A project collaborated with Elizabeth White

Pathway study : prototype 01

Screen Record :

Diagram:
diagram for smmm-01

Post-Mortem

Pathway study : prototype 02 : user testing

link to code

What pathways did you see? Which ones did you predict and design for? Which were surprises?

When interacting with this visual sound installation, people were moving in large, expansive pathways, experimenting and trying to learn the rules of the sketch. Because the space was divided horizontally and the projector was the only source of light, users understood that their interaction should take place within the parameters of the light. This influenced random yet linear pathways across the horizontal space, as people ran from corner to corner. Interestingly, the users began to interact with each other, in attempts to find out if the sketch was sensitive to inter-user interaction. This created a really playful environment, that we had not anticipated.

What design choices did you make to influence the pathways people would take? What choices were not made? Left to chance?

We mapped the space so that it was divided on the x-axis into four quadrants. Each quadrant triggered a different sound, therefore we encouraged linear exploration through the space. Also, the changing lights that filled the space with a different color based on the location of the user encouraged a sense of freedom that we didn’t initially intend for.

What did people feel interacting with your piece? How big was the difference between what you intended and what actually happened?

People seemed to be moving very energetically and freely throughout the space, which was a pleasant surprise to us. Initially the sketch was tested without lights, only sound, and that caused our user testing to be more static, slow motions. It was a more careful exploration of the space. Once the lights were involved, this encouraged a sense of freedom.

Diagram:
diagram for smmm-02

diagram for smmm-04

diagram for smmm-03

pic

Special Thanks!
Mimi Yin
Elizabeth White (My awesome partner!!!)
Akmyrat Tuyliyev
Corbin Ordel
Yuqiao Qin

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