Saturday, March 27, 2010
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Initial Graphics and "Theory"
I have designed some boxes to use for the application, I am keeping them the logo colours of the app, to keep the corporate design of the "company". I want to maximise visibility but not take up the whole screen or divert wholly from the camera image. I have designed bright and dim coloured boxes, I feel the dimmer boxes work best with bright text on them. I initially thought that bold text would stand out best but I have now found that large narrow text actually works best as its easier to read from a distance.
I think my favorite of these is the third though I may still change it if I think of anything better.
Whilst my AR app isn't actually going to be designed I am going to include some theory about how the application could work if someone had the funds and infrastructure to make it so.
The image above is a mock up I have made to show how the vehicle tracking could work. The bus would have a GPS tracker which is tracked by satellite, its location is continuously fed via GPRS and the companies secure server to the application on your mobile or accessed through your online account from your home PC. This would save on waiting at a bus stop for a bus to arrive, simply wait at home until the bus comes to you!
I feel technology like this would vastly increase the amount of people using buses and help remove the stereotype of waiting hours in the rain for the bus or train.
I think my favorite of these is the third though I may still change it if I think of anything better.
Whilst my AR app isn't actually going to be designed I am going to include some theory about how the application could work if someone had the funds and infrastructure to make it so.
The image above is a mock up I have made to show how the vehicle tracking could work. The bus would have a GPS tracker which is tracked by satellite, its location is continuously fed via GPRS and the companies secure server to the application on your mobile or accessed through your online account from your home PC. This would save on waiting at a bus stop for a bus to arrive, simply wait at home until the bus comes to you!
I feel technology like this would vastly increase the amount of people using buses and help remove the stereotype of waiting hours in the rain for the bus or train.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Logo Designed and name chosen!
After a few designs I have now settled on a simple logo for my product. I feel it reflects the objectives of the product with quite modern but simple font with a mildly outlandish colour!
The name "TransportUrself" was chosen as it describes the application in two words, connects with the user straight away and also has a young funky edge using slang text.
The name "TransportUrself" was chosen as it describes the application in two words, connects with the user straight away and also has a young funky edge using slang text.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Other Similar Apps
Now I have decided on doing a mobile augmented reality application I am going to look into what's already around and in development, this will help me make sure I am not making an application that has already been thought of and also give me some ideas on ways to implement my application...
Twittaround
I looked at this application in my initial research and think that some of the features of this application would work for my transportation app. I think that using a live feed of some sort would be essential if I am going to have timetables and up to date information.
I also like the way the boxes are laid out on the screen, showing adequate information without cluttering the page. This is also important as you need enough text to give important info without making it too small for the user to read.
TAT Augmented ID
Another application which has good tags is TAT, an application in development which is used to tag yourself with things you like so other people can see when they point their smart phones camera at you, this application is a way to link social network sites and real life without either losing any of its elements. It also looks like a great way for people to network and make new friends.
GunMan
Gunman is a brand new application for the iphone, the app uses colour detection to pick up your friends location with a crosshair, the application works well over 30 yards away. I think this could be used as part of tracking buses and trains along with some other technology, almost as a back up for if a GPS signal was very weak or erratic.
NearestTube
An application that is very similar to mine (so similar I almost died a little bit) is NearestTube, the application uses your GPS location along with preset locations of tube stations to guide you to the nearest tube, the application also tells you which line runs from each station. I am going to use this idea in my application but expand it over all forms of public transport. This will also only be one of many parts to my application.
ARhrrrr
ARhrrrr... no its not an exasperated sigh, its the name of an augmented reality shooter for mobile camera-phones, created at Georgia Tech Augmented Environments Lab and the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD-Atlanta). The phone provides a window into a 3d town overrun with zombies. Point the camera at our special game map to mix virtual and real world content. Civilians are trapped in the town, and must escape before the zombies eat them! From your vantage point in a helicopter overhead, you must shoot the zombies to clear the path for the civilians to get out. Watch out though as the zombies will fight back, throwing bloody organs to bring down your copter. Move the phone quickly to dodge them. You can also use Skittles as tangible inputs to the game, placing one on the board and shooting it to trigger an explosion.
These sites have given me some good ideas and shown there isn't an app exactly like my idea but some quite similar in some ways. With this information I can confidently start development work on my prototype of the application.
Twittaround
I looked at this application in my initial research and think that some of the features of this application would work for my transportation app. I think that using a live feed of some sort would be essential if I am going to have timetables and up to date information.
I also like the way the boxes are laid out on the screen, showing adequate information without cluttering the page. This is also important as you need enough text to give important info without making it too small for the user to read.
TAT Augmented ID
Another application which has good tags is TAT, an application in development which is used to tag yourself with things you like so other people can see when they point their smart phones camera at you, this application is a way to link social network sites and real life without either losing any of its elements. It also looks like a great way for people to network and make new friends.
GunMan
Gunman is a brand new application for the iphone, the app uses colour detection to pick up your friends location with a crosshair, the application works well over 30 yards away. I think this could be used as part of tracking buses and trains along with some other technology, almost as a back up for if a GPS signal was very weak or erratic.
NearestTube
An application that is very similar to mine (so similar I almost died a little bit) is NearestTube, the application uses your GPS location along with preset locations of tube stations to guide you to the nearest tube, the application also tells you which line runs from each station. I am going to use this idea in my application but expand it over all forms of public transport. This will also only be one of many parts to my application.
ARhrrrr
ARhrrrr... no its not an exasperated sigh, its the name of an augmented reality shooter for mobile camera-phones, created at Georgia Tech Augmented Environments Lab and the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD-Atlanta). The phone provides a window into a 3d town overrun with zombies. Point the camera at our special game map to mix virtual and real world content. Civilians are trapped in the town, and must escape before the zombies eat them! From your vantage point in a helicopter overhead, you must shoot the zombies to clear the path for the civilians to get out. Watch out though as the zombies will fight back, throwing bloody organs to bring down your copter. Move the phone quickly to dodge them. You can also use Skittles as tangible inputs to the game, placing one on the board and shooting it to trigger an explosion.
These sites have given me some good ideas and shown there isn't an app exactly like my idea but some quite similar in some ways. With this information I can confidently start development work on my prototype of the application.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
All Change Please, All Change...
Oh dear, its not going well this term in idat204, first I couldn't think of any ideas, then my idea was rubbish, then my idea which was good gets ruined by the schools of Plymouth, then my idea (I have now decided) got rubbish again.
So its time to pack that Augmented Reality game up and start again, I still have a month which is more than enough because I've dreamt up a fantastic idea which I'm hoping isn't already a (Augmented) reality! ( Horr horr horr )
I have decided to change to a mobile application, I feel this will give me a much broader scope for my idea as there is a lot of development in that area at the moment. I feel the application would run on smartphones such as iPhones, Blackberry's and Android's.
The application, called TransportUrself, is an Augmented Reality application used to find the nearest public transport links around you, the application uses the mobile phone’s camera, compass and GPS data to identify the user’s location and field of view, it then retrieves data based on those geographical coordinates, and overlay the data of the public transport locations over the camera view.
TransportUrself will tell the user the location of bus stops, train stations, airports, taxi ranks, trams and the London Underground, and will get its data from the website www.traveline.org.uk and other sources such as tfl.org
When the user presses an onscreen icon they can find out further info such as the bus/train timetable, next due bus, other taxi phone numbers, etc.
I am looking into how feasible this app would be, I doubt I could get a fully functioning model ready for class but possibly some elements available to show.
So its time to pack that Augmented Reality game up and start again, I still have a month which is more than enough because I've dreamt up a fantastic idea which I'm hoping isn't already a (Augmented) reality! ( Horr horr horr )
I have decided to change to a mobile application, I feel this will give me a much broader scope for my idea as there is a lot of development in that area at the moment. I feel the application would run on smartphones such as iPhones, Blackberry's and Android's.
The application, called TransportUrself, is an Augmented Reality application used to find the nearest public transport links around you, the application uses the mobile phone’s camera, compass and GPS data to identify the user’s location and field of view, it then retrieves data based on those geographical coordinates, and overlay the data of the public transport locations over the camera view.
TransportUrself will tell the user the location of bus stops, train stations, airports, taxi ranks, trams and the London Underground, and will get its data from the website www.traveline.org.uk and other sources such as tfl.org
When the user presses an onscreen icon they can find out further info such as the bus/train timetable, next due bus, other taxi phone numbers, etc.
I am looking into how feasible this app would be, I doubt I could get a fully functioning model ready for class but possibly some elements available to show.
Monday, March 1, 2010
The EyeToy is a colour digital camera, similar to a webcam, for the PlayStation 2. The technology uses Computer vision and Gesture recognition to process images taken by the camera. This allows players to interact with games using motion, colour detection and also sound, through its built-in microphone.
As I am looking into the possibility of using webcam I am going to research currently games available for the EyeToy, and see if I can find anything to help influence my project
Eyetoy Games list
SpyToy uses onscreen motion detection, I want to so something very similar with specific areas onscreen that the user must "touch". I am going to try and find a similar code to this. Another one with a similar device is the EyeToy 2.
As I am looking into the possibility of using webcam I am going to research currently games available for the EyeToy, and see if I can find anything to help influence my project
Eyetoy Games list
Review Score: 7.4
Review Score: 80.1%
Review Score: TBA
Review Score: 7.3
Review Score: TBA
Review Score: TBA
Review Score: 7.3
Review Score: TBA
Review Score: TBA
Review Score: TBA
Review Score: TBA
Review Score: TBA
Review Score: TBA
Review Score: 84%
SingStar Party (SingStar 2)
Review Score: TBA
Review Score: 4.2
I have picked my favorate technology from the list below I feel it would be beneficial technologically to my game and I will pursue similar code to do the same thing.
SpyToy
I have picked my favorate technology from the list below I feel it would be beneficial technologically to my game and I will pursue similar code to do the same thing.
SpyToy
SpyToy uses onscreen motion detection, I want to so something very similar with specific areas onscreen that the user must "touch". I am going to try and find a similar code to this. Another one with a similar device is the EyeToy 2.
No Replys
After two weeks waiting and doing some basic developments I have concluded that clearly the schools in Plymouth aren't interested in new technologies for teaching their students as I have received absolutely no form of reply from any of the primary schools in Plymouth. Therefore I have decided to ditch the idea of creating an interactive application for children's education and am going to use the application for entertainment purposes.
I am going to look in more depth at the eyetoy games developed by Sony and try to take inspiration to create a completely unique game from the technology. I now only have a month to complete this so am going to have to be very proactive with my application.
I am going to look in more depth at the eyetoy games developed by Sony and try to take inspiration to create a completely unique game from the technology. I now only have a month to complete this so am going to have to be very proactive with my application.
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