Gesture+Recognition+and+Virtual+Reality

=PROJECT 2= //Concept:// Exploring miscommunication. toc

The explanation
Language is already confusing before you throw in gestures, specifically hand gestures. Some are used more than others, and some are used to enhance, subvert, or replace verbal communication. With this site, I will mainly be focusing on the idea of miscommunication. You will have to read through a narrative that takes you on several adventures, talking about hand gestures along the way.

The story is fictional, but does have bits of mixed in non-fiction as well. Each adventure is part of a story that I made up based on things that have happened in history and culture. As you read through the story, you will notice that it does not make sense according to the history that you are familiar with! The aim here is to get across the message that it is difficult to define our culture with confidence because everyone has a different view.

Every user will chose the adventure of their choice. It may not be the way I would navigate through the site, but they have their own opinion and way of doing things. Of course I could not have a bunch of random links everywhere because the user would just get annoyed! So, though the website allows this free range of choice, there is a method.


 * This website is based on the concept of choosing your own adventure. I wanted to take this approach to emphasis the concept of miscommunication. The user can chose their adventure, although slightly guided, and end up in different scenarios based on the choices made.
 * The narrative the site runs on generally connects through adventure 1 through 7. The user has the option to chose which adventure they would like to take from the main navigation window without missing any concepts, as the adventures are fairly contained.
 * If the user begins with the first adventure, they have the option of continuing on through all seven adventures in a linear mode through links on the adventure page instead of going back to the main navigation window.
 * The main navigation does not run through the adventures because I don't want the user to have access to all adventures at once, on every page.
 * It doesn't matter if you read only one, or up to all seven adventures. Each one can exist on its own, or as a unit with the rest.

Story
Read: [|MainStory.rtf]

Process
[|Concept 1.pdf] [|Concept 2.pdf] [|Other Concepts.pdf]

**Final Website**
PDF version: [|site_shots.pdf] Download site here: [|2005p_pro2_08_jabbey copy.zip] This is the index. This is the first screen that pops up when you go to my site. From here, you must read the introduction and click on 'nonsense!' to enter. When you click on this link, a pop up window will open, bringing you the story:
 * Screen Shots:**

This is the introduction page, the first screen that you see when the pop up window opens. From here, the user can chose the adventure they want (1-7); fixed browser size, 800px by 600px:
 * Adventure 01: Egypt and Crayon**

Adventure 04: Helen Keller Adventure 05: Hitler and Chaplin Adventure 06: Bill Gates and Virtual Adventure 07: Flock of Birds Knowledge Page: Rude Hand Gestures Knowledge Page: Influential Hand Gestures **
 * Adventure 02: Darwin**
 * Adventure 03: Vulcans**
 * [[image:scenario_3_small.png]]

**Aesthetic**

 * **Simple** Navigation should be easy so user enjoys experience at site and does not get frustrated. It should also have a relatively simple design so the focus is on the content, rather than the underlying navigation efforts.


 * **Size** Pop up window will be 800 pixels by 600 pixels.


 * **Considerations** Consistency; Feedback; (human) Movement; Perception; Language; Memory; Thinking

Inspiration
http://www.cranbrookart.edu/

http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/

Humorous tips about website design: http://www.coolhomepages.com/cda/10commandments/
 * Check it out**

Before I began developing the narrative, I was exploring the idea of virtual reality and gestural interfaces. This is what brought me to creating a story for the computer, the virtual world. These are some very interesting links that show where technology is heading in relation the combination of gesture and machine and direct manipulation.
 * To Consider**

Original Idea: //Gestural Interfaces and Virtual Reality//
 * Brainstorming**
 * A look at some 'broken' design: http://goodexperience.com/tib/
 * Jeff Han explores 'multi-touch' interface (like iPod touch): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLhMVNdplJc
 * Gestural interface with gloves; Minority Report: http://www.techeblog.com/index.php/tech-gadget/g-speak-gestural-interface-technology
 * Bill Gates is at it again: http://www.dancewithshadows.com/tech/microsoft-surface.asp
 * Honda and the robot: http://world.honda.com/HDTV/ASIMO/tech-recog-gesture/
 * Virtual boxing with gesture (3DV ZCam): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOY9vlibxfg

//Virtual Reality/Hyper-Reality//. 2003. Marshall Soules. 31 Jan 2008 <[|http://www.mala.bc.ca/~soules/media112/vr.htm]>. //The Gesture Recognition Home Page//. 2007. Cybernet Systems. 31 Jan 2008 <[|http://www.cybernet.com/~ccohen/]>.
 * Sources**