Lulu Cao

Some excerpts:
"As you undoubtedly recall, Project Spectrum was launched after we happily discovered that people with autism are using Google SketchUp in unique and exciting ways. We learned that SketchUp plays to the visual and spatial strengths that so many people on the autism spectrum possess. "

This is very exciting news for me. I've been connected with some children with special needs including those with autism, and that is a group that I always want to help with. As I mentioned in my thesis proposal, I hope my project could help in the autism community, based on it's a single-user experience and the players could create things all by themselves. So hopefully it will be a safe experience with many potentials. This article just enhanced my hope.

http://sketchupdate.blogspot.com/2009/04/strengths-of-autism-continue-to-shine.html

I didn't got chance to buy candies for last night, so it was not a real candy house...:(

Download file

This is the work from 541's skill-sharing. I learnt sound creating and mixing with Logan. He is a very patient and skilled teacher, helped me from basic principles to actual practice. With his help I got to know how to create sound in Max/msp, and how to combine different sound effects together in Final cut pro. In this piece, the “Mary Had a Little Lamb” as well as the heartbeats and the scary noises are made in Max/msp, then I combined them with several other sounds together in final cut and add some effects. The heartbeat sound is not loud enough, so please turn on your volume a little bit. Thank you.

Sorry for the delay. I should upload this one earlier. I was thinking made some changes to it, but couldn't find the original final cut pro file any more. So this one is still the one we heard from class. Many thanks to Logan, he is a great teacher. I appreciate his help a lot. And many thanks to Tracy for this fantastic idea of skill-sharing, I believe many people enjoyed it and would like this activity could continue and expand to the whole division.

Translation:

Front--Playfish

Back--

Dear F:

Haven't heard from you for a long time. Miss you so much. I heard that you have to carry something into the mountain to melt them. It must be hot! My life is quite simple here, swimming here and there, and I'm tired to death. I hope I could visit mountain or forest world sometime. Achelous bless you！

yours,
E

This is not new, but impressed me a lot since I read it through a blog. The main reason is the designer said he wanted to expend this work into the whole city. Treat the architectures of New York as the interface, allow people to interact with the little characters, or to tell their own stories through the interface.

From Villagypsy. Moving surface--Ariel Efron.

Retro Gaming on real backgrounds. It would be cool if we can really play the games on these backgrounds.

Check more pictures at Fubiz

Take a regular Whiteboard, regular Whiteboard markers and play PONG. From ENESS

This is an interactive recipe table from Taiwan. It is part of their high quality life and smart home project. The idea is simple and direct while very useful.

The girl at last said, later, this one will combine with the recipe websites or forums. As people upload and share recipes, it will become a great resource for families.

There are projects attempt to enhance the relationships in family, especially, kids and other members. As far as I know a few software are trying to achieve this goal. Some others make use of objects in our daily-use, for example, table.

Several days ago I saw this picture with the title of "A playground under the table", and felt it is indeed a thoughtful idea for kids.

After a while I read it and found it is not just a simple table with toys underneath, but there is a link between the two sides. The movement of adults that happens on the table top will cause certain activities under the table. It is called Plable, By Yumiko Tanaka.

From technique perspective, it is more interactive than my first expression; however, for some reason, I feel the children play a passive role under the table.

Here is another table project that shares the similar idea, called So You Think It's A Table by Sonal Patel.

Continue reading "Table projects for children and parents" »

Mirror reflects honestly what are in front of it. By itself it is still and no surprise could be expected(except for the Magic Mirror). However, be they together, some interactivity could occur.

Audience is an installation that is consisted of 64 mirrors, conceived by rAndom International. The mirrors would chase someone they find interesting by turning their heads towards them and following them.

Audience from Chris O'Shea on Vimeo.

The video shows how audience noticed, tried, played around with and even danced in front of the mirrors.

Continue reading "Experimental installations of mirrors" »