Prototypes of Prototypes

Here is the code I worked with: prototype_drawing

My first prototype of our drawing code was to add 8-bit arcade game sprites to liven up the drawing, and make it a bit more pertinent to barcade. I haven't yet decided whether or not this adds or detracts from the drawing process or the finished product (if there ever is one). I also added in a little video capture screen in the top left to help me figure out what the camera is actually seeing.

For the second prototype I messed around with light sources. I started off with the bright led pen, and found it was quite difficult to control the drawing, and refracted in such a way that the camera sometimes read two points of light (I could see this in my little cheat video capture area--hooray). I tried using my phone instead, and I had much better control.

My third prototype involved a new user who has never encountered this interface. Set up in my apartment, my user tried out the rave bracelet that Yury provided, the led pen, and his own iPhone. The led pen was most difficult to use, the rave bracelet being slightly more erratic.  The photos compare what Roman did with his phone with what appeared on the screen. The little bits on each side of the design were added after I took the photo, just so you know. Here is a video of the rave bracelet in use, in case you want to see that sort of thing.

It was interesting watching Roman because he started off drawing very quickly, but the drawing didn't work so well. He immediately learned to slow down a bit, and his drawing came out much better. He likes the 8-bit characters, but didn't like that they draw over themselves if he didn't move around.

The next prototype includes some image capture code (the new program code is here ). Basically, we can now track how the drawing evolves over time. I'd like to be able to take a closer look at each users' work, and I think this will enable that kind of  analysis.

 

Other Stuff still to do:

1) identify multiple "pens" (perhaps two different phones?) to see if we can get multiple users simultaneously drawing.
2) get the sprites to fade over time so that the drawing never becomes entirely "full." this is didn't work either, but i'd really like it to. Here is the code i'm using for this--sorry, no pretty pictures.
3) play around with the sprites so that maybe they shift out of place before fading away   this didn't work out too well.