Wednesday, April 9, 2008
THE MUSICIAN
a. The musician in this flash is a representation of myself. I combined a keyboard and guitar to make a super instrument because I enjoy playing booth equally.
b. The whole process was confusing at first, but after following the steps carefully it became much more clear and fairly simple to use. I had no prior knowledge to this technology.
My Smilies
My concept was to create an emotion from going from sad to happy. The sad face is blue and the happy face is yellow to support symbolically the emotions they convey. Their sizes, going from small to big also support these emotions.I don't have many comments to make but after this little assignment at the end of the year, I can foresee the technical obstacles that await me next year. Hopefully all goes well and that I can improve my skills quickly.
Comfort level: 2
Jessica's Sparta! Single-Action Interaction
I decided to animate this little Sparta character my friend drew for me, because Spartans rule. I followed the process we were shown in class, creating two images, importing them into flash, and programming it to be a rollover button.
My comfort level with this technology was a 3.5. I have used Photoshop a lot and Flash quite a bit, but I had never used the programming function of Flash.
Epic Table Flip- Ronny Rees
Photoshop was used to draw the images. That was the easy part. Flash and i do not get along very well and it took a lot of help to get this done. i still don't like flash.
comfort level from 1 to 5...i'm at about a 1.
Bee-utiful-Katie Docherty
I created the image using illustrator. I wanted it to be simple and fun. I took a course on flash a few years ago but I have forgotten everything, it was fun to use it again, but it reminded me why I dropped out of web design in the first place (too much CODE). I rate my comfort level at about a 3.5 because it was not as hard as some of the things I have had to do in the past, but I also couldn't remember how to do everything. Enjoy. Summer is coming!!!
Cheers,
Katie
Flash "Roll-Over" - by Kurt Limeback
Flash Monkey---Colan Nicholson
the concept for my little flash thing was was to just entertain myself and come up with something unexpected
i had A LOT of difficulty figuring out the buttons and the actions and coding things needed to get the monkey to move when the mouse rolls over it. it was EXTREMELY confusing.
overall id say my comfort level varied with the certain aspects of the project. i was up to a 4 when it came to the images and key framing and stuff but when it came to the codes and buttons i was a 2.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Congratulations!
I received several emails from Experience Design faculty, Sara Diamond our President, Doreen Balabanoff our Assistant Dean, people at the Media Arts Department, Jim Ruxton, Integrated Media Instructor and many more with great feedback about our event.
They said things like the enthusiasm from you was infectious, that we "raised the roof", and that the designs would be on our minds for the days to come.
Thanks for making our wonderful project come alive! I look forward to talking about it next class!
Teresa
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Dossiers & Scenarios to hand in next week
This is just a reminder in case I don't get a chance to talk to each of you during the event tomorrow, to bring in your dossiers (worth 25%) and scenarios (worth 5%) for next class (week 12). All the information is in the project description. For the front cover of your dossier, download the online assessment form. Both these documents can be found under the "Course Materials" link through the blog. Please email me if you have any questions.
In addition to handing in your dossiers and scenarios, we'll also settle out budgets and have fun watching the documentation team's work.
Looking forward to tomorrow!
Teresa
--
Teresa Ascencao tascencao@faculty.ocad.ca
Monday, March 24, 2008
The game website
It is going to be operated by the referee, or whoever wants to.
Its basically a 5 minute countdown that ends in a 'GAME OVER' page with a gong sound.
Click here to check it out.
Logo at last

EDIT: The buttons aren't going to happen by the way. The company overcharges almost double price if we do the order rush, and since its easter time, they can only start production on Tuesday.
We made all the fliers and are now sticking them into peoples lockers, handing them out, etc.
Interviews
Times | Interview Schedule Rm. 670 |
3:00-3:30 | Set-up Time |
3:30-3:45 | Teresa Ascencao |
3:45-3:55 | Set-Up |
3:55-4:10 | Nina Zahr |
4:10-4:20 | Set-Up |
4:20-4:35 | Jessica Nichols |
4:35-4:45 | Set-Up |
4:45-5:00 | Xuan An or Katie Docherty |
5:00-5:10 | Set-Up |
5:10-5:25 | Devin Wilson |
Please arrive around 5 Minutes in advance of your scheduled interview time.
Alright guys, so these are the main questions that will be asked for your interviews on Friday March 28th in RM 670 in the main building.
So just a remind to look over these questions before hand and make sure your answers are direct and straight to the point. These questions are main questions but during the interview it will be like a conversation so Troy who should be interviewing you will ask questions that may be branched off, but still related to these questions.
Also when answering the questions please bare in mind you will need to repeat the question in your answer. For example if I ask you what your name is you would replay, “my name is….” Or if I ask what your impression of the game was you would begin to reply by saying something along the lines of, “Well my first impression of…”. It doesn’t have to be extremely formal; it just helps when editing the audio and footage.
What is your name?
What group are you in?
What is your position in the group?
What is your group in charge of?
How did you divide the work amongst your group?
(Project Management)
- How did you come up with your projected budget?
- How did you tackle time management with regards to what you felt needed to be accomplished?
- How did you communicate and coordinate with each group?
- Did you encounter any problems with communication between groups?
(Marketing)
- How did you approach the task you were given with regards to promotion and marketing?
- What was your initial idea for the marketing plan?
- Did that plan change?
- (If revised) how was that plan executed?
(Design Team)
- What was the initial concept you developed?
- What were the steps you took to revise and refine it?
- Did you encounter any safety issues with regards to the outfit design?
- If so how did you solve those issues?
(Game Management)
- How did you decide how the game would be run? (General Mechanics)
- What process did you take to refine the game and its rules?
- What approach did you take towards testing the game?
- After testing, did your initial planning for the game need to be altered?
- Did you encounter any safety issues?
- If so how did you solve those issues?
- Did you encounter any issues in preparation for the final event?
- If so how did you solve them?
(Teresa)
- Can you explain the project for us?
- Were you optimistic about its entirety?
- Did you foresee any major problems?
- Were you nervous about undertaking such a large project?
- How did you coordinate the brainstorming process in the beginning?
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Game management- Rules
Rules
Players:
1. Each player on opposite side of the court is to try to catch as many brain cells as possible to fill their noggin.
2. Players can only catch cells with a Velcro ball.
3. Players must stand within their territory, behind the line, in order for each cell to count.
4. If a stimulant is caught, player must listen to stimulants’ command, it could be negative or positive to the player or opposite player.
Brain cells:
1. In total 9 brain cells are running within the court, but 2 are random stimulants.
2. Avoid being catch by the Velcro balls.
3. Do not use hands, arms, feet or any other method of blocking the balls.
4. When caught, cell must walk towards the player sideline, and stand there until told otherwise.
sry guys, im still waiting for the rules for stimulants. But this is what I have so far.
Your team must post!
But please remember, by this point all teams must have their posts up on the blog: prototypes, designs, marketing materials, budgets etc. Please remember you need to post for your team work during the project, not after. Any items for marking consideration must have contributed to the design of this project.
Please note, you can use the Great Hall as of Monday 6pm to setup/build. I'll be around the event area on Monday from 10am-noon and Tuesday from noon until 2pm. So please come and find me if you have questions or need help with anything. Most likely I'll be in the Great Hall or the Design Faculty office, but maybe also in the auditorium or lobby etc. We need to set up the projection, get a sense of space, do a usability test on the game, fine tune things etc. I know we talked about Tuesday at noon, so see you then at the latest.
If the desing team need help, please post to the blog as soon as you can.
As for hanging stuff, there will be dividers we can use if necessary. Note we can't put double sided tape onto the Great Hall walls.
Here is the high res version of the logo as other one I had was low res...
Looking forward to working with and having fun with all of you. I'm checking email on a regular basis, so please let me know if you need anything.
Teresa
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
faculty meetng results
Space
Ok, the good news, I got us a corner in the auditorium for the space we wanted. The floor plan is at the bottom of this post.
Setup
The actual event is on Wednesday 26th from 2:30pm to 4:30pm. We can start setup as early as needed on Wednesday and will need to know which people are available to setup. We can figure this out in class tomorrow.
Projection
I reserved a projector for us and will bring it down on Wednesday. What other tech requirements do we need? I found out that if we book IT they can help us install equipment and software.
Logo
Here is the event's logo so we can put on our marketing materials as appropriate...

Design Team- Estimated Budget for costumes
Elastic- $3
2 gloves- $3
40 yards of Velcro- $160 (although we may be able to get a discount due to the amount we are buying)
TOTAL- $173
Sunday, March 16, 2008
space, materials, marketing, setup
Please bring your coloured T-shirts to class, as requested by the documentation team :)
Also, please bring your $15 for next class. If you have major money issues come talk to me so we can figure something out, but please note that any unused money will be equally divided and returned to all of you in the end. Please keep all your receipts too.
If you think we could use some dividers (can't be damaged or marked), the school can loan some white core-plast 4' x 8' panels which can be put together in various ways. Let me know. In plan-view, they look like a triangle with concave curved sides held together at the tips of the triangles with wood strips bolted together, which run from top to bottom vertically along the three apexes of the triangle. Also, there are pedestals (can't be damaged or marked), currently in the 5th floor student lounge area, made of mdf, pre-drilled/screwed together.
Marketing
The faculty has a logo coming our way soon, which the marketing team will be able to use.
Space
As for the display space, faculty is meeting this Tuesday night (Mar 18) to layout the 17 projects into the lobby, Great Hall and auditorium (and park if you wish, but will be more isolated from event). The other areas mentioned before have not been confirmed. I'll try to get as large a rectangular space as possible - hopefully as large as the conference room we were in last class.
Setup
We can use the Great Hall to set up or build as of 6 pm on Monday the 24th, as well as all day and evening of Tues the 25th. During these times we can start bringing in materials or make things in this space. I'll just have to know a bit ahead of time to arrange it for us. Also, there may be some available storage in rooms in 113, so let me know if your group needs storage.
Leader emails
Project Management: Jessica JN07FK@student.ocad.ca (class leader)
Design: Nina NZ07EM@student.ocad.ca
Documentation: Colan CN07JG@student.ocad.ca
Game Management: Katherine KD07RM@student.ocad.ca
Marketing: Devin DW07FB@student.ocad.ca
for an updated list of team members see: http://ocadexperiencedesign2.blogspot.com/2008/03/activate-project-instructor-notes.html
Teresa
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
March 12 - Class brainstorming
Design- Nina (Najla)
Game Management- Katherine
Documentation- Colan
Marketing-Devon
Game Specifications
-large game
-hoped for locations: Great Hall or Auditorium
-size of space: about the size of the class-room
2 Players
9 Brain Cells
2 Stimulants that rotate
2 balls attached by a string
Budget
-each student will pay: $15
-total budget: $405
Documentation: video documentation of entire process and event
Management: budget, time management, communication
Marketing: promotion, press release
Game Management: decide how game is run, test run, making game run on the day
For Next Week
All groups: create budget and post to blog, bring $15, arrange meeting within your group
Design Team-
create costumes for 1 player, 1 cell and the ball
be ready to mass produce
Marketing-
marketing plan
Game Management-
solid idea of how game works
Friday, March 7, 2008
Important: Brainstorm first
Teresa
Thursday, March 6, 2008
My brain cells are deteriorating at an incredible rate due to the lifestyle choices i've made. I need to feel better. I want to feel better. My only way to satisfy this void is to accquire more brain cells, capture them if you will. They don't always come willingly.
multi person game.
10-15 people (brain cells)
2 people (empty nogans)
try and grab as many brain cells(velcro padded shirts) using velcro ball (attached to cord)
word up.
troypynn
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
"Activate" Project: Instructor Notes:
You can get the project description (under "Projects"), scenario form (under "Exercises"), and scenario slideshow lesson (under "Slideshows") through the "Course Materials" link on the left side of this blog.
These links can also help:
Prototyping:
http://www.guuui.com/issues/03_05.php
http://www.deyalexander.com/resources/uxd/prototyping.html
http://inventors.about.com/od/prototypes/a/prototype.htm
http://www.guuui.com/issues/01_07.php
Budgets:
http://www.genv.net/en-us/do_it/event_planning/budget_template
http://www.genv.net/en-us/do_it/event_planning/budget_template
http://www.builderau.com.au/strategy/projectmanagement/soa/Creating-your-project-budget-Where-to-begin-/0,339028292,320265341,00.htm
http://www.e-projectmanagers.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=40
Teresa
______________
Posted Thur Mar 6:
If you were not here last class, please get in touch with one of the groups below to join them asap as you have to present the following next week: once the selected scenario is posted to the blog, you must refine it into a richer two-paragraph scenario, create a project budget outlining how much money it might take to create the entire project ($10-$25 per student), and create a 2D or 3D prototype of how you visualize the design to look and function. Please note the Design Team cannot accept further members as its already too big. There should be between 4-6 students per group, except the Game Management Team can't have more than 4.
If you get an email from someone who wants to join your team, please just make sure you don't have more than six people on your team. Katie and Jin, you shouldn't have more than four people as your group is tied in with the Designers team already. Chris, I sent you an email about putting you in the Design team, but actually they're too large, so the closest is Game Management which will work closely with the Design Team, so I've placed you there instead.
If you're on the Documentation Team you must bring a digital video camera to class next class.
Project Management:
Jessica JN07FK@student.ocad.ca (Studio Head - class leader)
Jan JM07JF@student.ocad.ca
Ronnie VR07HC@student.ocad.ca
Jonah JF07IH@student.ocad.ca
Design:
Najla (Nina NZ07EM@student.ocad.ca (team leader)
Allie AC07GI@student.ocad.ca
Amy AH07NK@student.ocad.ca
Bonnie BT05VL@student.ocad.ca
Sima SG07NE@student.ocad.ca
Jennie XZ07KJ@student.ocad.ca
Elahe ES07PV@student.ocad.ca
Documentation:
Colan CN07JG@student.ocad.ca (team leader)
Helena HJ07IO@student.ocad.ca
Troy TP07FR@student.ocad.ca
Kurt KL07VM@student.ocad.ca
Denys DK07YL@student.ocad.ca
Game Management:
Katherine KD07RM@student.ocad.ca (team leader)
Jin Weon JP07JJ@student.ocad.ca
Chris CT07PJ@student.ocad.ca
Xuan XN07LI@student.ocad.ca
Bhavna BB07OM@student.ocad.ca
Marketing:
Devin DW07FB@student.ocad.ca (team leader)
Andy AK07IA@student.ocad.ca
Candy HC07VP@student.ocad.ca
Kelvin KK07TL@student.ocad.ca
Kunnal KK07IP@student.ocad.ca
Yosep YK06SH@student.ocad.ca
_____________
Posted Wed Mar 5:
Location:
Faculty met yesterday night and decided "Activate" (the new name) will take place indoors at 100 McCaul. The available spaces will be the Great Hall, the lobby (to be confirmed), Lambert Lounge (to be confirmed), the auditorium, and connecting hallways (to be confirmed). There will be a faculty meeting to determine where the 17 classes will display their projects, but for now, please include in your refinements for next week where you envision it to be. You can also include a second and third choice.
Refinements:
All teams (regardless of their official role for later on) will brainstorm and present the following to the class next week:
1) revised scenario: broaden the scenario to be longer, more detailed and more realistic. Think about how the following can affect the scenario: the space it will be activated in, what users roles will be, the size and shape of the design, how the users will interact, tasks, actions, objects, environment etc.. Use the scenario form and project description to provoke further thought. Please see the blog's "Course Materials" link to download these documents. The form is under "Exercises" and the project description is under "Projects".
2) prototype: create a drawing or 3D model to show how the game could look. Consider the space it will be activated in, how the tasks, user role, actions, objects and environment will affect the way the design will look and function.
3) Budget: create a budget for the entire project based on 27 students contributing $10-$25 each.
Elahe Salehi - Inspirational Design- The Phone Tooth

Elahe Salehi
The Phone Tooth
The "Phone Tooth" is a wireless receiver that can be implanted into your tooth with the aid basic dental surgery. The implant can allow a person to receive digital signals from radios and mobile phones, from the privacy of their own head. The signals are translated into vibrations that travel from the tooth to your skull to your inner ear where only you can hear them. Designed by Jimmy Loizeau and James Auger, research associates from MIT Media Lab Europe. This new wireless receiver can be implanted into your tooth with the aid basic dental surgery. A micro-vibration device and a wireless receiver is implanted into a natural tooth during routine dental surgery. Sounds are transferred from the tooth into the inner ear by bone resonance (digital signals being converted into audio). Sound reception is assured to be totally discreet, so it will not make a buzzing sound in your mouth. The vibrations are on a molecular level, so the user only experiences pure sound streaming into their consciousness. The implant is designed to work in tandem with either a dedicated device or a modified mobile telephone, which can pick up the long distance signals and transmit a local signal to the tooth receiver. Capable of being fully customized to suit user requirements, reception can be switched on and off at will with the aid of the dedicated device. Having unwanted sound information arriving directly into the user's brain would resemble technological schizophrenia, therefore maximum control is essential
With the minimal hardware required, estimated costs of the implant are quite low and because the dental surgery is pretty basic, the procedure is relatively cheap. With health issues being minimal, about the same as the issues raised by the use of mobile phones, the tooth is expected to be available in markets in the near future.
I believe that as new technologies are often overly complex for their intended target audience, this interactive design The “Phone Tooth” aims to minimize the learning curve and increases accuracy and efficiency of it’s purpose as a digital receiver without diminishing usefulness. The objective of the Phone Tooth is to reduce frustration and increase user productivity and satisfaction. What attracted me the most was the use of biotechnology being imbedded with in our bodies used as the interactive object itself. This design crosses the border of the use of new sciences and technologies to enhance human mental and physical abilities and aptitudes. The Phone Tooth allows our bodies to become the interactive design experience within its biotechnological standards.
Trustworthy
The Phone Tooth is a good interaction design and that creates an enjoyable and fluid experience and is trustworthy because it is designed by Jimmy Loizeau and James Auger, research associates from MIT Media Lab Europe. MIT is known to be one of the most prestige Universities. However The Phone Tooth design raises some real issues about how far we want to go with using biotechnology in our bodies, but after research with health issues being minimal it’s about the same as the issues raised by the use of mobile phones. The implantation of this device in your tooth is an aid basic dental surgery, by your trusted dentist. This interactive design can be applied to the development of all solutions, which goes beyond the use of just cell phones and becomes apart of our being.
Appropriate
This interactive design is appropriate to the situation, context, and culture of its audience. The Phone Tooth is a futuristic universal design which applies to all individuals and will never diminish its uniqueness. The designers have gained the ability to better understand user goals and experiences. With this interactive design the user is aware of system capabilities from an early stage so that expectations regarding functionality are both realistic and properly understood. Also the user of this universal design feels a sense of ownership, thus increasing overall satisfaction.
Smart
This design is smart enough to do things for us that we can’t easily do alone, and to prevent us from making unnecessary mistakes or from working harder than we need to; responsive, showing us that it hears our every action; and clever, predicting the needs of your audience and then fulfilling those needs in unexpectedly pleasing ways.
Responsive
This interactive is an immediate and and quick responsive product that can allow a person to receive digital signals from radios and mobile phones, from the privacy of their own head. It is an experience that is developed highly across all dimensions of immediacy and consistently a product that satisfies its users. It’s responsive and offering to its group’s or individual's needs and desires.
5)
If I could be involved within the process of this great interactive design of The Phone Tooth I would attempt to improve the usability and experience of the product, by first researching and understanding certain users' needs and then designing to meet and exceed them. Figuring out who needs to use it, and how those people would like to use it. I want to take part in this process of multiple rounds of brainstorming, discussion, and refinement, drawing on a combination of user research, technological possibilities, and business opportunities. My objective is to help designers realize user requirements, after brainstorming and researching from these personae, and the patterns of behavior observed in the research, my goal is to create scenarios, which imagine a future work flow the users will go through using the product or service. After thorough analysis using various tools and models, my aim is to create a high level summary spanning across all levels of user requirements. This includes a vision statement regarding the current and future goals of a project.
Credits:http://www.time.com/time/2002/inventions/tra_phone.html
originally published: 3/12/08 9:04: Time modified by instructor to relocate posting below Activate Project postings.
Philips Ambient Window
I chose the Philips Ambient Window as my Inspiring Interaction Design. My expression upon first encountering this video of how the window functions was very similar to the woman in video 1. I was truly amazed at how technology has progressed within the last few years and the diverse ways in which it is being put to use. This new concept of interactive lighting from Philips plays with natural sunlight and strength and combines it with patterns and a color grid, allowing individuals to customize, create and control the atmosphere in the room they are in. The concept also addresses the seven “good interaction design characteristics”.
Trustworthy- The product is immediately considered trustworthy due to its association with Phillips, one of the worlds leading electronics companies, which is over a hundred years old and is globally recognized for its innovative products and high quality manufacturing.
Appropriate- The design is appropriate in terms of emotional and cultural context as we are in technology driven cultures who yearn for simplicity and comfort in daily tasks, in this instance controlling the amount of light in ones room. It is also appropriate considering the increasingly stressful lifestyles of individuals, particularly those who constantly travel, and could benefit from products that work with and enhance their mood. For example, the Ambient window helps counter jet lag and other sleeping disorders.
Smart- The design is smart because it is simple! It requires simple, straight forward hand gestures in order to function.
Responsive- Whilst the hand gesture is being made, the design gives an immediate response, and this is indicated by the immediate pattern and colors that appear on the window.
Clever- The design is extremely clever in many ways. There is no way of controlling the strength of the suns light, which changes on an hourly bases. Curtains have been used for generations however cannot be changed hourly in relation to the suns rays. This design solves that problem and enables one to control the atmosphere in there room, making one in a sense in control of nature. The design understands its user and functions as a type of therapy. It also functions on solar power (not electricity or battery) therefore is a sustainable concept.
Ludic- The concept is indeed playful, it allows users to play with and create their ideal atmosphere in a somewhat magical way. Things that are playful are simple and comfortable, and this design merely involves simple hand gestures in the comfort of ones own room. In addition, mistakes are easily undoable.
Pleasurable- It is indeed a pleasurable design. The user is able to choose their desired pattern and alter the color grid whenever they choose. The design is very aesthetically pleasing, and can even be considered part of the rooms décor. Users will experience pleasure in its function, particularly as it aims to enhance the user’s mood and boost their energy level.
The one characteristic of the design process that most intrigues me and that I would enjoy participating in the design of would be the graphic design element. I would be interested in designing the range of graphic images and visual elements that could be projected onto the window, making them as natural as possible.
Credits
Philips Simplicity Event; Ambient Wondow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xki9SboDn4Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ip-SFp7Lkw&feature=related
Sima Ghatei-Pda Phone



Sima GhateiID # 2293421
EXERCISE #4
Rip dropod900isan elusive ideal PDA phone. It is every ting but the kitchen sink. Every body could hammer out professional-looking emails on the road without needing to boot up the PC.
There are only a few caveats that I do not like.
A; you miss physical numeric key pad like regular phone.
Bit is big and heavy.
But there are things that make us to switch back to the DOPOD900.
First functionally the down load speed is move than 60KB.second full keyboard capability.
This thing is pretty beautiful .the screen is huge and very readable.
One major problem is the lack of scroller wheel.
TRUSTWORTHY: This functionality product is trustworthy because it is resistant against hit and moisture it is also more capable than similar devices.
APPROPRIATE: I guess this product is appropriate, because it includes almost everything that you need to do with your PC and black heavy or cell phone.
SMART: I believe this design is smart and it is a futuristic device and everything that a person is required in modern life is considered and it is ahead of new technology.
RESPONSIVE: The features of DOPOD900 can response the needs of developed countries. For example you can send your images and emails at any time with amazing speed.
LUCID: the operating of this device is very easy. The big screen is much more readiable and using instruction is very easy.
CLEVER: I think this design is very clever and it can do any thing that you need to do with your PC and cell phone.
It is available in a variety of colors and it is so small that you can carry it in your pocket.
PLEASURABLE: I guess using this product is quite enjoyable to access your PC and cell phone and PPA every where that you need to.
