I really should know better than to use the N-word…
Thanks to the help of my secondary thesis advisor, John Park, I was able to implement the interaction design I’d envisioned originally for this project, and had had to scrap due to technical issues (read: major, endemic, and fatal lag). We figured out how to successfully export each animation layer as video, then I fed the video back into Flash, and reinstated the original code, sockets, tripoint array, and all! I think I’ll put the code up later.
To view it, you must have some form of video feed (ie webcam, Mac iSight, et cetera). To get the most effective viewing experience, view the files in as dark a location as you can find (turn off the lights, close the blinds) and make sure your monitor is bright enough to illuminate your face but not much else. Ready?
Now, download the Processing application (Mac and PC) and Flash file (Cross-platform SWF, Mac archive, PC). (The SWF requires Adobe Flash Player, available for free from Adobe, and the Processing files all require Java, available at Sun Microsystems.) Note to PC users: I use a Mac, and haven’t yet tested the PC files, so let me know if they don’t work so I can fix them. Then, start the Processing file running, and allow it to use your video feed (just say “Yes;” I promise it won’t hurt your computer). You should get a small black window filled with white dots that change in size. All good? Now, adjust your speaker volume to normal, and run the Flash file.
Please comment and let me know what you think! I’d love to hear what you like, anything that you find confusing or interesting… Anything constructive goes! (If you hate it, please don’t rant at me to that effect!) If it doesn’t work for you, let me know—it’ll help if you can describe the problem so I can see if it’s something I can fix on my end. (I can’t change anything about your computer; I can only try to make my files as accesible as possible.)
Thanks for reading, watching, and commenting (those rare few of you… yes, you two)!
This is fascinating, Emily. At first I didn’t follow your instructions and I just ran the flash file – finalthesis – by itself. That in and of itself is beautiful. The piano and the words fell together and I could sing along in my head – neat thing is I didn’t consciously say to myself, oh, the piano is tapping out the melody and here are the lyrics. I just felt it come together without conscious thought. cool!
The music is beautiful. I enjoyed it. Who’s the composer? I also wondered if you played the piano part. And it’s a bit sad.
Now the art! wow. Love the opening – into the doorway, finding you on the floor. cool ps effect of ‘cartooning’ the live video. I’d love to know how you did that. Was it difficult? or did you do that in flash?
Also – other favorite images: you blindfolded. you looking out the window – specifically for the multiple styles the image goes through.
OK. so, then I re-read your instructions and realized the file MaskMac was the process file – the one with black field and white dots. So, I got that going and then played the finalthesis again.
the dots showed up in the final thesis field as well as in their own window. I don’t know if I like it. At first, I’m all wondering how you did that and it is cool. but the dots interfered with the images.
Then, the words and music weren’t lined up anymore. specifically at “why can’t I ask the questions” and the line about the world that scrolls across the bottom.
Just now, I played it for the 4th or 5th time! and discovered that I can have impact on the dots!! hahahaha. cool. by moving around in front of the camera. omg, emily. this project has so many layers.
I hope there is not a comment length limit.
love to you!
Thanks, Meg! I composed and played the music myself. The animation is all hand-drawn using a technique called “rotoscoping,” which involves drawing over the video layer and then removing it. The latest version shouldn’t have too much of a lag, since its been converted to video instead of animation; the older versions are still flash, and certain sections run slowly when the mask is running (particularly the window image, which is huge). I edited several different animation versions based on how they ran as animation, and then converting them to video changed how they ran, and I was tired of fixing things, particularly since I couldn’t tell how the video would play without converting it (a lengthy process), and must guess about how to change the animation to make it line up properly with the words! The layers of meaning was my main objective in making the project; the other pages in the site have information from my prospectus/proposal; I do plan to put the whole thesis project up at some point…