Hey Guys!

Couple of new updates to share with everyone about the 3D Atlanta Project!

First off–in two weeks we should have 3 completed models of architecture to show off! Which is pretty exciting! Wasfi, Nathan, and I are hard at work getting them ready! The other SIFs are currently working on compiling their historical research into interactive pieces. What I mean by that is this:
If they find something on Coca-Cola from the 1920s that is relevant but maybe we don’t have enough information to fill up,say an entire booklet, we can simply hang up a flier on a building’s wall that a player can interact with. So the question then–is what is this interactivity supposed to look like?

After Discussing a lot of different options, we came up with the simplified point-and-click idea. The point-and-click paradigm is well known and intuitive. We aren’t trying to create a new paradigm of interactivity–rather utilize pre-existing paradigms of interactivity to change a paradigm of educational interest and engagement. So–“Point-and-click”–which some of you might be familiar with from the ubiquitous mystery search games that are all over app stores and Steam, or from certain classics from Sierra or Lucas Arts in the 90s (Secret of Monkey Island, Quest for Glory, etc.) and perhaps the more well-known Myst series.

In our environment–although it is a full 3D environment from a first-person perspective–the point-and-click interface simply means than when the player’s cursor,(which can be controlled from a mouse, or if the object is simply close in proximity to the player), hits an object in the environment that is interactive–it turns a bright red to signify the player can use it. Once used–the player’s controls and interaction are replaced with a new set of controls that allow a different kind of interaction with the information that is presented, like a newspaper or flyer. I’ve programmed a generic enough interaction script in Unity so that any object can be quickly interactive by attaching the script to it and linking the necessary information to be displayed.

One cool example is a 3D booklet that can pop up with animated pages. The background darkens, the controls now flip pages instead of moving the player, and a simple button press or newly determined method will make the information disappear and return the controls back to player movement to continue exploring.

I had some additional free time to play around a bit with the environment as well and created a generic vehicle script. Basically–I plot out a set of nodes and attach those nodes to any vehicle model–in this case a streetcar–and it will indefinitely move from node to node indefinitely on a circular track. Eventually we can program in more interactive actions–like a streetcar stopping at certain corners to pick up passengers, or stopping if the player runs in front of it.

In the next few weeks we are going to have something pretty spectacular to show off!

In other news about my goings on in the SIF program: I’ve managed to get consistent results on the 3D Laser Scanners in CURVE finally! I was able to get consistent results in the model before, but the color texturing was coming out mottled and…well bad. I found a new setting in a newer version of the software that seems to have fixed that issue so now all that’s left to do is write up a handbook so that someone coming into the lab can use it with simple to follow instructions(It’s already pretty simple to use but the GUI can be a bit intimidating at first).

I’ve also been spending a lot of time giving workshops and consultations to a creative writing class taught by Robin Wharton. Their projects involve taking objects from the MARTA collection, photographing them, making models of them, and producing creative writing on a narrative for the object. I’ve been showing them how to take photos for photogrammetry and running them through the many steps of processing the data. They have already produced some really awesome results and I’m excited to see what they all finish by the end of the semester! This means there will be plenty of objects to fill our Digital Signage project with that uses the Leap Motion!

I hope everyone is having a good semester–I’m working on my thesis as we speak so I guess mine’s going okay lol. Wish me luck!

Cheers!
Robert