Researching website styles

http://www.niomismart.com/travel/the-spa-in-the-caves/


I liked the simple color palette in design of this website. Additionally I liked the drop down menu on the nav bar and also how the main content floats over the main image that appears.

https://www.theirishfairydoorcompany.com
This website has a fun, cartoon style to it. My project idea is about promoting reading to a younger audience so therefore the website should have a fun, colourful palette to it.

https://www.pixar.com/feature-launch2#feature-films-coco


Similar to the first website I mentioned, it has an image and then when you scroll down the content moves over that image.

http://www.dreamworkstrollmate.com
http://www.dreamworks.com/trolls/explore
http://www.dreamworkstv.com/shows/the-adventures-of-puss-in-boots/?show_tab=videos

Here a few links to the dream works websites. They seem to have a website for each movie with games, quizzes and videos on them. I looked at these websites because I wanted to see how they placed a video on their website and also the design of the background.

https://cprewritten.net


This website is an online game but on the first page you can click to watch this video. It's interactive and fun. It's an interesting idea. At the moment my idea is to have a library style web page and when you click on this book it opens and then the video will start playing.

http://timburton.com


I really like the art style of this website. Also how it was like a game where you move the character around in order to view the content.

Environment feedback

Today I asked people to test my environment so far. The feedback they said to me was the that I "environment structure was too large" and wasn't in "proportion to the avatar". Secondly the textures that I had so far looked "fake" and "unrealistic". They made it look a little "amateur". Additionally they commented on the avatar and was confused by him because "it's not a game so why is he there".

Taking that feedback on board I made a plan to adjust the structure of the architecture so it is in proportion to the avatar. Secondly, I spent last night researching more textures for the environment and downloaded ones that could work better. Thirdly I made a note to look at Youtube tutorials to change the camera position from third person to first person. 

Change to deliverable

We had a research and development presentation on Thursday. I was a little flustered and nervous for it so therefore I need to practise presenting in front of a mirror even more. Additionally I need to create the templates for PowerPoint myself and use images. I need to make a slight change to my project as well. My idea is an interactive virtual reality experience of a story that has voice recognition. Which means you need to read the sentences you see out loud in order to progress through the story and environment. My original deliverable was a video of the walk through of the environment with the text surrounding you and in the top right corner there was a small window with a video of someone wearing virtual reality glasses. It was basically showing you what you would see if you wore these classes. However it is not interactive for my lecturer so therefore I need to make it interactive by creating a website page and placing the video on it.
 My plan for the weekend and early next week is to research different types of websites, i.e. fashion, news papers, blogs, children education websites, children's online game websites, etc. Later in class on Tuesday and Thursday I will start design the layout for my website. Fridays will be spent creating the 3D objects and finishing off the environment. The rest of the week will be spent working on the website and research. I will ask for feedback on the environment I have created this week and make adjustments based on the feedback. We are in week 8 now so I need to get this environment done in the next two weeks.

Interactive storybooks research!

I researched interactive storybooks for children. When I was a child I can remember playing with this interactive book called "LEAPFROG". It had a pen attached to the book and if you touched a word on the page with the pen, the book would say that word out loud.
Link: https://www.leapfrog.com/en-us/app-center/academy/landing.jsp
This book was one inspiration for my interactive virtual reality experience of a story. The only difference is that inside of the device telling you the word, you have to tell it the word and read it out loud. Then through voice recognition you would move forward in the story.

Here is a photo of the book that I used to have when I was a kid:

IBBY research

http://www.ibby.org/about/what-is-ibby/?L=0

"The International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) is a non-profit organization which represents an international network of people from all over the world who are committed to bringing books and children together."

"IBBY National Section sponsors the International Children’s Book Day"

"The day is celebrated to inspire a love of reading and to call attention to children’s books."
"IBBY believes that children who are suffering from natural disaster, displacement, war and its aftermath, desperately need books and stories as well as food, shelter, clothing and medicines. These are necessities and are not mutually exclusive."
"books and stories can change lives, bring understanding, and empower the powerless."

Storytelling in Ireland

https://www.irishcentral.com/news/community/the-seanachie-keeper-of-irelands-rich-folklore-heritage
"The seanchaí is an important link in Celtic/Irish cultural heritage and continues to play a dominant role in the oral tradition, bringing old stories to life for modern-day listeners."

http://www.askaboutireland.ie/reading-room/history-heritage/folklore-of-ireland/folklore-in-ireland/traditional-storytelling/
"Formed the backbone of entertainment and imagination in Ireland"

Researching tutorials for 3D max

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koxtsMQZFME
Here is a short tutorial to create a book in 3D max. The first room in my environment is the "world made entirely out of books". Obviously I will need book objects. This tutorial is short and very clear on how to make curves on the object.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WC8C5SkJzM
Here is a link to a tutorial on how to make an open book. I might use this open book styled object as the doorway between rooms.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRVlpBmAkg8
Here is a link to a tutorial on how to make a detailed tree. There are multiple videos that I need to follow after in order to complete each stage of the tree. My plan is to create one and then duplicate it so it looks like a forest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-r2tRE0F-i8
Here is a tutorial on how to make grass in 3D max which will hopefully be used in the forest if I successfully make it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIc-aachMZE
This is a link to a tutorial on how to make a pillar which will be used in the castle environment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5SrQ8ZsvFA
This is a link to a cool tutorial on how to create a fish shape in 3d max, wrap the image onto the fish and then animate it.

Australian Aboriginal Storytelling

http://www.australianstorytelling.org.au/storytelling-articles/a-d/australian-aboriginal-storytelling-helen-mckay
"Dreamtime stories are the oral textbooks of the Aborigines’ accumulated knowledge, spirituality, and wisdom, from when time began. The storyteller custodian’s role was really that of cultural educator."

 "Dreamtime painting by Norbett Lynch"

http://aboriginalart.com.au/culture/dreamtime2.html

"Dreamtime is the Aboriginal understanding of the world, of it's creation, and it's great stories. "

 "Dreamtime chart"

The evolution of books

https://sfbook.com/the-evolution-of-the-book.htm
"3500 BC - Symbols onto Tablets"
"first attempts to transcribe symbols onto moveable materials"




"2400 BC - Papyrus Scrolls"
"Papyrus scrolls"
"originating in Egypt"
 

"500 - 200 BC - Parchment"
"thin material that is made from calfskin, sheepskin or even goatskin"


"200 BC - Wax Tablets developed"
"blocks of wood that were coated in wax"


"400 - 600 AD - Illustrations added"
"decorated in silver or even gold with striking colors and very detailed designs"


"868 AD - The First Printed Book"
"block printing"


"1501 AD - The Precurser to the Modern Paperback"
"small format books (octavos) which were bound in vellum"


"1832 AD to 1860 AD - Birth of the "cheap" Novel"
"first mass-market paperbacks"


"1985 AD - First books on CD
1995 AD - Books sold Online
2000 AD - 2006 AD The start of the e-books Market
2007 AD - The Kindle becomes the first e-book reader"

Starting to create the environment!

This week I started creating the basic structure of the environment in the Game launcher application. I used my map and storyboard as a reference and constructed a basic plan of the environment. I still need to add in the doors, lighting fixtures and objects but this is step 1 complete. Each room will have a different theme according to the story. For the doorways I plan to have them walking through a book to get to the next room. I started researching different textures for each theme as you can see in the photographs below. I took a few screenshots on my phone so that I can make a plan over the next week and what adjustments need to be made.
One challenge with this project is that I only have Fridays after class to work on the Game launcher application. There are classes in that room during the week and I am also in class as well. Therefore I need to manage my time wisely and take note of each of the milestones. My plan for next week is to put in all the textures on the walls and floors. Make any final adjustments to the walls and floors. Then start creating the objects on my list in 3d Max. This weekend I will take note of every object that needs to be made and find an image of the object which will be my visual reference when I am creating it.
Below are images of my basic structure of the environment.

This is the starting point in "The world of books"


Here they are approaching the first book archway...


...which will take them "back in time to a castle".

They will walk down the castle hallway, turn right and will pass through another book which will "blast them off to the future" into a sci-fi themed environment.

They will continue their journey and pass through another book doorway which will bring them "deep into the ocean" which is an underwater themed room.
The last room is a jungle themed room.
Here is an overview shot of the environment.

As you can see I started experimenting with textures.

Storyboard and Map of environment

Artist research

For my research on different artists and art styles I am looking at my collection of books from my childhood. Majority of them are illustrated and here is a selection of illustrations and artists that stood out to me and an example of their work and where I first originally saw their work.

Michael Jaroszko
My Book: Best-loved children's stories: Demeter and Persephone
http://www.phosphorart.com/mike-jaroszko/
Example of his work:

Kathy Mitchell

My book: Best-loved children's stories: The wild swans

http://kathymitchelldesign.com/books-1/#books

Example of her work:

Jenny Thorne
My book: Oscar Wilde stories for children
http://www.jennythorne.co.uk/gallery/?page=7
Example of her work


Gavin Rowe
My Book: Fairy tales
https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/334254.Gavin_Rowe
Example of his work


Robert Ingpen
My Book: The wind in the willows
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-16/exhibition-of-the-works-of-robert-ingpen-master-craftsman-book/7936820
Example of his work:

History of Storytelling

http://www.storynet.org/resources/whatisstorytelling.html

"ancient art form and a valuable form of human expression"

"Storytelling is the interactive art of using words and actions to reveal the elements and images of a story while encouraging the listener’s imagination."

https://www.elitedaily.com/life/21-reasons-reading-cool/667383

"you can actually see how characters think, act and feel"


"You are able to experience places without even traveling. You can learn about different cultures, people and places. Historical context will come alive"

https://reporter.rit.edu/tech/evolution-storytelling

"Storytelling originated with visual stories, such as cave drawings, and then shifted to oral traditions, in which stories were passed down from generation to generation by word of mouth. There was then a shift to words formed into narratives, including written, printed and typed stories. "
"Technology has given us the ability to practice our intrinsic nature as visual individuals."
"Photographs evoke emotion and empathy"

Virtual reality

https://www.vrs.org.uk/virtual-reality/what-is-virtual-reality.html

"Virtual reality is the term used to describe a three-dimensional, computer generated environment which can be explored and interacted with by a person"

"virtual reality allows us to take virtual risks in order to gain real world experience."


https://www.vrs.org.uk/virtual-reality-gear/glasses/how-do-they-work.html

"Virtual reality glasses contain polarised lenses which show two images, one per each eye. These images appear to give an illusion of depth which is a particular feature of CAVE environments."
"Advanced versions of these glasses contain head tracking systems"
"Tracking needs to be as accurate as it can be or else the illusion breaks down."


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUY2yI5F16U
This is a link to a virtual reality experience of a story. There is no text so it is told through visuals.

Story about the magic of reading!

Once upon a time in the land of imagination, there was a world made entirely out of books. Each book had a magical power that could transport you into another world. Certain books transported you back in time to a land filled with castles, sword fighting and maybe even dragons! Another book might blast you off into the future.
You can dive deep into the ocean with the power of a book or explore dark jungles for hidden treasure. It all starts with once upon a time. So what are you waiting for?

Final Project Proposal Presentation

Moodboard!

Here is a little moodboard I created for Media Business Project. When I was researching art styles I had watercolour and pop up books stuck in my mind. I want it to start off will a soft pastel palette. As the story continues the palette gets more and more vibrant. 

Culture of Africa

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Africa

“African arts and crafts find expression in a variety of woodcarvings, brass and leather art works.”

“Maulana Karenga states that in African art, the object was not as important as the soul force behind the creation of the object”

“Stories reflect a group cultural identity and preserving the stories of Africa will help preserve an entire culture. Storytelling affirms pride and identity in a culture.”

“This is a picture of a Griot from Ancient Africa telling a story”

http://www.victoriafalls-guide.net/african-culture.html

“In African culture, the “self” is not separate from the world, it is united and intermingled with the natural and social environment.”

http://www.victoriafalls-guide.net/african-customs.html

“in all ethnic groups throughout Africa, the family unit is of the utmost importance and it is reflected in the customs of each tribe.”

https://migrationology.com/african-cultural-values-travel-africa-17/

“African cultural values are based on a foundation of the past and present, a leading reason why elders are so well respected.”