It's better to burn out, than to fade away

Testing Public Kiosk

As dusk fell we could see even clearer
Originally uploaded by VM is smarter than me.

We were capturing live video then testing how clear it would display. It looked pretty good once 5:30 hit....more photos on flickr

Creative Whack Pack

By Roger Van Oech
Amazon Link

My film marketing teacher presented this set of cards in our class this week. I definitely want to get a set, there are even games you can play in brainstorming. This sounds like something that would be good to have around in the lab. Some highlights:
There are four types of cards
The Explorer
Cards include: See the Obvious, Ask Why?, Get out of your box

The Actor(idea generating techniques)
Cards include: Substitute, Combine unusual ideas, Make a Metaphor(love this one)

The Judge (decision making)
Cards include: Get out of Dogma House (love this one, too), Be Dissatisifed, DOn't fall in Love with Your Idea

The Warrior(implementation)
Cards include: Slay a Dragon, GIve yourself a Pat on the Back, Take a Whack at It

And finally, from Adman Carl Ally "Either you let your life slip away by not doing the things you want to do or you get up and do them!"

Group FIERCE!

Group FIERCE!
Originally uploaded by VM is smarter than me.

We shot our stereo film tonight. Here are some 'production stills.'

Thesis Budget - Categories - Rough Draft

Budget

Production
Shoot equipment purchase or rental
Media
Props/Sets
Catering

Device
Purchase device (palm pilots or cell phones)
VEIL technology
Physical computing equipment (solder, circuit boards, stamps, wire, resistors, sensors, etc.)
Space Rental

Personnel
Writer/Story Editor
Cinematographer/Gaffer/Grip
Director (maybe)
Actors
Basic Stamp Programmer
Java (other) Programmer
Tape Operator
Testers

Other
User Testing Expenses
Thesis Advisor Lunches/Coffees

Thesis Schedule - Categories - Rough Draft

Schedule

Preliminary
Research
User research of concepts
Research and write for grants/money
Find/Form team
Finalize decide roles

Episode Production

Pre-production
Plan out mystery of inn
Plan out branches
Write show bible
Finalize show bible
Write episode 1
Finalize episode 1
Write episode 2
Finalize episode 2
Cast Actors for Inn
Scout locations
Storyboard
Schedule Shoot days
Find shooting crew
Get equipment
Build/Plan sets and props
Catering

Production
Shoot Branches

Post Production
Edit Branches
Send/encode VEIL
Screen tests for audience feedback

Live Portion
Cast Actors
Plan out improv prompts
Rehearsals

Device Planning & Production
Research appropriate devices and platform
Get VEIL decoder
Plan out physical interface
User testing of concept
Assemble device
Test device
User testing of interface and usability
Plan out Java/other applet
Write Java/other applet
Test applet and devices
User testing of interface and usability

Other
Rehearse and run through of final
Plan final space/exhibition
Exhibition
Plan marketing promotion
Choose preliminary sponsors

The Wheatstone (said in a Russian accent please)

DSC00045
Originally uploaded by VM is smarter than me.

For Perry's class, group Andrew and the Girls, we're doing a 3d film using the wheatstone. We are exploring our pasts and our possible futures. Here is the wheatstone setup. More pictures can be found at flikr...

office toys cross view

I made these today (shot in my office on my new camera phone) to test my cross-view skillzz. You need to do free view, cross eyed method to see them. Give it a try!
Visit here for instructions.

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

More stereoscopic

I can't stop making 3D images of my cat. It is an addiction!

Scope

Scope....Scope, scope, scope. I need to find some for sure for my thesis. Here are my ideas so far.
1. Production Values: The show is going to be low value, digital, desktop edited of course.
2. Maybe instead of actually trying to get it to air on trojanvision, I instead simulate it by running the feeds in the room and having a remote link up with the live actors....Definitely would save.

Thesis Proposal: Version 1

High Risk: an interactive television mystery

The winning formula:
Rat Race + Greedy + Lost * Greek Mythology = High Risk

Premise: There is some upheaval on Mt Olympus: Zeus has decided to retire as head of the Gods. Many are vying for the new title but none more then Poseidon, Hades and Hera. Zeus has challenged each god to control a mortal on Earth. They must lead their mortal to find Zeus's crown hidden on earth in an old inn. But the inn has a secret, a hidden past. Only by uncovering the secrets of the past can the mortals find the treasure and the god reaps the reward.

There are two parts to the television show, taped segments and a live improved portion. The show will switch between the two sections, with the taped segments sending information and messages to the audience, and the live portions working for the gods to react to the audience feedback. The god part will be live, with them gathered around a risk-like board studying their mortals’ movements and deciding how to influence them next. The taped portions will be the mortals in the inn.

Technically, this will work via the VEIL technology, which encodes infrared light onto the television program and its sends it out where it is received by a physical device. The audience that is interacting with the show has a palm-pilot like device which gives them additional content, choices. What they choose is sent via the internet to the controller at the television station indicating which taped segment next to put on the air, and also gets sent to the actors who get cue cards with information that allows them to improv and react to the audience.

The physical devices are God specific, so different devices will receive different inputs based on different infrared codes.

Additionally, to interact with the television show, the PA has to 'earn' a physical device. I think this will be accomplished via some marketing promotion and internet search and support for a certain god, which will lead to getting a device. This also creates the option in these television programs, to interact or not. Only someone who actively wants to interact with their TV, enough so they will do extra work for it, will be able to. Everyone else can just enjoy the show.

I am targeting college students (based partially on logistics), fans of shows like Lost, Veronia Mars, audience members who are active in online discussions, forums, polls about their favorite shows and show a desire to learn more, solve the mystery, interact with the show past its hour time slot.

Motivation/Background

This thesis follows my interest in interactive television. I have been excited about the prospect since I first heard about it 7 years ago. Also I am inspired by my strong interest in television and enjoying narratives, and getting immersed into a world so much that there is need to interact with it.
While there are thousands of interactive television ventures out there, mostly failed, I am looking for those who try to tackle drama and narrative with interaction. I haven’t found many, so I am turning to the basic idea, but a different format, while still analyzing other interactive television programs.

I am trying to solve what interactivity can add to the television experience, make it an option for those who have no desire to interact and make a more compelling and interesting experience.

Scope

The scope of my project at this time is HUGE. I am planning 2-5 30 minute episodes. Each episode will need approximately 5-8 5 minute taped segments, representing the branching possibilities, as well as live portions. In addition I need to develop the physical interface and the stories and concepts for everything.

Fishy Fishy

These are my attempts at anaglyph stereoscopic imagery as part of our 544 module.....

More images

New Toy!

Sony Ericsson S710A


A little highlight in my week of hell! New toys are always fun. Sony phone, Sony computer, Sony playstation-- soon all the IM things I own will be Sony.

Stereoscopic Images

For my kitty :)

Playing with noise

Playing with noise 2 ....more subtle

trick doesn't work in 3d