Literature review : Interactive Media: The Semiotics of Embodied Interaction

Post no.2
Literature Review - 2

Interactive Media: The Semiotics of Embodied Interaction by Shaleph O'Neill

Interactive Media: The Semiotics of Embodied interaction is a book that explain the different perspective of interactive Media. From some of the chapter in the book also define the type and sign of interactive and the way of interaction.

During the review, this book is able to provide clearer knowledge about interactive and also what are value type of interactive media. The book also able to recruit sources for the final essay.

In chapter 3, Approaching Interactive: section 3.1, Interactive Media Today, discussed how technology had evolve to the digital technologies we have now days. "...the is something fundamentally different about understanding interactions with the new interactive media compared to our traditional understanding of interactions with computers."(Shaleph O'Neill, 2008). This definition had show the different the interactive of the media we have now days are far more different than how people interact with our computer. With the technology people had this days, the way of interaction had provide more choices, for example with kinect technology, gesture can be the main interaction, but gestures had many kind of forms and movement and from there come more possibilities. Designer will always base on the event, user, objective and situation to come out the best interaction solution for user to interact with. the concept is also able apply to live event, base one the user and the objectives,designer are able to invent a suitable design of technology for the user.

In section 3.2 : Human Computer Interaction. Although this section did not have much connection to his final essay topic but there are key theory are able to guide during his analysis of China and London Olympics Opening Ceremony technology. HCI offers theories in terms of understanding how people interact with new technology. (Shaleph O'Neill, 2008)

In this section, there are 5 different theory was be define for more understand. 

First will be the theory of the conventional view of perception and cognition, which are mainly define how user use their sense to detected or interact with the external world. Second theory is Metal Modeling, which define how a human mind works. Third theory is The Model Human Processor(Fig. 1), which is a detailed model of how computer users process information that is intended to help designer predict the user behave. Fourth theory is Execution and Evaluation, which is an extension of the cognitive model of information processing. And last will be the Changing Face of HCI, is to evolves to face new challenges. These few theories are able to help analysis the technology in olympic opening ceremony to compare the result and the evolution of interactive with the audience. And how efficient the technologies are.

Figure 1. The Model Human Processor

References

O'Neill, S. (2008). Interactive media. London: Springer.

Literature review : Inventing the Medium (Principles of Interaction Design as a Cultural Practice)

Post no.1
Literature Review - 1

Inventing the Medium (Principles of Interaction Design as a Cultural Practice) by Janet H. Murray

Inventing the Medium had cover and share some idea that are related to the student topic. The research from chapter 1, Design in an Evolving Medium. Janet H. Murray start every chapter of Inventing the Medium with a famous quote. In this chapter, She put in a quote from Alan Kay 'The best way to predict the future is to invent it.'(1971). Base on the quotation, i am absolutely agree, Cf. Dennis Gabor also mention in his book, Inventing the Future (1963), showing: "The future cannot be predicted, but futures can be invented."The time is ticking every second, the technology had evolve and be invented. 

INVENTING IN MEDIUM - "To design is to shape a specific artifact or process by choosing among alternate strategies in order to achieve explicit goals."(Janet, 2012:25) 

Base on the quotations in Janet perspective, to invent a medium or a technology, the inventor or the designer need to know what are the alternatives strategies. As a designer, they need to know what are the source to create a new design, and what are functionalities of this design is able to achieve. Before that designers also need to know what are the goals that they are trying achieve. Same go to the design or technology in a event, what is the purpose of the used of the interactive technology available in the event. Are they necessary for the visitor to interact with it during the visit to the event. In the process, as a designer and inventor they need to choose or make the right decision. Frame down a new design problem within existing traditions, practices, and goals.

Virtual realities and project mapping is the two interactive and immersive technology is one of focus point in recent China and London olympics opening ceremony. After reviewing this chapter, this concept help to trigger more questions about what are the different when the designer are creating the design and interaction and is London olympics focused on refining familiar elements to make it more reliable, usable, functionable, visual appealing or marketable.

Next research section will be chapter 3, Maximising the four Affordances. In this chapter there no much related information but there are few key point that i will like to highlight after reviewing the chapter. First will be a quote from Marshall McLuhan -  all media as extensions of ourselves serve to provide new transforming vision and awareness (McLuhan[1964] 1995). The theory had helped inventors and designers to come out a lot of new medium but Janet say that "The digital designer has two responsibilities: to create the artifact that has best serves the needs of the people who will interact with it and to advance the digital medium as a whole(Janet, 2012: 87)". By understand the needs of people or events, what are the behaviour of interaction, designer able to increase the expressive power of the particular artifact, and advance the ability of creating a better artifact. Every opening ceremony of olympics had it own story behind and the technology to make everything happen. Although every year some of the technologies that are use is similar, but base on the needs and want of the viewer or people the technology had to reframe and refine to increase more immersive and user friendly technology to help enhancing the event.

The last section had strongly related to the essay topic will be chapter 10, The Tool Model: Augmenting the Expressive Power of the Hand. In this chapter that is a quotation from Terry Winograd that said: 'Successful interaction design requires a shift from seeing the machinery to seeing the lives of the people using it, In this human dimension, the relevant factors become hard to quantify, hard to even identify (Terry Winograd, 1997).'

User interface, user experience and user interaction is some of the key element when Interactive media design are designing or inventing a artefact. But there is a question, before all these had exited, when a designer or inventor create a object, people will normal went through the user guide before the start to interact with it. and during that time they can clearly see that the interaction part is mostly focus on the machine and how it was operated by human. But during this recent, after some technology are being produce and user had experience so much interaction with technology, they have a concept, idea or pattern of control and object, for example a smart phone. User will know how to interact with it. And from the designer and developer will study from there to improve their gadget or function to make it more user friendly. Beside that designers and developer also design gadget base our normal living lifestyle. For example, during china and london olympics there are led light place at the seat of the audience in the stadium, and base on the student understand, people will do "waves" when they watching some sport activities in stadium. And the designer used the same concept create an illusion of fake light interaction from crowd. like the crowd u control the led light during the opening ceremony. 

Footnotes:

In the same chapter of Design in an Evolving Medium, Janet also discussed by asking: Who needs this object and for what? this question must be asked at three levels, which are the function, context and core which is able to help me while analysing the event technology

References

Hci.stanford.edu, (2014). From Computing Machinery to Interaction Design. [online] Available at: http://hci.stanford.edu/~winograd/papers/acm97.html [Accessed 2 Dec. 2014].

McLuhan, M. (1964). Understanding media. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul.

Murray, J. (2012). Inventing the medium. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press.

Refined Proposal

Hi-tech and Interactive technology in Olympics Opening Ceremony.

A research essay proposal by

Giin Yaw Kho

for

Interactive Media Design Pathway

Level 6 Enquiry / Report / Essay (6FTC1075)

Assignment 1 of 3

The School of Creative Arts

Faculty of Science, Technology and Creative Arts

University of Hertfordshire, UK in partnership with

The One Academy, Malaysia.

Submitted on 30th July, 2014

(571 Words)

Introduction:

Live events like concerts, conventions, and conferences are increasing in frequency around the world. In 2010, the UK expects define the annual income from conventions alone is over £ 18.8 billions. Recent world cup, over $11 billions was spent for preparation. In each of these events, new media has a role to play in ‘extending and enhancing the attendee experience’ (Johnson, 2014).

Research question:

Explore the use and interaction of technologies at Olympics Opening Ceremony.

Analyse and evaluate the interactive technology influences and affect the user experience at such events.

Research topic:

This research paper will introduce the technologies’ functions that are used in the performance delivery in Olympics Opening Ceremony. The first section will look into the types and functionalities of human-technology interactions that are be used. Second section will focus on investigate the types of technology interactions that are available. Then analyse the advantage of the technology effect the crowd participation and the artistic expression during the ceremony. With the analysis and study’s result, the paper attempts to assess the type of interaction that mostly find in the international event.

Research scope:

The introductory portion of this paper requires a wider scope due the various types of technologies in different events. More specific will be provided as research progresses What is clear for now is that technologies that are still in planning or experimenting will not be covered in this paper. This paper will also evaluate on another important criteria, which is the advantage of interaction during the event. During this research, the author will scope down the topic to mainly international sport events for example, Olympic.

Relevance to personal practice:

We live in a digital world of experience, where users are accustomed to being active participants. The author have a diploma if event management, he had some experience in the field of event and he also observe that the impact of technology had influence to the event industry,

The author’s final year project, he will attempt to create a media installation that used for company to promote their event. By analyse the advantage of existing technologies’ interactivities, the author may have better understanding and decision on exact interaction and user experiences that will like to provide for his media installation and also the possibilities of creative installation for future event planning.

Feasibility:

The feasibility of this research enquiry is moderate. Concepts on interactivity have been explored on a theoretical level in Media Culture and Histories. The wide scope of international event will be the challenging aspect of this research paper. As such, only major scale international event like Olympics and world tour concert will be analysed Beside that, technologies that used the event also will summaries to those that are well established and have commented on by professionals may be analysed. To conduct the research, the author will be getting the resources from secondary sources such as report, news articles and video.

Timeline

December

Week 6

Submission of Blog

Research to gather more information

Tutorial with Daniel in Friday for discussion

Week 7

Research to gather more information

Start on working on draft for final essay.

Week 8 

Start on working on draft for final essay.

Week 9

Send to lecturer for discussion on point and structure

Refinement 

Week 10 

Final draft

Send to lecturer for discussion on point and structure

Refinement 

Week 11

Compose the final essay and citation

Send to english to check on citation and grammar

Week 12

Refinement of essay

Refinement on citation

Compose final essay 

Get ready to submit.

Class Sharing

Week 13

Final Essay Submission

Refinement of Proposal

Base on the essay proposal we are asked to create a refinement base on the mistakes and errors that are found on the essay. Beside that, base on my proposal, the topic of the essay is still not enough focus; too wide to analyse the impact and what the result and effect to my personal topic.

Below is my feedback notes during the discussion with my lecturer, Daniel.

There are some command error that were found in the format of the proposal. The paragraph of the have a lot of sentences break error and there are lot of typo error found in the proposal which i think need to double check more and also Daniel suggested to make use of the school english and writing department.

The main focus area is about the topic. During the discussion,  Daniel voice out the topic is still not focus enough. I was being suggested to list down the main keywords and scope the area to focus my research for the essay. If it is possible, i can link back to my personal experience in Diploma. 

Beside that try make use of the sources that i had research and make good use to support the essay. Try to be confidence on my personal thinking . And lastly update the timeline in blog. A gantt chart timeline for my essay schedule.

For the next blog post i will update on my proposal refinement and the timeline schedule.

International Event 1st London Olympic (understanding the technologies) (Part 1)

I had start to analysis on the technology of Olympic. But during the process of research london olympic online, there is a website post about the meaning behind the performance. Since this is a art media and culture subject. I think why not share some information here. And the artist use semiotic to present the performance. As denotation for audience it is just a performance of London Olympic Opening; Connotation is telling the audience how Danny Boyle’s astonishing and fantastical journey through British history. The Myth is British history and culture.

For more you can visit this website to get more description of the performance.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2180814/London-2012-Olympics-opening-ceremony-How-magic-moments.html

And the video above is the opening of the London Olympic 2014.

Understanding the Technology for audience and supporter

But for my final essay i will focus on the technology that are used during the event. As we all know that technology had been invented to help people. And these go the same way to event. Olympic is a sport event. Technology are use is judging, broadcasting, performance and more. But i will focus on how technology help on the marketing and promoting the event.

Base on Gear Petrol 

COMPETITION MEETS INNOVATION - BREAKTHROUGHS: 10 TECHNOLOGIES CHANGING THE OLYMPICS by Chris Wright

From this article we are able to see the technology breakthrough in London Olympics and in the article that had show some of the technologies that are use for marketing and promoting the event. 

Most of technology that use for promoting and marketing are application and social media.

1st GETTY IMAGES’ ROBOTIC AND 3D CAMERAS

As football fans, we knew the robotic camera-on-a-wire that flies above the field. Although is it a old technology but it is brand new for the Olympics this summer. Getty Images will be using fully remote-controllable cameras, equipped with 360 degree swiveling heads, to shoot from vantage points photographers can’t access. Getty will also experiment with 3D imagery during the games, with rigs equipped with two DSLRs for capturing a stereoscopic sense of depth which knows as Twinscam.

2nd IOS AND ANDROID OLYMPICS APPS

 Developer had create free application for london olympic that  provides great text-based updates and articles, including medal count tables. NBC’s Olympics app and its Olympics Live Extra app are both free, but the ability to watch video depends on your cable company. Beside these there are a lot other application that developed for London olympic for user to participate in. 

3rd FACEBOOK OLYMPICS HUB

Facebook sports pages usually feature a nice duality of obsessive/annoying fan babble and slews of obscene smack-talk. We’re pleasantly surprised with the Olympics’s Facebook page, which is both well designed and pleasantly friendly. The Hub centralizes pages for popular athletes, events, teams, where to watch and even business sponsors of the games into one social hotspot. 

Beside that youtube channel also one of the media use to broadcast live sport action.

Gear Patrol, (2012). 10 Technologies Changing the 2012 Olympics. [online] Available at: http://gearpatrol.com/2012/07/26/10-technologies-changing-the-olympics/ [Accessed 4 Jul. 2014].

4th Ultra HD broadcasts

During 2012 London Olympic, the BBC and NHK will place three 400-inch cinema screens in selected locations around the UK and replays events in Super Hi-Vision. a relatively new technology that offers a picture quality 16 times sharper than HD. It previously been used to broadcast concerts, but there are only three cameras in the world that can create this phenomenal quality of footage. This ultra-high definition TV is not expected to be available commercially for another ten years.

Broadley, C. (2012). Five Cool New Technologies at the London 2012 Olympics. [online] The Huffington Post UK. Available at: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/claire-broadley/5-cool-new-technologies-at-the-2012-olympics_b_1652808.html [Accessed 4 Jul. 2014].

5th Led Display
The London Olympic ceremony  did lend itself to a few new and innovative technological implementations from the previous olympics opening ceremony.One of those innovations was the ultra-wide LED display that seemed to lay on top of the audience.

The technology and storyline was designed by Frederic Opsomer, the designer of the U2 360 video system, each of these square panels in the Olympics included 9 individual LEDs in equal rows of 3. With over 70,799 seats in the Olympic Stadium, the total LED display included 637,191 pixels.

The content was designed by Crystal, a London based animation and creative group. Each of the over 70,000 panels were individually configured to allow the content to wrap around the entire facility as the world looked on in amazement. 70 minutes of content was used for this amazing multi-screen experience.

The physical size of the LED display is likely to be the largest in the world by most measures. In a statement to the news, Will Case, creative director at Crystal CD said, “The audience literally became part of the action.” 

TripleWide Media, (2012). The Technology behind the London Olympics Opening Ceremonies. [online] Available at: http://www.triplewidemedia.com/2012/07/the-technology-behind-the-london-olympics-opening-ceremonies/ [Accessed 4 Jul. 2014].

These are some of the technology that i had found during the the technology research. And there will part two of the research as well. After conducting all the technologies i will basically chose few of the most interested technologies to discuss in my final essay. For my next blog i will continue my part two research and match the technologies to some of the theories that i had learned.

Introduction

This blog is to document the research for my Bachelor of Interactive Media Design Level 6 final essay. Through this blog, it will show the process of idea forming, research analysis, structure organization and the final research essay.

Based on the brief, it mention that if will be good that the final essay had some connection to our final year's project. This will help us to strengthen our final project research and the critical thinking for our essay and final project.

I am graduate from Diploma of Event Management from Sunway University before join Hertfordshire. For my final project, i will like focus and look into the event industry and analysis how evolution of art, media and technology bring impact and help the event industry. I propose my final project idea to help solve some of the issue that most event company will face during the event in Malaysia.

I had done some of basic research on people that sharing that same thought as me to somehow prove that the technology and interactive media is the next "thing" for the growth of event business.

George P. Johnson is the world’s leading event and experience marketing agency. They create innovative live, mobile and online brand programs that motivate audiences and activate brands. They had created few awards winning event and marketing for companies and brands by the power of evolution technology. The company believe that technology are not just only a simple tools.

At George P. Johnson, they like to think of experience marketing as an active verb. It happens when passive spectators become excited participants and loyal advocates.

Remember the old teaching adage about the importance of showing, not telling? The same principle applies to experiential marketing. Customers are no longer interested in hearing a list of features; they want the chance to experience benefits for themselves.

Customer empowerment has a real, measurable advantage for companies too. When people have a chance to try out products, play with new technologies or see a companys environmental principles made fresh, they develop a personal connection with a brand.

George P. Johnson, (2014). George P. Johnson Experience Marketing Agency | Global Event Marketing & Entertainment Marketing. [online] Available at: http://www.gpj.com/experience-marketing [Accessed 3 Jul. 2014].

Immerse is one of the key idea in experience marketing. Let the user the try to experience the product in all sense to create a better experience and that what interactive media design will like to achieve. Old media normally will just provide user visual and sound which we call as 2D or 3D but with the technology these we are able to create more than 3 or 4D. They believe that with interactive that are create by technology are able toinnovate, motivate and activate an audience.

Beside George P. Johnson, EventTech by Event Marketer done some research about the connection between technology and event. And the infographic poster below show the facts and the summaries of the research.

From the infographic, it show that the result of how the evolve of technology had enhance the experience of user in event and trade show.

Eventtech.eventmarketer.com, (2014). Overview | EventTech 2014 | Leveraging Social Media + Technology at Live Events. [online] Available at: http://eventtech.eventmarketer.com/overview/ [Accessed 3 Jul. 2014].

Foot notes:
Event Marketer Magazine was founded in 2002 to serve the information needs of strategic brand-side event marketers and agency executives across the spectrum of face-to-face marketing–including mobile marketing, mall marketing, street events, trade shows, corporate events, proprietary events, virtual events, buzz marketing, p.r. campaigns, sponsorships, business-to-business events and press events. It has become the world’s most respected provider of content for the event and trade show category. Our portfolio includes our flagship magazine, twice-monthly EM Buzz enewsletter, the annual Event Marketing Summit executive conference, the Ex Awards, the annual EventTech technology conference and EventTech Awards and more.
http://www.eventmarketer.com/abouteventmarketer/


I had did some discussion with my tutor to valid and discuss about my final essay topic. I had explain about how i will like to create a research to combine the experience and knowledge that i had into the final essay. During the discussion, my tutor had told me that it will be go to tied up the knowledge of art, media, internet and culture class into the essay to strengthen the knowledge of the essay. And do not limit the research on small scale local events. Base on some international event like worlds class awards, international event opening and even concert to do the analysis and research then try to tie up to the term that had learn through L4,L5 and L6.

We had both agree on the action. For the next blog i will analysis on international event to start off my research.