Aims and Intentions

For this project, I first decided to do some initial research into themes and concepts within digital media that interested me. These were ‘wearable tech’ and matters of physical health in relation to technology. Although there were a wide range of different concepts and products, I had to take a step back as these were the potential outputs of a project rather than issues or problems that need to be tackled. The next step was to look at the current European Youth Award (EYA) categories and start from there.

I particularly admired the ideas of the categories Healthy Life and Go Green, so I began to do some internet research on current issues regarding these areas. I had found that although there were many problems related to these topics, there were already many potential solutions that had already been proposed or that already exist within the digital media market. It was after looking through certain facts and statistics that I had finally found a theme to settle on, which is food waste and awareness/education.

| Padlet | Pinterest |

Development

After some discussion and thinking about the impacts of this topic, I realised that this may be limited in making people actively engaged with a product/project. Some methods have already been tried and tested before but have not made a significant change both economically or environmentally. A new approach is needed in order to gain people’s attention and interest into this area.

Once I had settled on a theme for my project, I had to think about the possible directions in which it could go. I began looking at ideas on Pinterest and online articles for inspiration and to do some brief research on the topic of food waste. After discovering that there were many conceptual products and designs which aimed to solve this issue, I decided that it would be wise to try to incorporate another aspect. After some discussion and advice from others I had decided that I would try to tie in the idea of social media and community alongside the issue of food waste. The challenge is how to design this in such a way that the two ideas would compliment each other.

For our research and development task, we were asked to come up with an idea for a digital media product as part of the European Youth Award Categories 2014. I had considered between Smart Learning and Connecting Cultures, however after deciding I did not have vast knowledge about the former subject I had chosen this as my research project.

The EYA site defines Smart Learning as:

Smart Learning: education | e-skills | open science

This category is about finding new, creative approaches to education and learning. Many high schools and universities report tremendous drop-out rates and a social education-gap remains reality in most countries. Smart Learning innovations may, for example, provide free-access training courses, foster ICT competence, create scientific understanding, support international knowledge exchange, or open up new capacities for scientific research. This also includes tools that boosting learners’ motivation to study, platforms for open-access education and other solutions for making scientific progress beneficial to all.

In order to come up with a digital media solution to the problems concerning smart learning, I had to first research what constitutes the subject.

• Developing education in ways that are economically beneficial (in schools, colleges, universities, etc.)
• Newer approaches to learning through the use of technology

For the acquisition of knowledge:

-gives newcomers access to competence

-invites a personal experience of engagement

-enables incorporation of competence within participation.

For the creation of knowledge:

-exploration of radically new insights

-mutual engagement around a joint enterprise

-strong bond of communal competence

-deep respect for particularity of experience

(Reusing online resources- a sustainable approach to e-learning- Book edited by Allison Littlejohn)

I also took a look at some recent survey results from 2015 regarding top issues in education- this in turn led me to think about some of the main problems that could be solved with a digital media product.

Another survey which I looked at from 2014 focused on the current use of technology in learning:

This bar chart shows that video streaming and e-learning were amongst the top two methods for learning and development, as conducted by The Development Company. It suggests that concerning education, these particular types of smart learning is way forward.

Some further key issues:

http://www.topuniversities.com/student-info/university-news/thoughts-future-teaching-learning-higher-education

The Skills Gap definition: http://www.topuniversities.com/student-info/university-news/thoughts-future-teaching-learning-higher-education

The Skills Gap is a key issue in the fact that students and employees are not being properly equipped for the world of work. This is something that should be covered by a particular type of  digital media product. It would make sure to provide information on these specific skill-sets so that users are prepared for further work/studies.

e-skills UK ICT curriculum  research: https://www.e-skills.com/Documents/News/QCDA%20Consultation_Raising%20the%20bar%20of%20ICT_final_131109.pdf

Concerning ICT in particular, this document provides evidence for the declining number of student’s interest into the subject. Smart learning could help to boost motivation not only for ICT but for other educational topics.

Lack of staff training: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/12013650/Classroom-technology-barely-used-by-half-of-teachers.html

Annual Survey Report on Learning & Development (CIPD, 2015): {source}

Themes & Inspiration

Pinterest board

This is the game sprite which I used to create my own for my project (source of original sprite). I used piskelapp.com to create the 8-bit replica.

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Creating audio

This is the site which I used to create my own sound effects:

I also used the royalty-free track ‘Bit Quest’ from Incompetech.com.  In order that the music would not be too distracting from the visuals in my video, I used a loop from the first few seconds from the track.

Augmented Reality

I used the free mobile app ‘Augment’ in order to create the piano used in the project (as shown below). Using Adobe After Effects I then placed this inside the band stand and used light and shadow to make the object more 3D in real space.

For the piano notes on the steps, I recorded myself playing a short sequence on virtualpiano.net.

Font

In order to keep the style of the RPG video game consistent, I used a font called ‘Retro Computer’ on dafont.com. This is a free to use font for non-commercial purposes.

In weeks 7 & 8 workshops we learned the basic skills of motion graphics, their uses and how they can be applied to our projects.

What are Motion Graphics?

Motion graphics differ from video effects or augmented reality. Rather, they are made up of shape elements that can be manipulated into an animation by using ‘motion paths’ in a sequential order. Below is an example  video of how these graphics can have effects added onto them to allow them to move in various ways:

This is purely an experimental video of how Adobe After Effects can create and manipulate shapes from a blank composition. For this sequence I compiled a basic timeline of a range of elements that move in their own form and direction. The possibilities of motion graphics are almost limitless in this sense, in the way that many different kinds of animation can be produced by using different shapes, colours, effects etc.

The second video is another unrelated experiment-  one that I created to explore how motion graphics can be used to transform a singular shape into multiple different images. For this video I used a circle and the idea of day transforming into night, then night into outer space. I used the shape tool settings in After Effects to create the basic elements of my video before using motion tools to animate them into different positions in the frame.

In the workshop we used motion graphics to create a personal branding/logo video. The animation was a simple sequence of various shape elements that combine to create a ‘self portrait’, which could potentially be used for the final convergence task.

Benefits and uses

There are many beneficial uses for motion graphics, particularly in the realm of gaming, graphic design and online advertising. It can be used to demonstrate informative and entertaining videos in an artistic and stylistic manner, ones that grab the user’s attention much more easily compared to live action videos. Although it can be challenging to develop and practice these ideas, it can have a significant impact on the way that marketing, government and entertainment industries put forward their promotions, ideas and products. Motion graphics can also be useful in schools, particularly for young children as their learning is often developed through engaging in artistic and colourful practices. I could use this for my own project by creating the ‘logo’ of me or to add animated images that resemble my inspirations, my hobbies, etc.

Disadvantages

There are some disadvantages to using and even creating motion graphics. First of all it can be very time consuming, which puts pressure on those working for a business or in the creative industries to meet deadlines. Secondly, due to the fact that the majority of the graphics are manually done using software such as After Effects it can be tricky to make the exact type of image that the artist wants- for example detailed and intricate objects. It is best used when making shapes/silhouettes of basic elements such as a coffee cup or lamppost.

This week we looked at 3D motion tracking, its comparison to 2D motion tracking and how we were able to use this in difference ways within one video. For convenience I will shorten this to ‘3DMT’.

What is 3D motion tracking?

3D motion tracking has very similar properties to 2D motion tracking, except that it is more complex and can be used for a wider variety of visual effects. It works almost exactly like 2DMT works except that is able to perceive the Z axis as well as the X and Y. 3DMT can be used to replace and alter images that move within a shot, or to include additional visuals. In the example video below 3DMT is displayed in terms of a ‘sky replacement’- showing how motion tracking can be used to alter an environment.

This video was created by using a high shutter speed footage of a road on a normal, bright day. 3DMT was used to replace the sky with an image that changes the overall tone and feel to the video. In simple terms, motion trackers were applied to two key objects on opposite sides of the frame (using Adobe After Effects) so that the image of the evening sky could be applied onto them. This meant that the image would move in proportion to how the camera moved during the shot. Effects were also applied so that the video footage and sky replacement would match in terms of realistic settings (i.e. colour correction and lens flare for sunlight).

This video above uses the same original road footage, however a different element of 3D motion tracking has been applied. This type of motion tracking (called ‘track camera’) uses ‘targets’ in Adobe After Effects to calculate points within the shot that can be easily traceable. In this video the markers that were used were stones and pebbles on the ground, this was then used as an area in which to edit the hole onto. The hole was originally a still image with its background removed- this meant it could be manipulated onto moving footage easily. As 3DMT is able to utilise the X, Y and Z axis this meant that the hole would remain in its position when the camera changed angles, unlike with 2D. Due to the flatness of the image, duplicate layers had to be reproduced and edited so that there was some depth to the inside of the hole (the laws of parallax here dictating that more of the hole should be revealed as the camera moves closer to it). Colour correction and other texturing effects were also applied so that the image looked a little more realistic and blended in appropriately with its environment. If this video were to be improved the hole itself could be edited so that the texture looks more photo-realistic, as well as the lighting being correct in relation to the light source. Other elements could also be included such as fire, damage and burn marks to enhance the overall look of the video.

Benefits and uses

3D motion tracking is more effective than 2D in the way that it utilises multiple aspects of perspective and rotation of an image in a shot. It can be used to replace images as a whole, to add effects or to display information within video footage that would not necessarily be possible with 2D motion tracking. This could be very beneficial in cinema during post-production to alter elements within the film, e.g. a mythical creature in a fantasy story. I could use this concept for my own personal project if I wanted to change the weather in a shot for example, or to add in images that relate to my personality and creative ideas.

Disadvantages

In a similar way that 2DMT cannot track objects which are obstructed, 3DMT is not very effective at this either. Only high-contrast objects work well when choosing a place to apply the tracking target, which can be a problem depending on the contrast and quality of the overall footage. Unwanted motion blur is also a possible risk if the footage is shot using a slow shutter speed.