Thomas Doukinitsas
MAPS & JOURNEYS: Project Proposal

MAPS & JOURNEYS: Project Proposal

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After having a massive group meeting, we concluded that our project would be about exploring Senses, mapping the senses, and the journey of external stimuli from the outside environment through the brain to achieve an emotional response.

The project will be an interactive installation consisting of sensors such as a microphone or a Microsoft Kinect, a screen (tv or projector) and a "brain" object where a heat map of the brain's activities will be projected on to. The audience will approach the installation, and their movements/sounds will trigger responses on the screen, reflecting on how our brain interprets signals. 

If the user decides to only use one of the senses, eg. only speak or only move, a simplistic abstract shape will be shown on the screen to reflect a calm reaction, and the heat map will activate for that sense's area.

If the user decides to use both senses, the shapes will react differently and will create a slightly bigger reaction, and the heat map will reflect both senses being used.

Both of these uses will invite the user to be playful and learn how to interact with the installation.

However, if too many signals are received by the sensors (a metaphor for our sensory receptors), the screen's artwork will be disorientating, and eventually might shut down momentarily. This is to explore the effects of Sensory Overload, a condition that "...occurs when one or more of the body's senses experiences over-stimulation from the environment". The artwork on the screen when sensory overload is achieved could try and cause a disruption to the viewer's normal expectations of the viewing experience, trying to make him/her feel uncomfortable and disoriented, an emotion that people with sensory overload experience

Our sources of research and inspiration are numerous web articles explaining these effects:

Our aims, directly referencing our unit descriptor, are:
  • To research themes around our idea to further develop our understanding of the concepts [Maps to A2 and A4]
  • To determine whether the choice of an interactive installation is the best to illustrate our idea [Maps to A3 and A5]
  • Research and Figure out how to technically and visually achieve and create our idea [Maps to A1]
  • To effectively time plan the project, and make sure we hit our goals before certain dates [Maps to A4]
  • Make sure our target audience, the general public, understand the base of the project by making sure the presentation is clear and engaging [Maps to A5]
For visual inspiration, we've started reading Madeline Schwatzman's "See yourself sensing: Redefining Human Perception", and we have also discussed some self-generated ideas.

For project management, we are utilizing an online project management and collaboration system based around tasks, that the whole team can access and edit. We are also using social networking and skype to further manage our project.

For the technical part of the project, my job is to research and develop how source inputs can be manipulated to achieve the visuals and responses that we want, and also figuring out the mechanics and scenarios of the installation. This will be done using Quartz Composer, and will be researched during self-directed study using online resources such as tutorials and forums, and also trial and error.
Also i will be drawing inspiration from game design and traditional video game behavioral mechanics, which will be researched using library resources.

Lastly, here is the learning agreement required by the project:

 DIGITAL FILM SCREEN ARTS.
YEAR:  2
NAME:  Thomas Doukinitsas
DATE:  22 October 2014
LEARNING AGREEMENT PROFORMA.
Deadline for submission: 23/10/2014
GROUP PRODUCTION

SOLO PRODUCTION
TITLE: Maps & Journeys
UNIT CREDIT
30
Information: - This form is a basic list of requirements.  You should write as much as you need to describe what you intend to undertake and methods employed to achieve this work.
DESCRIPTION:
(You should describe in detail here the work you intend to undertake in fulfilment of the module’s Aims and Learning Outcomes. In doing this you will need to make reference to the module descriptor in the Programme Handbook)
Our project is about exploring Senses, mapping the senses, and the journey of external stimuli from the outside environment through the brain to achieve an emotional response.
The project will be an interactive installation consisting of sensors such as a microphone or a Microsoft Kinect, a screen (tv or projector) and a "brain" object where a heat map of the brain's activities will be projected on to. The audience will approach the installation, and their movements/sounds will trigger responses on the screen, reflecting on how our brain interprets signals. A series of different scenarios (better explained on my blog)  will create a experience for the user.
Our aims, directly referencing our unit descriptor, are:
To research themes around our idea to further develop our understanding of the concepts [Maps to A2 and A4]
To determine whether the choice of an interactive installation is the best to illustrate our idea [Maps to A3 and A5]
Research and Figure out how to technically and visually achieve and create our idea [Maps to A1]
 To effectively time plan the project, and make sure we hit our goals before certain dates [Maps to A4]
Make sure our target audience, the general public, understand the base of the project by making sure the presentation is clear and engaging [Maps to A5]
For my individual involvement, my job is to research and develop how source inputs can be manipulated to achieve the visuals and responses that we want, and also figuring out the mechanics and scenarios of the installation. This will be done using Quartz Composer as a tool for what we want to achieve.
RESEARCH:
Academic reference material, sources and contextual materials
Group: “See Yourself Sensing: Redefining Human Perception” by Madeline Schwatzman [2010] (Book)
“Syn” by Consonant (Installation),
Individual: Online technical resources such as tutorials and forums, trial and error.
Also i will be drawing inspiration from game design and traditional video game behavioral mechanics, which will be researched using library resources such as game design books.
SKILLS AND RESOURCES:
Identify the technical and networking skills you will need to develop and the resources you intend to use
LYNDA.COM
Dot.Project, facebook, skype (To manage the project)
http://www.iloveqc.org/tutorials
Library Resources (for understanding game mechanics and visual inspiration)
WORK PLAN/TIMETABLE:
23 OCT: Present Idea and Get Feedback
24 OCT – 06 NOV: Individual Research
(Research how to use Microsoft Kinect or Camera data to get acceleration values, Research how the visual ideas will be created, create the scenarios that will happen, develop in to a working application to be used)
07 NOV – 04 DEC: Build / Develop Project
05 DEC – 10 DEC: Install Project
11 DEC – 12 DEC: Assessment

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