i n t e r a c t i v e_t o u c h…

Have managed to both make and save video in processing and are pretty proud.

Also managed to trigger the camera with RFID which is another achievement seen from a certain standard. Now there will be a trickyer part networking it, and making the collage…. And making the experience interesting and fun and social.

At the moment I think we are about to set up a little idea bank. Here are just the thoughts for he moment. the stronger once are getting visualized as we speak. We have categorized the ideas on the basis of what is the main attribute to the idea.

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After fridays midterm review we are in the process of not redefining our project, but to get bak on track of what we really want to achieve. The main idea of the project was to make people interact more with other people and not with installations.

So back to square one….

It really is not that bad but we definitely needs to take a u-turn at this point and se where we are heading this time. Sometimes it is hard to keep track on what we really are looking for.

The starting point for this task was the fascination of RFID being represented in the physical world and to use this fact in a attempt to bring people closer together in the real world.

Following are a lot of thoughts that needs revising and sorting… Read the rest of this entry »

It has been almost a month since my last confession…  Very bad blogging indeed since I find that every time I do blog it helps me to structure my thoughts.   

The physical computing week with Tom went fairly well, but we didn’t actually end up with a working platform prototype or probing device of any sort wich is a shame. But I at least got an better understanding of how to build prototypes I think.

We got Tom to help us with setting up multiple readers that where hooked up to one output which is a starting point for multiple inputs in an aera. And we  (or Tom) also managed to make pictures pop up from the different readers according to person.And the same features using Zig Bees to transmit the data, which I found a little magic in itself.  

Tom also showed us that it is possible for for ex. processing to get information from other sites like facebook. We specifically tried to get the friends list from facebook. This proved to be difficult for, and needs a special library that has not been written yet. But it is possible and that is interesting  

“Human beings do not socialize in a completely random way. There’s a tangible reason for us being together, that ties us together. Again, that reason is called the Social Object. Social Networks form around Social Objects, not the other way around.” Hugh MacLeod at www.gapingvoid.comAnother interesting article about social objects from the same author her.

I am finally understanding that these two concepts are fare from the same. Social objects are the shared or common ground for why a social interaction occurs. The social life of objects are the objects life itself.  Of course can the social life of object be a social object, like is the case with Thinglink.But a given object itself is not a social object per se… So a 2 liter thermos is not in itself a social object, but lets say a shared interest in outdoor activity would be. So social objects are not tangible in that sense.This is probably obvious but I had to get my head around it. 

After I have read up on different projects and meanings about RFID I have come up with some questions that I think could be included or serve as starting points for my project this semester.The fact that RFID is tangible e.g physical, and out there in the real world. I am thinking of the possibilities of getting people out from their computerized lives and enter into the physical world once again. This is interesting because many people know are doing more and more of their social time in front of he computer. So my questions are as follows:

• In which ways can RFID enhance peoples social/physical lives?
• Can one use rfid technology to connect people in a different manner?
• How can we take advantage of the fact that RFID is tangible?
• How willing are people to touch in their everyday lives?
• Are people willing to contribute to a larger social system?
• What kinds of social interactions are suitable for Touch?
• Are people willing to be traced, or how fare are they willing to go in a social context?

As of now I am thinking that my project will turn into a crossing between Touch as culture, playful RFID and RFID and the everyday….  Another aspect which I find intriguing is the aspect of traceability? And what kind of advantages but of course disadvantages this have on everyday life. And if it is possible to make some good use out of it! 

As of now we are supposed to decide on what theme we would like to work on for the rest of the term. When we starte the semester working around Playful RFID seemed like a natural way to go…But after reading all the briefs of the Touch project I find it very hard to decide on what to do. I had hoped that this was clear by tonight so I could finish researching and come up with some good ideas by tomorrow. So I would have a lot of time to produce the deliverables for friday.

The interactions of transactions.A task about the the payment and ticketing system in Oslo. Making a new interface and system for Oslo Sporveier.More is coming….