"More Than Meets The Eye" Animated VR Experience

Literature Search: Step 1: Broad overview of quick reference sections of the DJCAD library, via the DJCAD library portal: Text Art Bibliographies   https://search.proquest.com/artbibliographies/index?accountid=10606   This database is the only specialist index available for the study of modern and contemporary art. Covers all art forms, including fine art, digital art, crafts, design and photography. Indexes art journals published from the late 1960s onwards. Art Cycopedia   http://www.artcyclopedia.com/   Use to search for recent art exhibition reviews, news. Also includes online UK and international newspapers; company information including financial reports and company profiles. Art in Scotland  http://www.artinscotland.tv/     A news channel reflecting contemporary arts in Scotland  2.  A growing archive building the permanent from the ephemeral. Media Research   http://www.oxfordreference.com/page/mediastudies/media-studies   Oxford Reference is an online reference da

As part of the Festival of the Future 2018 in Dundee, I went to see an 'Animation and Digital Design workshop' at the Bonar Hall. John Butler lead the workshop and showed examples of his motion capture films, plus introduced us to his 'smart suit', which uses the same auto-rotate smart phone tech, on each joint of the suit, as a new motion capture technique. His focus and theme is about work of the future; with a particular emphasis on fabric, childlike fabrics at that, plus bright directional lighting. Frameman John Bulter People should work from john butler on Vimeo .

One of the OPD sessions I have booked onto is ' Getting Started with the Literature Review ' and I raised this in my supervisory meeting (no 2) this week. I decided to take the course as I am not sure what a literature review is. In my supervisory meeting Fraser also suggested reading   Doing a Literature Search Chris Hart (2001). About to start reading!

In addition to the compulsory on-line 6 part assessment regarding Repsonsible and Ethical Practice in Research, I attended an OPD session, which explored case studies of questionable research practice. Divided into groups we discussed various scenarios, including conflict of interest... Course leader: Irene Hames  https://uk.linkedin.com/in/irenehames

Green screen filming today using tracking markers and the DJI Go app, using a smart phone to view the shot.... https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=dji+go&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiCo7zxpKTeAhVFCcAKHW2gD4oQ_AUIECgD&biw=1670&bih=889#imgrc=bUH-l5qxS0BDJM:  Malcolm Finnie placing tracking markers on X, Y and Z planes, so that parallax can be achieved and re-created with a virtual camera in After Effects

Mandatory Information Security Awareness Training. Grades.

OPD course. Advanced Excel Tips and Tricks. Good information regarding data management, formula creation and lists.... We were given a large Excel document, which will no doubt come in handy in the future!

I decided to document each meeting, both to give a succinct summary of what I've completed since the last meeting, plus an overview of what I have planned for the next few months (OPD sessions) and what immediate next steps to take. Each next phase will hopefully become clear in this 'venture into the unknown'! Fraser described the unpacking of the PhD proposal as similar to a Russian Doll. Supervisory Document No:1 Andrea McSwan PhD Research Year 1 Light for the Blind: Exploring 3D Animation and Immersive Digital Film, to Represent the Perceptual-Experiences of the Blind Supervisor Meetings: Date : 23 rd September 2018 Meeting no : 2 Present : Phillip Vaughan (1 st ) Fraser Bruce (2 nd ) Andrea McSwan (Student) Tasks set and completed since last meeting: (26 th September 2018) ·          Sent Proposal to Phil and Fraser ·          ORCID: 0000-0002-3858-8714 ·          Blog: https://andreamcswan-phd-lightfortheblind.blogspot.com ·   

Part 2: My inital thoughts and notes relating to the second chapter and how this could apply to my research: Joanna Choukeir PhD thesis. Youth in Lebanon: Using collaborative and interdisciplinary communication design methods to improve social integration in post-conflict societies   http://joannachoukeir.com/About 2) Delve - insight gathering Clear examples and references of cultural probes Face-to-face feedback and feedforward Disposable cameras - how would this work? How do blind people diarise, make lists, record? Explorations design method. Map of the world. Map of UK. Map of Scotland. Map of Dundee? See table in thesis (Chapter 2, p.113) Blind people's network - participants asked to define their friends in two words. One thing they have in common and one thing that they don't. The probe helps focus on differences Other probes are (1) Opinion cards (2) Portrait cards (3) Journal (4) Disposable camera (5) Voice recorder - consider how these would or wouldn&#

In this early formative stage of research I am reviewing a collection of PhD theses, to get a scope of what is required within a comprehensive research project. It was Joanna Choukeir's talk at DJCAD Postgraduate Conference on Transformative Practice in June 2016 that provided my first awareness of the possibilities and scope within a Practice Based, industry facing PhD. http://joannachoukeir.com/About Purely as a design package, including web content, her research and thesis  Youth in Lebanon: Using collaborative and interdisciplinary communication design methods to improve social integration in post-conflict societies   are inspiring. Coupled with the depth of content and creative methodology, it was my first choice when deciding which PhD thesis to review first. My inital thoughts and notes (highlighting and comments onto the pdf document) relating to the first two Chapters: 1) Discover - contextutal review, including literature and practice review 2) Delve - insi

So for date night each week we choose something/somewhere....last Friday it was the cinema. First Man. Interesting to review some of the trailers, to post with this blog. Some of the trailers steer clear of the emotional storyline and simply aim to present a 'block buster' space film. This trailer captures more of the essence within the film that appealed to me. Very realistic portrayal of flight and the enormity of what was trying to be achieved and overcome. Although there was CGI, it was invisible and the grain, quality and footage from a purely technical point of view, made a very convincing 1960's film. It lacked gloss and this only served it all the better. The protagonist's emotional journey, separation and connection of his trip to the moon and his acceptance of the death of his young daughter was powerful.

Assessment and Feedback...Session 3. Discussed in groups and as a whole, assessments and feedback. The importance of adhering to criteria and assessing accordingly was stressed; in particular not allowing the criteria to be ignored or minimised by the student's attitude or performance in class.... either positive or negative. Key points: Providing effective feedback , either face-to-face or remotely via dictation over film Feedback methods can vary, depending on the type of student and discipline. Provide feed-forward and three action points for 'next time' If marking essays, then review and suggest the following link UoD>Students>Academic Skills Centre>Resources>Essay bits

For date night, last week, my husband bought us tickets to see Solar Bear's   http://www.solarbear.org.uk/ The Arrival , at the Tayside Deaf Hub. Wow! Highly imaginative and creative use of space, sound, silhouette, puppetry and scaled objects; including minature ships, kitchens, family and silhouetted tornadoes. Very moving and I was struck by how quiet we as an audience were, during the 20 minutes before the play started. The play included some scenes in sign language, but mostly the action was without dialogue and the props, lighting and sound told the story of a man starting life in a bewildering new city. Poetic sound and lack of speech was truly noticeable...this play was accessible to all.

PhD Upgrade: Katie Brown DJCAD 03/10/2018 Research: Exploring Hearing Aids and Super-Normal Design Points of note that will be or could be relevant to my research: Image: https://www.audicus.com/pages/hearing-aids Upgrade: 18 min Powerpoint Presentation with 4 no: White spiral bound, supporting documents, with acetate covers! Volunteered at the Deaf Hub in Dundee for the past year: to define her approach and framing Stigma of hearing aids The Role of Objects How our design background's/career path interrogate the research Deaf mentors - could I have 'blind' mentors? Network research, including museum archives, hospitals, deaf heritage events Action research methodology. Having researched what this means, it is unlikely that it will be an integral part of my research. Noted in case. Cultural Probes - including diaries and disposable cameras - with questions on paper taped to the camera. "What I have with me." "What I want" "Som

Introductory meeting with Sara Nevay at DJCAD. https://www.dundee.ac.uk/djcad/research/research-students/profiles/sara-nevay.php Sara is a final year PhD student at DJCAD and Fraser, my second supervisor, set up an introduction for us to discuss the PhD community at DJCAD, plus the upcoming EAD (European Academy of Design) conference in April 2019. https://ead2019dundee.com/ Great to meet Sara and to get some more understanding of this new portal of the university that has been unlocked. Reminiscent of the excited anticipation I would get, once beating a boss and thereby accessing a new secret level in Crash Bandicoot!

In order to comply with the mandatory element of teaching in an HE environment, I am to attend five interactive lunchtime workshops. Session 2 completed today. Interesting to meet other teachers, particularly two of the PhD students at DJCAD and compare how we all 'break the ice' with new students. I spoke about this current semester (Sept 2018) and teaching part-time on the MSc Animation and VFX course at DJCAD. Having realised in the summer, whilst teaching the International Summer School Students, it was a great ice-breaker to present a 'show and tell' career overview, bringing in some props from the feature film Judge Dredd. I repeated this with the MSc students, who had prepared their own Powerpoint Presentations of their career journey to date, where they have come from across the globe and, interestingly, images of the food they eat! Hilarious and very energetic start to the academic year! It was a great way to get the cohort to get to see what they were cap

In answer to my supervisor's question "Have you read any PhD theses?" My answer was "no!" I've ordered three PhD theses from the DJCAD library archives. Two of which remain in the library and I can review them there. This one is now at home and ready to be read! Fuller, R.A. (1991) Animation and Design. Unpublished PhD thesis. DJCAD, Dundee University. Review: Upon reading I discovered that this is in fact a Masters thesis. Interesting facts about the origins of animation, along-with a new understanding of computer generated imagery and how long it has been in industry. Given that this thesis was written and submitted in 1991, it was very inspiring to see how the predicted trajectory of the benefits and uses of computer aided design and animation and how this has now become a reality. A fairly quick read in a couple of hours and it prompted me to research other PhD theses available from the British Library.

I am required to complete an on-line mandatory course, followed by an OPD session, relating to Research Integrity and Ethical Research. It comprises of five videos followed by five quizzes. I need to score 80% or above in each quiz. So far, for the first two I've scored 80% and 100% respectively. It's been interesting to see how the impact of taking the second quiz provoked a question to my supervisors. The quiz covered conflict of interest and that researchers need to be transparent. Following Katie Brown's upgrade earlier this week, I was inspired to consider volunteering at the Blind Society Dundee. The quiz helped apply some 'brakes' and I realised that I would likely need ethical approval to volunteer. Plus I think I may have a friend who works there, so the quiz prompted me to consider that this would need to be disclosed.

Pete Eckert  http://lightpaintingphotography.com/light-painting-artist/featured-artist-2/pete-eckert/ Original inspiration for my research. Blind photographer Pete Eckert was commissioned by Volkswagen for their Arteon advert. Thought provoking indeed.

First OPD sessions attended. A new world within UoD is revealing itself! Interesting to see what opportunities there are in Dundee for collaboration and support between academia and industry. Notes: British library contains a PhD Store Phd Profile: which records what I do. Look at Daniel Herron profile Auto fingerprint Auto network - can see who else is working in the field and can see supervisors Research output, tweets, facebook. Record papers, prizes, conferences, press and media. Let papers and local press know what you are doing (check with supervisors first) Obtain orchid