Idea #1
My first idea involves a collaboration with Andrew Clarke. We are in a class about the legendary Fred Rogers and we were inspired by his work to create this idea. It is an app that would help children overcome their fear of the dark and “the monsters in the closets”. We were thinking about creating a dark room environment that had certain creepy elements in it like just blinking eyes that kids might find scary but the cursor would be a flashlight that when shined on the element would actually be something cute and harmless like a funny looking creature that just wants a friend. It would involve 2D and 3D animations and we would put it on a mobile platform and on the computer. However if possible we would like to put it on the VR platform as well as that would be very engaging.
Idea #2
My second idea involves Virtual Reality and I would have to do more research in order to see if it would actually be executed. It is a VR rhythm game that includes instrumentals I would be making myself. A game that inspired me would be beat saber where the user has two light sabers that cut through boxes that are floating towards them. It would have elements floating towards the user as the try to dodge them by moving slightly to the left or right or by knocking them out of the way. Another way to implement this rhythm idea would be to have the user be a moving object on a platform with a demarcated path and have them turn left or right at the right time in order to not fall off the platform. Of course all this is contingent on me being able to actually create a VR environment within the time given to us.
Idea #3
This idea is something that is kind of a reach and I wouldn’t know how to go about it but again it would involve Virtual Reality. It would be a game/app that helps performers create their sets and practice their shows before they actually have to perform. It would be targeted towards music performers and give them options to recreate their stage and have a virtual audience that increases or decreases it’s reaction depending on whether or not the performer is on cue with the songs that they are performing. The user could design and plan lighting and sound effects to how they want it in real life for their show and then try to implement that onto their actual set if they have resources available to do so. Ultimately the app would be used to make rough plans for shows/performances before they actually have to plan them and for the average user it could be like a virtual karoake performance.
I really like your first idea! I don’t remember anyone in previous years doing a project specifically targeted at helping children with technology. Since there are 2 of you you could really research in depth on child psychology and what creatures would be the most comforting to kids. Honestly I think AR along the lines of Pokemon Go would work better for a project like this than VR, especially since VR equipment is expensive and not very child friendly. Having as maybe some sort of phone app where the kid could move it around the room through a special “monster vision” would be cute and easy to use. Kids are very tech savvy and most learn to navigate this tech at a relatively young age.
Regarding idea 1, please take a look at my comment on Andrew’s post: http://ault.immtcnj.com/thesis_fall_18/2018/09/24/initial-concepts/
I like the VR rhythm game idea, and I think your enthusiasm for music could carry you far with it. I’m not familiar with existing VR rhythm games, but from our class discussion apparently there are some. You wouldn’t want to do what someone else is doing already. As I mentioned in class, for many people an effective music experience isn’t limited to just their ears, but impacts their entire body through movement and vibration. It would be interesting to expand the user interaction and gameplay mechanics to account for the player’s whole body.
The VR performance simulator is intriguing, but I’m afraid it might be little over-ambitious technically. I think it would be easier — quicker — to arrive at a working system for the rhythm game, and then you could concentrate on iteratively adjusting the music and the mechanics to create a compelling user experience.