and the movements i conducted would be able to be controlled via remote. Other ideas included foot touch sensors and manikins to control the movement but were scrapped.

9th of April Looking on the internet i have been reading up on tutorials on jitter and find that there is a lot you can do with this program except finding specifics is quite hard as you need to know exactly what you want and the exact keywords that achieve the desired result. With so much to do and so many short cuts you really need to specialize on your task and speed learn what you can for what you need.

10th of April I've started writing my program in Max and find that it is going well, i can so far have to videos playing and switch between them. What i didn't notice at first is that while switching between videos the other keeps playing at the same time therefore when you switch back you are at a different point to where you left it. Scanning the internet there doesn't seem to be many specifics on this but this could be because I'm not searching for the right things or my keywords are nowhere near what i need.

12th of april I've been in some trouble now as i cant seem to get the switch to do multiply videos after looking on the net and asking people i cant seem to find away around it. Probably going to have to resort to emailing James and ask for his help on the situation.

13th April the weather hasn't been the best and I'm postponing going on the trampoline might just be procrastination? but its not to hard its just a pain to film it thats all.

Event 5

I saw the movie "How to train your dragon" in the holidays which for a kids movie was pretty good. It starts with a dramatic fight scene were dragons are battling vikings who are fighting to protect their small village, and these battles have been going on ever since they set foot on the island. With voices such as Gerard Butler the characters have a real depth to them and fully emerge you in the story line. The animations were so indepth and precise that everywhere you looked seemed unreal. Using this amazing animations they made it in 3D as well, giving the flying scenes an amazing rush and beauty. The story line for this film was a little predictable but with quick witted humour for the young and old with a small plot twist at the end which i though was quite brutal for some little kids to handle. Overall it was a great movie which surpassed my expectations and is one of the best movies I've seen this year.

Event 6

Tonight as i got home at 11pm i killed the lights to my car and in a systematic fashion engaged the handbrake and at the same time pulled out the keys, released the seatbelt and got out. Looking up there wasn't a cloud in the sky and the stars sat vast in a sea of black. Deciding to find one of the few constellations i know of, the southern cross, i scanned the black depths of heaven trying to find it. As my gaze flickered from star to star a bright flash appeared and trailed a streak of bright light for a few seconds before disappearing into oblivion. It took me a few seconds to realize that i just saw a shooting star and for some reason i felt excited and wondered how many others would of seen it? It was almost like a single viewing just for me. After i had gotten over the awe that it had bestowed upon me i found my southern cross and walked inside as the cold started biting at my arms and through my jeans. Thinking of it being such a cool event i sat down and pulled out my computer and decided to record it on my blog. And here i am now...

frustrating

I've now been trying to work Animata to an external source now for over 4 hours, my keypad doesnt seem to show up on the external sources i am allowed to use so there for is useless. I've been on the internet looking for motion capture software to see if it can be plugged into Animata which it looks like it can. Now im just looking for someones Max MSP file that they have used for it to get an idea or piggy back it and make it suit my own needs. So far no luck and not looking good.

Event 7

I stared at the people milled about the train stations platform as a chilled gust of wind bit into my bones. Wearing jeans and a T-Shirt with my black bag slung on my back i waited in the cool 7.20 morning breeze. I find I like to observe people in my hour trip into Uni, from the train station to the final stop at Britomart. Were interesting species as we find we have to identify ourselves as different and unique. Although some still try to conform to society and blend in with the crowd. As the train pulled up, metal on metal screeched as the train slowed to a halt. Hisses erupted as multiple doors opened along the hull of this multi carriage machine. As the small crowd surged forward into these metal tubes hoping to gain a seat to themselves and avoid interaction with others. I sat down on the brightly coloured chairs and pulled out my phone, plugging in my ear phones and slotting them in my ears tuned into the rock, my favorite radio station. As a drone of noise entered my skull i looked up from the luminosity of my phone screen and had a gaze at the occupants on the train. Most of them were spread out choosing to sit apart from one another, I cant say much as it would be hypocritical of me but its interesting how such a social race will choose seclusion in an almost forced upon interactive event. Eventually strangers would sit next to strangers but it would be prolonged as long as possible. A women sitting opposite me in long black pants, white top with a black overcoat and hair neatly in a bun stared intently into an open book completely lost to her surroundings. One way to past the time and remove yourself from engaging. Already i was stereotyping her based on appearance alone. It's inevitable that we judge people based on appearance. Study's show that we will base 80% of our opinion on someone within the first 3 seconds of meeting them. As I scanned the carriage from seat to seat examining passengers between glass and metal creating my own opinion and analyzing details. As the train stopped at station after station more people milled on and my observing continued. Your senses are bombarded on a train if you open yourself to it, the constant clunk of the train on the tracks, the soft buzz of music filtered from an ipod speaker, the sniff and cough of winters cold, the smell of women's perfume as it wafts through the air or the array of colours and contrasts that bombard your optics. In no time the trip is over and I'm walking out of the train with a wave of people, just another person in the world we live in.