Hannah and Group,
I do agree with the possibility of huge moveable objects creating the appearance of a cheep half ass final project (as we discussed during our meeting). I also agree we should remove that idea and go no further with it (the over sized objects that is).
The idea of having the emotion words float around/ rain or trace the shape of the users shadow interacting with the installation is defiantly cool. The problem see with this is if or when large groups of people enter the installation the whole bottom half of the screen will be left blank because of the peoples shadows. To get around this we would have to restrict entry through the installation. As an art piece I do not believe we should do this because it will detract from the instant “wow factor” and possibly eliminate some of the users want to experiment, explore and push the limits of the installation (as discussed we want the users to push the boundaries of what we create). I believe as long as we didn’t have this feature throughout the whole installation the raining text would be a great addition; maybe set it up so only 1 or 2 people can interact with it on one panel of the installation near the entrance or exit.
As for ways to display the text, the idea of having the font colour match the meaning of the emotion is GREAT! Keeping the font size relative to the popularity of the word I still think is a good idea (keeping in mind we will have to make sure that one word will not reach font size of 99999999999999 and over take the display).
I know we discussed the different set up of the installation as either walk through or a circle-ish area where everyone will just congregate. The best way to get the most out of the installation allowing for maximum interaction and the least congestion is have an entrance and en exit and the middle be a medium large space for example -> ( ) enter through the bottom exit through the top and interact in the middle.
Having the emotions broken up into different walls to try and make the user feel the emotion of the installation (Hannah is this kind of what you meant?) Having the emotions organically flow together will have an influence on the users anyway. The predominate emotion of the installation will create and hopefully make some sort of effect on the viewers. Breaking the emotions into separate walls could cause a battle between panels, some very plane and boring while others overly packed. If this is what we decided on as a group to do I have no problem with it as we are researching and developing to create the best project in the world! (I still like the idea of flowing text and passing a display throughout say 12 projectors (very organic motion) I picture the program the prof. from NYU did with the 6 screens intertwining an animation. It just looked cool (however I do understand that it has been done)
I love the idea or tracking the users through distinctive objects they hold or wear (would this be using florescent colours? Tracking user paths through the installation to create inverted light/shadow graffiti would be cool and be looked into. Another option would be instead of random text floating around; and while tracking user paths use the path of the users to control the flow of the emotion words being displayed. Where the shadows created by the user were, that is where the words will flow. The more predominate the emotion, hence the larger the font the more leeway the word has to travel outside of the user created shadow, or vice versa.
The idea of temperature/touch/motion sensors I like the idea a lot. For instance using dance matts or accelerometers to alter the flow patterns of the display could be neat.
I also still like the original idea or a standard text input through keyboard/computer and phone.
I am for this: limit input as text and interpret through interaction within the installation. I see this allowing comparison between the textual input and way they act in the installation as the video captures images (such as colours they are wearing, speed of movement.
Clean and clear installation – to do this I feel that the background should be one colour or a light gradient from top to bottom. The background colour could change depending on the overall emotion of the installation but if we want people to focus on the emotional text and feeling some sort presence being in the installation the emotion text should not be competing with other animated objects such as having moving clouds or sun shining or other illustrations in the background I feel they will become cumbersome and distracting.
I was going to post this as a response to your post Hannah, but it ended up being tremendously long and I felt it would be easier to read here. After typing this and re-reading this we may need another group meeting. Or something of the sort. It seems that we are once again veering away from what we came up with as a group in our previous group meeting.
Over all I think having the user control the over all emotion of the installation is key. This can be done while still allowing them to experiment and push the limits of the project. As I saw with the large objects sitting in the installation and allowing people to play/ experiment with them kind of took away from the “emotional aspect” of the installation giving the user the ability to alter the installation without knowing exactly what they are doing. Making the user push the limit while still portraying their inner emotions to the project is definitely a challenge will have to overcome.
