Blog 12: Codework Features/Final Project Ideas

As for the codework features, the only thing that intrigued me is the punning.  I can see myself creating codes with a sense of humor.  For example, "sign.mud.fraud".  Other than playful metaphors, I saw codework as confusing technology.  But, there might be a way to tie this into my final project.  I'm thinking of writing poetry.  I'll combine the literary text of certain rhyme schemes and free verse poetry with hypertexts (maybe linking to complementary videos), color animation, interactive transitions for each word/line, classical music in the background, maybe codework to symbolize the poetic message, etc.  These are my ideas so far for my final project.  I feel that poetry translates well as an outlet for electronic literature.

Blog 11: Classmate Feedback on Project 2

Joe and Fran were very helpful in Monday's class.  I learned from their projects and their direct advice towards my own project.  The feature of time for each slide in the powerpoint presentation was brought up in Fran's interactive project.  This ended up being perfect for mine as well.  It makes sense for the presentation to be run on its own for a certain amount of time total and for each slide.  Fran also pointed me to a powerpoint feature for the background i've been looking for.  Now I can use the texture of a ballroom hardwood floor as my background for the patterns.  Joe fed me some interesting technology advice regarding how to post my music and videos to my presentation.  Transitions is the feature to look into.  I'll try hyperlinks for music and videos.  This ties into transitions as well.  I can now time each background music to transition each slide.  I do have 3 types of dances, so I don't want a volume war.  Joe also gave me the big picture of the presentation being online either on youtube or a google site.  I think i'll put it on a google site.  That way I can post videos of me dancing within the video which is the rest of the presentation.  Of course, this all entails more technological playing around, but I learned a lot.  My classmates gave me some great direction to complete a creative interactive project 2.

Out of Order Blog 6: Brainstorming for Project 1 and Story Map

My project 1 hypertext mapped out in a presentation of an actual game.  The features of hyperlinks embedded in the text made this project a hypertext.  I chose random words in my versions of sports stories and questions to link to complementary youtube videos.  This furthered the readers/players experience of an electronic literature.

Out of Order Blog 5: Thematic/Conceptual Focus for Project 1

My project 1 hypertext portrayed the themes of sports, trivia questions, a game atmosphere, and illusions as clues referring to links.  The conceptual focus was to allow players/readers to search and learn sports history through my version of stories and embedded hyperlinks leading to the action.

Blog 10: Really map for Project 2/Intro for In Class Presentation

The Interactive E-Lit Ballroom Dance Lesson

1.  Tango
Animation-Footsteps and arrows map out the basic pattern as well as the Promenade Link
Flash-Slide transitions to fit theme of Tango dancing
Audio-Tango background music
Images-Tango pose
Video-Demo of co-worker and myself

2.  Salsa
Animation-Footsteps and arrows map out the basic pattern and Cross-Body Lead
Flash-Slide transitions to fit theme of Salsa dancing
Audio-Salsa background music
Images-Salsa pose
Video-Demo of co-worker and myself

3.  Swing
Animation-Footsteps and arrows map out the basic pattern and Underarm Turn
Flash-Slide transitions to fit theme of Swing dancing
Audio-Swing background music
Images-Swing pose
Video-Demo of co-worker and myself

Class Presentation Intro:
Powerpoint Presentation of slides instructing patterns in the 3 dances.
Portray my use of flash and animation for each slide/dance and explain how they fit each theme.

I'm Stuck:
Posting music and videos to Powerpoint Presentation

Blog 9: Project 2 Map

My Project 2 will map out ballroom dance instruction as an interactive powerpoint slideshow.
The main dances focused on will be Tango, Salsa, and Swing.
My goal is to offer a fun atmosphere while giving knowledge in the teaching form of dominately electronic aids, without spoken words.  This entails features such as video, audio, animation, attractive text, all to clearly portray ballroom dancing.  So readers/players will learn where and how to move our feet as well as our bodies.
Map:
1.  Tango.  Basic pattern.  Promenade Link.
2.  Salsa.  Basic pattern.  Cross-Body Lead.
3.  Swing.  Basic pattern.  Underarm Turn.

Blog 8: Brainstorming for Project 2

How I plan to meet each requirement for Project 2 is to utilize digital literature, audio, animation, flash, and video in a PowerPoint presentation of an Interactive Dance Lesson.  Words will dance offering instructions as digital literature.  Music as audio will be playing in the background.  Depending on what style of dance taught, I'll see what I can find for music.  I'm thinking of incorporating each genre of ballroom
(Smooth ex. Waltz, Foxtrot, or Tango. Rhythym. ex. Swing or Hustle.  Latin ex. Salsa, Rumba, or Merengue)  Images of footsteps will follow the dancing words as part of the instruction and animation.  They'll be certain transitions between dance or pattern sliding in and out for the flash feature.  I might embed my own videos of dancing various styles and patters.  These features will prove to be a great dance lesson.

JP: Pre-brainstorming for Project 2

My Project 2 will be an Interactive Dance Lesson.  The main thumbnail story or theme depicted will be the stucture of dance and its room for personal expression in the structure.  This ties in to the associative meaning as well whereas the structure is something to fall back on while having fun.  I plan to use PowerPoint for the visual sequence.  In a series of slides, the end result will become a movie presenting how to dance various ballroom styles.

Blog 7: Reflection on composing Project 1

My Project 1 Hypertext Narative entitled, "Sports Trivia: Who Am I's, When Was That, and What If's" is a fun gaming experience to test and spark readers/players sports knowledge.  My text is broken up into three stages or separate games.  The navigation of the hypertext is as much part of the game as the trivia questions.  Links are hidden amid my texts which retell famous sports stories.  These links act as rewards or clues to sports figures, settings of historic events, and controversial crossroads in sports.

I attempted to keep it simple regarding the instructions.  It's pretty cut and dry for readers/players to get to the game and answer the trivia questions.  I offered minimal background information in the home page for what the stages are and where they're located (in the sidebar).  The most direct instructions I can illustrate are to read, think, and find the clue in the blue maze.  I meant to use the smoky background as an illusion or distraction making it not so easy to play a game with "hidden" links.

As a reflection of creating Project 1, there were more challenges than I thought.  Sports is what I know, but portraying a wide range of sports was tricky (soccer, football, basketball, baseball, hockey, golf, tennis, gymnastics, poker, college/pros).  Finding the perfect youtube video to present sports figures and their stories at their best was a process.  I must have checked 200 videos and used about 40.  This ties in with how many questions to use.  I had to find that balance of making a game not to easy or difficult with my retold stories.  That's when I came to the conclusion of links that reward and help at the same time.  The navigation proved to do the game justice.

Overall, it was a great experience making a hypertext narrative.  I'm not very tech savvy, so this is a great opportunity to branch out and discover new tools for electronic literature.  Click here to play.