Idea #1
INTERACTIVE SHORT FILM
My first idea would be to create a short film where the viewer has control over the storyline. Throughout the film viewers will be prompted to choose one of two options which will alter the story in two completely different ways. One way of allowing multiple people to interact at the same time is to create an app. This app will allow multiple people to interact with the film at the same time and inside the app the viewer will be able to choose what storyline they would like to start at.
Idea #2
TCNJ VR
My second idea is to create a VR of the TCNJ campus. Viewers will be able to explore the entire campus while standing in one spot whether they are on campus or not. This idea would be great to implement into freshman or transfer orientation. While walking around in the VR the viewer will be able to interact with different icons on the campus. By interacting with the icons the viewer will be able to learn different facts and information with whatever landmark they find themselves at.
Idea #3
INTERACTIVE BASKETBALL TRAINING
My third idea is creating a method of basketball training while using digital media. There will be a screen that is connected to basketball hoop via bluetooth or WIFI and it will track the players stats. On the floor where they are playing at there will be sensors so the program will know where the player is shooting from so it will know how many points that shot is worth. Then there will also be sensors around the rim to detect if the ball successfully went in the basket. There will be different option players can choose that will make the program track the stats different. for instance a player can choose a timer option and see how many shots he or she can make in a certain amount of time of maybe they select a 3 point contest option and the player can only shoot from the 3 point line and it tracks your score.
I love the Interactive Film Idea.. this kind of reminds me of those interactive theater shows where you can interact with the cast and become part of the story.
-I’ve seen an app similar to this where you read through a series of messages and get to choose what happens next, how can you make this different?
I have in my notes that your most passionate idea is the interactive short film. I’ll post a link of the Markiplier video from Valentine’s Day that went along similar lines with your project idea. I like how you would be able to choose different genres, which could be your best selling point against other competitors. But just know that an interactive video series has been done before and you would have to do adequate research to make sure yours is completely different from what’s been done.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyU_1JD2wuA
My favorite idea is the campus VR. I think that we needed that 5 years ago when I was looking at colleges. Even as a commuter, I struggle to remember where some buildings are located. Not to mention, I have concerts for wind ensemble, and it’s really hard to explain where Kendall hall is to someone that has never been to TCNJ before. “It’s the 4th identical looking building. But not on the main path it’s a little behind the social sciences building, if you hit the STEM building you went too far.” It just gets so complicated to find places on campus unless you actively go out and search for them. I’m a little bit skeptical about VR, because not everyone has the technology to support VR. I think AR would be a little more practical here, and put it through an app. This way, anyone can view the interactive experience from their phone. That being said, it that is too difficult to implement, then you can find ways around it and create something similar to what your idea entails.
These are some really cool and innovative ideas!
Starting with the basketball trainer… as I said in class, it strikes me more as a stat tracker than a technique trainer. Here’s the iPhone training app I mentioned, BTW: https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/apple-iphone-xs-event-steve-nash-homecourt-basketball-training-app/
It would be a cool trick, but I don’t know that it transforms the experience all that much. How hard is it to keep track of those stats manually, really?
I like the idea of the interactive movie the way you described it in class… that you’re not just branching out into different storylines, but those storylines are emblematic of different genres. It would be amusing and interesting if the major elements of the movie stayed constant from branch to branch — the actors, setting, props, etc — but at each decision point the movie suddenly and completely adopted the stylistic conventions of that genre — ways of speaking, lighting, camera angles, music, etc.
I *really* like the TCNJ VR idea. I think you could approach the Admissions office with this and they’d be all over it. It would make for a compelling addition to your portfolio because it’s not just something that you dreamt up on your own, but instead you solved a real problem for a real client. You would have to work with them to identify a limited set of locations for the first version of the project. You *could* model things in 3D, but it might make more sense to use the department’s 360-degree camera. I’d pay close attention to capturing the sound of each space as well, since that’s a big part of how we experience an environment. Just curious… are other colleges doing this?
To be honest all your ideas sounded great in class. As I mentioned, I was most intrigued by the basketball idea but I feel like that would require more equipment that might turn out to be more expensive than you budget. I think I have to agree with Professor Ault that your TCNJ VR map is probably the most feasible one and I could actually see that being used by the school in the future.