It's coming towards the end of our Design Futures module, and we're putting together our presentations.
I feel quite good about my presentation, it's not anything amazing, but I have learnt a lot more about Flash, and have stretched by learning the software, and figuring out my problems on my own. Since we have been doing this module a while, and have been talking about dissertations today, I am really looking forward to handing in this module and moving onto something new.
Monday, 17 November 2008
Dissertations
Today we discussed possible subject areas for our dissertations. I suggested that I might want to look at the importance of appearance in online worlds such as second life.
I found it quite interesting when I was told that there are a lot more men who create avatars in second life, yet there are a lot more women characters, therefore, a lot of male users prefer to play as women - is this living out some sort of fantasy, sexual or otherwise, or is it possibly the need and want to remain anonymous?
I also am intrigued by the amount of 'looks' and 'clothing' you can buy for your avatars, I wonder why people would want to spend real money, on a virtual outfit or change of appearance. Is this how they would like to look in real life? Or is it purely a game? In which case, why is their avatar's look so important that they'll spend money on it?
As well as this, I'd like to look at the influence of celebrity. The influence of celebrity on how people choose to dress in real life is huge, and there are always articles in magazines showing you how you can 'get their look'. This has leaked onto the Internet in recent years with sites such as ASOS (As Seen On Screen) who specialise in selling clothing that has been reproduced from outfits celebrities have been seen in, or clothing that is in their style. I'd like to know if this has also moved into virtual worlds such as Second Life, has anyone modeled their Avatar on a celebrity? If the user is female, and has modeled their Avatar on a female celebrity, is this because they aspire to be like that celebrity? etc.
I think that there is quite a broad spectrum of information for me to look at here, and quite a good mix of social activities that have been around for a while - ie; aspiring to be like a celebrity, and also new activities, ie; having duel lives - your real life, and your Second Life.
I found it quite interesting when I was told that there are a lot more men who create avatars in second life, yet there are a lot more women characters, therefore, a lot of male users prefer to play as women - is this living out some sort of fantasy, sexual or otherwise, or is it possibly the need and want to remain anonymous?
I also am intrigued by the amount of 'looks' and 'clothing' you can buy for your avatars, I wonder why people would want to spend real money, on a virtual outfit or change of appearance. Is this how they would like to look in real life? Or is it purely a game? In which case, why is their avatar's look so important that they'll spend money on it?
As well as this, I'd like to look at the influence of celebrity. The influence of celebrity on how people choose to dress in real life is huge, and there are always articles in magazines showing you how you can 'get their look'. This has leaked onto the Internet in recent years with sites such as ASOS (As Seen On Screen) who specialise in selling clothing that has been reproduced from outfits celebrities have been seen in, or clothing that is in their style. I'd like to know if this has also moved into virtual worlds such as Second Life, has anyone modeled their Avatar on a celebrity? If the user is female, and has modeled their Avatar on a female celebrity, is this because they aspire to be like that celebrity? etc.
I think that there is quite a broad spectrum of information for me to look at here, and quite a good mix of social activities that have been around for a while - ie; aspiring to be like a celebrity, and also new activities, ie; having duel lives - your real life, and your Second Life.
Monday, 3 November 2008
Feedback
This afternoon we had to look at each other's blogs and be critical about one person, and complimentary about another. It was quite difficult to be critical about someone else's ideas, when you know how hard your working yourself, but it was actually quite good to hear the negative comments, as you're seeing your own blog and ideas from someone else's point of view.
Sam looked at my blog and pointed out a few things which are good to know in relation to my presentation, so that I can make adjustments.
Sam mentions that he feels the idea is aimed entirely at women. I feel that the booths would probably appeal more to women, because more women shop for clothing online, but I don't think that it would be a women's only application. I don't think either that it would fully replace the act of shopping on the high-street (which Sam suggests) as that is still seen as a social activity - at least for women anyway. I purely think that these booths would improve the accuracy of fitting for those who order online, and maybe attract people who previously haven't shopped online as they wanted to try on the clothing before making a purchase.
Sam talks about a scene in the film Iron Man, where he makes and virtually tries on his suit. I will look at this, as it may be something useful for my presentation.
Sam felt that it was an idea that would never catch on, and maybe it wouldn't, but I think that he has that feeling because he hasn't seen the research, which is not surprising, as I have not documented it here, so I'm going to go back and add some links to some of the research that I have done.
One thing I did notice, from both the positive and the negative feedback is that it feels like I haven't explained the concept fully. Both people who commented on my blog thought that you virtually tried on the clothing on your 3D model while you were still in the booth. This could be possible, as it would make the application (and online shopping) more accessible for those without Internet access, but my intention was that the consumer's 3D form would be saved on their profile, so that the user could then go home, log on to their favorite online clothing store, and try the items on virtually before purchasing. This is something that I will have to make sure that I'm clear on during my presentation.
Sam looked at my blog and pointed out a few things which are good to know in relation to my presentation, so that I can make adjustments.
Sam mentions that he feels the idea is aimed entirely at women. I feel that the booths would probably appeal more to women, because more women shop for clothing online, but I don't think that it would be a women's only application. I don't think either that it would fully replace the act of shopping on the high-street (which Sam suggests) as that is still seen as a social activity - at least for women anyway. I purely think that these booths would improve the accuracy of fitting for those who order online, and maybe attract people who previously haven't shopped online as they wanted to try on the clothing before making a purchase.
Sam talks about a scene in the film Iron Man, where he makes and virtually tries on his suit. I will look at this, as it may be something useful for my presentation.
Sam felt that it was an idea that would never catch on, and maybe it wouldn't, but I think that he has that feeling because he hasn't seen the research, which is not surprising, as I have not documented it here, so I'm going to go back and add some links to some of the research that I have done.
One thing I did notice, from both the positive and the negative feedback is that it feels like I haven't explained the concept fully. Both people who commented on my blog thought that you virtually tried on the clothing on your 3D model while you were still in the booth. This could be possible, as it would make the application (and online shopping) more accessible for those without Internet access, but my intention was that the consumer's 3D form would be saved on their profile, so that the user could then go home, log on to their favorite online clothing store, and try the items on virtually before purchasing. This is something that I will have to make sure that I'm clear on during my presentation.
Body Scanning
I'm definitely going to look at the idea of body scanning for my Designs Futures project.
After talking with Sam Butler, I have looked into 'gait-recognition' technology as well as facial scanning.
The idea of gait-recognition was really interesting. Gait-recognition recognises the way people move, and can tell who a person is from about 500m (as long as they have been recorded on the system anyway). The government in America are trying to develop gait-recognition technology for known terrorists, so that in a busy airport, or building or whatever, they would be able to detect a terrorist by their movements, and then inform security or the police to have the suspect followed. I don't know if they will also use this technology to pick up on movements which are out of character or erratic for a 'normal' person.
I have considered gait recognition in relation to my body scanning booths. I was thinking about incorporating a running machine in the booth, so that as well as scanning the person's body, their gait could also be recorded. This could then produce a realistic 3D model of your-self walking on your computer screen. If I then used the body scanning booths in relation to clothing, not only would a consumer be able to see themselves visually in 3D trying on the different clothing, but they would also be able to see themselves walking in the clothing, which would help them to see the drape of the clothing, whether their movements were restricted etc. Combine this with a facial scanner, and I don't think you would have a way of knowing how you would look in an item of clothing without visiting the shop and trying it on.
Clothing wouldn't have to be the only thing that a body scanning booth was used for though. It could also be used in relation to health. To scan the body and get a 3D image, the booth would use radio waves, as this would allow them to remain fully clothed. However, there is no reason why the booths couldn't also use MRI scanning. The MRI scan could then also be stored on your profile, for a radiologist to look at. By looking at a full body scan, a radiologist would be able to diagnose the following; ailments of the brain, including tumours and dementias, sports injurys, musculoskeletal problems, most spinal conditions or injurys, vascular abnormalities, female pelvic problems, posture problems, some gastro-intestinal tract conditions, certain ear, nose and throat conditions, and soft tissue and bone pathology/conditions. This would be good for people who are scared of going to the doctors, or surgerys etc, but it would also be good from the medical side of things, as they would be able to build up a much larger database, from many different demographics of people.
However, an MRI scan isn't something that people should have just for the sake of it. There are some people who should not have MRI scans, for example people with pacemakers, or women who are pregnant, so there would have to be sufficient health warnings for this. There could be a choice in the booths on entering. If you do have any of the ailments listed in the health warnings, you could use the booths purely for the clothing side of things, and the booth would then know to scan you using radio waves only.
I've got an image in my head as to how I would like the booths to look, so I need to get this developed in photoshop before my presentation.
I've looked at the current developments of body scanning for clothing fit, and it is on the horrizon, but currently, the 'try-on' models which are available, are very computerised, and are designed more for style selection and not sizing. You take your own measurments, which could be taken wrongly, ie; someone measuring their waist might not take the measurement on the right part of their waste. Once you've measured, the online applications give you a predetermined set of measurements, and you then choose the closest - which could be quite far off. You can also then generalise features, ie; blonde hair, green eyes etc to develop a general image of yourself . You then select clothes and 'try them on' to see what they look like on your 'virtual self', and if you like the way that tehy look, then you can buy them. However, you don't know if they'll actually fit you when they're delivered, and as you don't look that much like your 'virtual' self, you don't really know if they'll suit you either. But if you had a 3D scanned image of yourself, including all your facial features, hair-cut etc, that looked exactly like you, and walked in the same way as you, you would know which size of item fitted you perfectly, and how it looked on you from all angles, and how it hung on your body when you're walking etc.
After talking with Sam Butler, I have looked into 'gait-recognition' technology as well as facial scanning.
The idea of gait-recognition was really interesting. Gait-recognition recognises the way people move, and can tell who a person is from about 500m (as long as they have been recorded on the system anyway). The government in America are trying to develop gait-recognition technology for known terrorists, so that in a busy airport, or building or whatever, they would be able to detect a terrorist by their movements, and then inform security or the police to have the suspect followed. I don't know if they will also use this technology to pick up on movements which are out of character or erratic for a 'normal' person.
I have considered gait recognition in relation to my body scanning booths. I was thinking about incorporating a running machine in the booth, so that as well as scanning the person's body, their gait could also be recorded. This could then produce a realistic 3D model of your-self walking on your computer screen. If I then used the body scanning booths in relation to clothing, not only would a consumer be able to see themselves visually in 3D trying on the different clothing, but they would also be able to see themselves walking in the clothing, which would help them to see the drape of the clothing, whether their movements were restricted etc. Combine this with a facial scanner, and I don't think you would have a way of knowing how you would look in an item of clothing without visiting the shop and trying it on.
Clothing wouldn't have to be the only thing that a body scanning booth was used for though. It could also be used in relation to health. To scan the body and get a 3D image, the booth would use radio waves, as this would allow them to remain fully clothed. However, there is no reason why the booths couldn't also use MRI scanning. The MRI scan could then also be stored on your profile, for a radiologist to look at. By looking at a full body scan, a radiologist would be able to diagnose the following; ailments of the brain, including tumours and dementias, sports injurys, musculoskeletal problems, most spinal conditions or injurys, vascular abnormalities, female pelvic problems, posture problems, some gastro-intestinal tract conditions, certain ear, nose and throat conditions, and soft tissue and bone pathology/conditions. This would be good for people who are scared of going to the doctors, or surgerys etc, but it would also be good from the medical side of things, as they would be able to build up a much larger database, from many different demographics of people.
However, an MRI scan isn't something that people should have just for the sake of it. There are some people who should not have MRI scans, for example people with pacemakers, or women who are pregnant, so there would have to be sufficient health warnings for this. There could be a choice in the booths on entering. If you do have any of the ailments listed in the health warnings, you could use the booths purely for the clothing side of things, and the booth would then know to scan you using radio waves only.
I've got an image in my head as to how I would like the booths to look, so I need to get this developed in photoshop before my presentation.
I've looked at the current developments of body scanning for clothing fit, and it is on the horrizon, but currently, the 'try-on' models which are available, are very computerised, and are designed more for style selection and not sizing. You take your own measurments, which could be taken wrongly, ie; someone measuring their waist might not take the measurement on the right part of their waste. Once you've measured, the online applications give you a predetermined set of measurements, and you then choose the closest - which could be quite far off. You can also then generalise features, ie; blonde hair, green eyes etc to develop a general image of yourself . You then select clothes and 'try them on' to see what they look like on your 'virtual self', and if you like the way that tehy look, then you can buy them. However, you don't know if they'll actually fit you when they're delivered, and as you don't look that much like your 'virtual' self, you don't really know if they'll suit you either. But if you had a 3D scanned image of yourself, including all your facial features, hair-cut etc, that looked exactly like you, and walked in the same way as you, you would know which size of item fitted you perfectly, and how it looked on you from all angles, and how it hung on your body when you're walking etc.
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