Rebriefing

After having a de-briefing we split into two groups. Sasha & Rowan will work together to produce the DVD & Mark & myself will produce the website/PDFs. Small jobs like report & DVD cover will be for who ever has done all their work 1st.

Survey

As a group we created a survey which will be given to the students. We worked with another group to come up with the best questions & they will code the information in exel. We hope to obtain helpful information that will help make our website & DVD design better. For example, what websites the students like & what their preferred communication is.

Going to the Kitchen!

Today we went to the Polytechnic kitchen & was lucky enough to also experience the food & hospitality in the restaurant. Tony introduced us to all of the key areas in the kitchen, such as the benches, sinks, ovens, fridges & different areas for preparing & storing food. We were given the opportunity to take as many photos as we liked. Visiting the kitchen gave us further knowledge as to the different areas of the kitchen and what is most important to the students.

The Kitchen

The Kitchen interface:

Using the Polytech Kitchen interface I found it to be really hard, this was because without the sound the interface was unable to be used successfully. I found that it felt like a long time that you had to wait for the man to walk around the place & it frustrating when you had to repeat exercises such as washing your hands. The graphics did not help the interface, they felt slow motion. I feel that the idea is effective but needs to be executed better to be an effective tool for these students.

Corona Website

Corona Website Interface:

-I really like the design of this website because of its simplicity. As you can see from the screen shot on the left, the website consists of a yellow background and the white & orange main image in the middle. Throughout the different pages & links the design remains the same.

-The interactive elements on the website are minimal bet very effective, such as the sliding of pages when you click on a new page & the transitions used give the website a fun feel & excitement as you don't know what transition or image you will get next.

-Overall I really like the interface of this website. It is easy to use and navigate. You can make a connection with the site through the bright colours & fun design.

Laser Force

Laser Force:

This interface is alot like Unreal tournament but at the same time very different.
Both games involve team, stealth, and thinking but with two different surroundings.
Laser Force required team work and also being able to move fast, like Unreal. I found Laser Force to be more fun than Unreal as you were really in the game, unlike Unreal were you were just infront of a computer. For both games you are required to push some form of a button weather it be a keyboard or mouse or tigger.

Overall Laser Force was a more enjoyable interface compared to Unreal Tournament.

Unreal tournament

Unreal Tournament:

I really enjoyed playing this game and found the controls quite easy to use, which is very important. It is key that any interaction can be easily usable.

The interaction within this game was exciting and fun, not knowing when some-one would be trying to shoot you was a thrill!

Without sound the game is not as powerful, the sound effects make you feel like you are really in the game.

"The Interface"

Key Points from the Reading "The Interface", from Lev Manovich, The Language of New Media.

-Filter for all culture
-"Cutting & pasting"
-Experiences
-Cultural Forms
-Metaphors
-Narrative

There are many similar ideas from which we can relate what we have already talked about in class to this reading. Such as the idea of windows & mirrors, the experiences that such interfaces provide.

Extra Website Analysis

Making the Simpson's People & the scene from inside Moes Tavern.

The Simpsons Movie:

http://www.simpsonsmovie.com/main.html

-The interaction level in the website is amazing, almost anything that you want to click on you can and it is animated!

-The website gives you a feeling of fun, makes you feel like a kid again. You can also watch videos and visit places that are iconic to Springfield.

-You can also make your own Simpson character to look like yourself, so not only is it a mirror that we are looking through but we can take something away from the website, your very own Simpson character that looks like you!

Website Home page:

http://www.booneoakley.com/index_flash.html

Designed by Bignoise interactive and Hotsake Creative

Analysis of Current Interactive Website

Website: Booneoakley
http://www.booneoakley.com/index_flash.html

- How does the interface shape our experience?
- What are the parts that make it up?
- Window/Mirror?
- One way/Two way?

Our experience is shaped by the use of the beautiful graphics and the ablity to play such a large part in the website, this is done by being able to click on everything within the website. Almost like a game in trying to catch the fly!

The website is mostly made up of Flash animations which are very complex.

Taking apart the website:

- Planning/Research/Concept
- Storyboarding, with such a complex website there needs to be careful planning
- Making the graphics, some are stationary. Most of the complex graphics are animated such as on the home page as the women's skirt comes up.


The website is a mirror as we are looking through and experiencing what the company wants us to see in this two way interaction. It is two way interaction, for example with the fly on the home page, we are trying to catch it and it is trying to get away from the mouse.

Overall I found this website to be really fascinating, with amazing graphics.