10 - Welcome to Pixar

Today we were given a detail of how the people of Pixar animation studios, make their dreams come true.

A brand new Second Life experience 2

As promise, I was to check out some of the places in second life and write a review of it. The five places I visited was,

1) Straylight
2) Numbakulla
3) Quan Li
4) International Spaceflight Museum
5) Visit Mexico

I didn't went through much and there isn't probably anything much to say. So I'll post a review on all the three places in one post. And if I have anything more too add I might make a second post of it. I have to say, the three places were non like the others but one thing they have in common is that wherever I go, there seems to be no one there.

Anyway, this is my review on Straylight.
It's a nice botanical garden to venture through. Here you're surrounded by all kinds of green trees and bushes. Its a great place to take your mind off everything, it's very calm and peaceful. Though I don't know where I wondered off, There's this part where plants , trees and other deco stuff are left out for sale. It kind of made the sight seeing place look more like a market place. A place for you to buy these decoration and use it for your virtual home?

The ever peaceful Straylight...


... maybe I said too soon.










Next on my visiting list is Numbakulla.
Okay, this place is like in some kind of tribal village. The description says that we were shipwrecked and washed ashore on a desert island. Well I see the place more like a ancient temple or tomb. The place is somewhat like a maze, it's kind of hard for me to see the whole place with all these walls in my way. I keep on jumping platforms because I don't know what's behind that certain object or wall. The one thing that I have to say that disturbs me most here is that the stairs are sometimes to high or big and that my character walk through it.







Here's the arrival. More stairs and the finally, can't get pass though 'the big door'. ~_~


Quan Li was 3rd on my visiting list.
The first place where I was immediately welcomed with a background music. Surprisingly, this was the first and only place that played a music upon entering. Basically it's just like ordinary trip to the beach. There's nothing to talk about much considering the place being very small and there's not much to travel about. This place to me suits if you were planning on virtually going out with your mate. It's got that picture board where you can post your memorable pictures and show them to the public.

Well at least you can virtually feel the cool breeze blowing on the green meadow.

Second last is a trip to the International Spaceflight Museum.
And wow, the layout is interesting enough. It's different than the rest considering it's not land that I see when arriving here. Makes me wonder, are we in space or inside a museum? Whatever it is, it would sure be nice if there was a museum like this in real life.













Than again...














Now I know the answer to my first question.


You know, to me it's kind of weird how the two places are separated.

Ones on earth and the other is in space. I'd say it would be nice if we start by lifting off on earth and went to see the whole exhibition, the museum in space. This way there will be less of the traveling part, but at least people won't miss much on the exhibition part.


After all this is a museum so it is most likely to function more of a learning place more than a wide piece of unexplored land.


Finally, it's on to Visit Mexico.

It's a nice resting spot. Just like Straylight, this place serves as a beautiful resting scenery place. The difference is that here you have a lot more to see than green trees. The area doesn't seem that huge maybe to the fact that Straylight was set up on a wide open scale and that you can much more. Here you got mountains, temples and other stuff blocking your view but it adds variety in terms of things to see.












Thought I'd go for a little swim?









End result, maybe swimming wasn't my best course of action.






Well each place serve it's own purpose. But most of them were fancy scenery for us to sit back relax and chat. The thing that I find the same thing happening throughout my visit is that there weren't any people to chat. Let alone find any. Where are the huge crowds?. Well because there weren't many people on, there isn't much things I could experience. However I did experience bugs and glitches. As expected from any sort of 3D programs. If a paid 3D world had glitches, it wouldn't be a surprise to find one or two (or much more) on free ones as well. The thing that I always feel when playing Second Life is that, I wish that all the places I visited were in real life. It would be a great way to get away from all this stress. XD
Delay of post was due to saved as draft and was not fully polished. :D

Your avatar's a girl? @_@.....Yeah, I kind of said it in my older post. Look for it. >D

Mmmm, Cloud 9 - The painted faces

Today we were lectured on something I would say it to be a spectacular performance. It was all about the Cirque du Soleil, a grand circus performance probably not made anywhere else. I have to say, the performance and their performer really put up their acts as if it were something real they have to face in real life. But this is not an amusement much because to them, it's how they work. The thing about Cirque du Soleil that impresses me is that the director and his fellow workers have the potentiality of coming out with great, extraordinary ideas. The way they show their emotion visually, is something fascinating. For me, It's hard to portray things that are usually said in words to be done visually such as emotions.

The way I see it is that most western people can generate great ideas, something really out of the box, until the box is hidden 110%. From what I can say is that they always reflect on their life experience and improve it to create something far better than what it was once. And a way to get great ideas is to always have yourself thinking, anywhere you go. Think of the possibilities that you may be able to 'plus it' and come out with things that wouldn't imagine to do it. This was our ideas will shine with creativity and will give a unique experience to the viewers and or users.
Since I haven't been or seen any circus much in my life, I guess there isn't much that I can talk about. Cirque du Soleil is a unique experience which I may not be able to compare with other things that I've experienced.
It's not my way of walking here and there at a busy street, but watching something as spectacular as the 'Cirque du Soleil' on the screen is enough for me to know who awesome it would've been if I went and see it live.

A brand new Second Life experience

I am now trying out 'Second Life'. It's something new for me, since I don't play around with 'these' things anymore. :D
I heard of it long ago, but never bothered to try it before since I already have an IMVU account. And I'm not too interested with the whole 3D chatting stuffzz..
So yea, I'll try this thing out and make a review anything I find.
I'll be visiting 5 places, which will be...

1) Straylight
2) Numbakulla
3) Quan Li
4) International Spaceflight Museum
5) Visit Mexico

It will be a rough challenge as this is my first time playing, and I still have to get to use to their interface and control. Will update A.S.A.P.

The dean supplied us with several places for us to explore in Second Life. We were to choose 5 out of 10 places. The final two were that the Dean said were

9. Any shopping experience you choose to do. Lots of shops in SL.
Just to see what the residents who actually make money have been up to!

10. >>> Your choice of location…. SEARCH… for your favourite experience!

Click here to view all ten spots that were chosen.

And owh yeah. If you're wondering why my avatar is a female is because I'm using my friends account. It was neglected, so why not make a good use out of it. :D

Endless 8 - Taking flight

This week is our last field trip for this semester. We went to Birds Park Kuala Lumpur.

Here's a picture of it - http://www.malaysiasite.nl/vogelpark.htm.

Before I start, I would like to thank to our Dean , for his generosity for sponsoring the whole class on this trip. :D

I have to say the Dean really know how to save the best for last because this last trip was something that I unsuspectingly thing it would be that great. The environment was clean, there were no trash in sight (by my eyes that is) and that bird do-do's aren't splattered all over the pave. The other thing that wows me is that the fact most birds are free to roam the area. Some are caged due to probably the dangerous factor that if the bird is disturbed, you'll get poked, hard. There were a variety of birds roaming in that park, but I mostly saw mini white cranes (can't remember it's name) and peacocks. The place was huge, it was divided into four sections. Other than just walking through and seeing the exhibition, they were also...

World of parrots exhibition. Here we got to try and feed the birds.

The Bird gallery. Features skeletons, preserved eggs and waxed body of some birds.

Bul bul land is where we can reat and see cute little birds flying about, and ducks swimming in their pond.

Nursery, where baby chicks and ducks are raised. And some were still in the incubator. Lastly is the Amphitheater, a bird show.

The downfall is that...

The peacocks aren't that much maintained. I don't know whether its mother nature or people pulling ion their feathers because some peacocks seemed to have lost some of their tails, but not entirely. If it's the people, they should add more observers so that can catch these criminals at hand.

Now about the environment. Like I said it's all big and nice, but still some parts like sewers, pipes and other man-made items (except the cage) should well hidden. There is this one place where the swan gathered, it was a nice place to take a picture but alas, it was spoiled by the black wall and hanging out pipeline. They should have gave that Disney magic in hiding unwanted, or spoiled things.

7 Sins - Sugoi ne~

This week topic was about 'spectacle' and 'spectacular' performance or events. Thinking about it, spectacle sounds like 'glasses', though I could be wrong. But in this case spectacle is something a bit lower than spectacular. Its like a rating of performance or events that was done by someone. If it wasn't something spectacular enough to see or watch, then it's just another spectacle event. In other words, it wasn't 'that' amazing enough. Oh and the title, 'Sugoi ne', is just another word for amazing in Japanese.

Today we were presented with concert performed by 4 well-known diva. I only knew only 3 out of 4 that were presented, though I forgot their names except for Madonna & Cher. I had to agree saying that Madonna's concert was indeed spectacular, or even more than that, but I prefer the other two much because they weren't all that crazy and so hype. And as for Cher, I enjoy some of her music, but the 'changing into drastic costume' is kind off not my thing. Actually, the whole concert act is not what I prefer :D

What I prefer to watch is illusionist artist do their art. They may not be as spectacular as a huge concert being performed, but there something spectacle and not very common enough for me to see and appreciate. Here are some fine example of the I mention about:

I'm sure you've seen these works of art before, Am I right. Well I've never seen one 'Live' but really amazed in how they tend to make our brains think that what they've drawn looks like a reality. And this final one is what may be consider as something spectacular...



I don't know if its 'photoshoped', but if it were true than this is something that I'll salute :D

Click on any of the pictures shown, it is linked to where I got them.






Well my next personal trip is going to the city of lights, I-City. Just going there to get some (maybe) spectacle pictures. We plan on going there tonight, or by this week.

...just hope it'll stop raining..

Upside down 9 - Going back in time - something fishy

The answer is week 6 :D

Our destination this week is Petrosains.
Petrosains located top floor, center court in KLCC. Petrosains is to me somewhat okay bu not as good compared to Aquaria. There is alot of information regarding various thing, most of is about earth resource and other earth substance. The exhibition was huge and we were running out of time to get to know every single thing that was presented there. Most of the exhibition were good but some were either not interactive enough or wasn't regularly maintained. So I suggest that they increase more on visual interaction and less one words and regularly do a maintenance check on all the exhibition, replace things that are missing or stuffs that aren't functioning properly. My favorite exhibition is the helicopter simulation which was simulated quiet well with the graphic, movement and sound effect. The other one is the 'magic art' interaction, I think that was the name of it. The simulation about your shadow being interacted with the objects projected to the screen (wall).

The next place on our list is Aquaria which I enjoyed most. The thing that attracted me most was because that was many life forms were presented. Other than various life forms, the environment that was set up in the exhibition was well done. Maybe It's because I love nature more than modern environment is why I enjoy it more. What I favored was the undersea tunnel. It's like we were walking on the ocean floor, watching various water creatures swim by. I was thinking it would be nice if there were more sea creatures and lengthen the undersea tunnel until the exit. Anyhow, it was a great experience and even though I've been to both places before, Aquaria never cease to amuse me (yet.

eXtra 5 - Sharing EXP

I would like to share this quite interesting game entitled 'Mount & Blade'.

It's a rather complex game but that's what makes it very interesting and fun to play.

here's a more elaborate info at Wiki
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_and_blade

This game may not have the best graphics, but it supplies a great value of entertainment. It's a how they say it a 'single-player open-ended action role-playing' and you play as a whatever you choose to be, a king's son or even to the lowest a street urchin. But mainly you are on a quest to conquer the 4 kingdoms in the Medieval age. The game gives a wide choice of variety from who you want to become, to the choice of answers you'll make to keep your relationship up with the kings and their tribe, or be the opposite of it.
Game control is (as a viewer), seems complicated as attacks, functions, actions and effects varies to what kind of weapon you choose. Defending also depends on your weapon, if they're one-handed, you can equip a shield. Seeing it in my point, it seems a bit easier to defend yourself when using a shield. The downpour would be that one-handed weapon usually happens to be weaker than two-handed ones.

I've not tried the game, but I would recommend you to try it out, It's a lot of fun but may be confusing for the first ten tries, MAYBE. For me, its more enjoying to watch than playing it.

5 is not 'S' - Walt Disney

This week we learned about how Walt Disney, thought, designed, and made something a dream into a reality and successful theme park.

It started out as Walt was tiredly waiting his children as he watch them have fun at a not so amusing park. It then hit him an idea of establishing a theme park where the whole family could enjoy. The idea of creating a wonderland for both kids and adults first started out with pieces of ideas and whole lots of sketch before generating or giving birth to a great idea. He thought of ways to lessen the stress of people having to wait in line and what new unique ways that he can 'plus it' when creating not only the theme park, but everything inside it as well.Before he could make his dreams a reality, he morgues his animation studio to buy the land and set up his first theme park, Disneyland in Anaheim, California. His favorite 'subject' was a train, let it be any kind. So he came up with the first idea in the world into as to make a train that would go around the entire park.

After establishing his first theme park, Disneyland, his name hot on the market and it turned out to be a huge success. He then thought doing another at Florida. But this time because his brand was a huge success, he bought the a swampy area at Florida secretly by using weird and never heard company names to cover up his name. his plan had been carefully planed out he then announced his plan to the public at unveiling Disney-world. The price of every square feet of land around Florida nearing the big project was raised, that was the effect of letting the secret out. Unlike Disneyland, Walt this time came prepared after seeing how Disneyland turned out. He figured new ways to 'plus-it' and planned out new tactics into making Disney-world the ultimate fantasy world that was like no other. His plan into making people not see whats happening of stage or whatever things that can ruined the fantasy, image of the park was a success. But sadly, Walt Disney died of cancer before he could see the big project come to life. The project had come to a stop after that tragedy and most of his crew had given up because they had lost the hope and dreams that what could have been done. A last, the project was raised up once again, constructed and finished by his brother and until this day, Disneyland around the world is the best image to look up to at every theme park creators.

I say 3 things that I'm impressed with what I would believe it to be the key to his success.
One is that no matter how small or ridiculous that idea may be, it can turn out to be something great later on.
Secondly is to think something way beyond of how to solve problem and create a new look that no one else or few people has done it before.
Lastly, the best of all is that no matter how ridiculous your dream may be, as long as there's a way to do it, just go ahead and do it. No matter how hard it is to get it. One of the best human that was ever born is those with a HIGH HOPES AND STRONG SELF-ESTEEM.

Twenty4 - Ego

Well since we weren't lectured on some new experience or went anywhere this week, I might as well thought of bringing up and share my own life experience. This week is about ego.

This quite an interesting but sensitive topic to post and previously I had to think about it and how to write it in a way that it hurt others much. Well this is what I came up with.
Ego means a sort of emotion that triggers the human needs in wanting to show something that he/she is/was great at doing something and has the urge on telling it to someone to show their accomplishment. However the only difference between letting others know in a non or egoistic way is by the tone or how often it is said by the owners mouth.

Things that I notice from whatever information that I obtained from experienced people or egoistic themselves is that they have the urge in showing off ego is because they want attention. Some people tend to depressed and feel the lack of attention faster than others. This may however be the affects of their (egoistic) background, surroundings. It may be the effects of being neglected by everyone, their families or friends. Neglect-ion from the family causes the child not the be corrected and thus attraction is needed and this 'ego' habit is brought up either by self or influenced by friends.

The other interesting reason that stumbled on was that egoistic may happen because of we humans tend to try or make ourselves look better than others. Only that not all of us are bold enough to show it to others. But as for our egoistic, they tend to have a habit where they must show it off. It's a way for them to tell to the society that they are not those who should step on or bullied by. Other than that it is also a way to tell that they are knowledgeable and not out-dated and they are important people of the society. By having this done they fell themselves (egoist) something needed/wanted in the society and not trash, and have hopes into continuing their lives.

Egoist tend to leave their mark everywhere around, but their favorite place is in the internet. Markings that most (probably all) egoist leave on the net are things like 'flamers', 'threats' and many other (mostly) negative behavior.

3's a crowd - 'IMAX'

Well (I'd say) that wasn't the best trip ever. The word 'IMAX' that came to mind brought a bit of excitement. To me the excitement wasn't much because the movie we went to watch was, 'Prince of Persia' which was something I went earlier with my friends and watch it and because I'm not a 'Movie-mania' kind of person, watching it the second time wasn't what I wanted to do. But because we thought that we were going to watch it 'IMAX' style, I decided to go along. Well, all that was a dream turned out to be another disappointment for me.
The screen was definitely a memo of IMAX but the projector wasn't there to stay. The commercial was badly stretched but thank god not the movie. But since they had a big screen, they went and enlarge the movie a bit (not until full screen) and that was a great idea breaking up the picture. What we went to watch was something that somebody had uploaded on Youtube.com. Well, at least the sound system wasn't bad, is something I would like to say. One of the big speakers wasn't functioning to well and needs a bit or lots of TLC. The sound was also how would I say it, 'Broken', wasn't sharp and clear.
You know, I had a feeling that something like this would happen. Two things that tells my heart that this wasn't something I wanted was one, the commercial was stretched. The other things was that they said that IMAX was no longer functioning, so I thought, 'If IMAX wasn't there anymore, wouldn't they take their expensive camera along with them too?'. Sigh, I guess I'll just have to wait until I can go to the real IMAX to see how great people say it is to shows on really BIG screen.

In the end I had to say, that was the lousiest 7 Ringgit I had wasted on, no offense.

A 2nd chance - Tech Experience

Technology as Experience by John McCarthy & Peter Wright tell us how users take top priority in understanding in technology usage.

The technique is elaborated into 2 major part, each of them play an important aspect into making the virtual world an experience for life. The first one is 'The Four Threads of Experience' and the second one is 'The Six Sense-making Processes'.

First up 'The Four Threads of Experience'

Compositional is a way of how the user makes up the possibilities of solving, creating a situation and a solution to it. This will makes the user apply the technique that they have encounter in life or make up new ones and test out the result.

Sensuality in designing and adding life to the virtual space by giving out from the most comfortable, acceptable environment to the most cruel and unforgiving surrounding with the adjustment in texture and space when presenting the virtual world.

Emotional is the feedback from the user indicating how they run trough the exhibition, whether they enjoyed it or not.

Last but not least is the SPATIO-TEMPORAL. This is the after effect after going through the virtual world. It's the summary of elements rolled into one and see whether the user experience something good and is he/she willing to come back to it or not.

Now for 'The Six Sense-making Processes'.

Anticipation, is the urge to try new or current possibilities that the simulation offers.

Connection is how we interact with others on social basis. A warm friendly environment will surely attract more users, however take note that monitoring on it is a must as there will be those who are rebellious.

Interpreting are stuff that we human tend to do naturally. By interpretation is one of the major reason into making the user how they feel when visiting the virtual world. Designing and making interaction that would satisfy your needs rather making the user feeling stress and not wanting to use the application anymore.

Reflecting is how the human reflects their daily life and situation into the virtual world. It is also how we gain new experience either testing it out in the virtual world or taken experience from the real world. Reflecting one's self feelings with the new or old experience that we make or use.

Appropriating is the sense of choosing the appropriate or our desired way of doing things. This gained by the multiple test that was done when conducting, making a solution and how we experience it. From experience we then choose the most desired way of doing things.

Recounting is the process of storytelling, sharing our experience with others. This is a way of recap on what we have done/gone through. It can also be way of putting ourselves into thinking a new way or idea in solving previous problem that had been dealt with.

This is something like a summary of what I understand the article 'Technology as Experience' by John McCarthy & Peter Wright. From what I can say is that they focus on every aspect they could when creating something that focus on user's needs and interest. I could not add more as from my point of view, everything is there. The original article can be found in the link below. If there is any correction to be made in my review regarding this article, please leave a comment and I'll try to correct it A.S.A.P.

http://mmr2043.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/mccarthy.pdf

1st, but never last - Intro

Welcome to my 'Experiential Studies' blog, 'S.T.Y.L.E.' is my trademark, and here to talk about things that I or anyone else that have experienced almost anything in real life. The blog starts up here, however you could browse through my older post just to see how I do and what kind of research I've done. You can check out some of my other blogs but I must warn you first, I'm not a friendly writer :D. So I'm sorry if I may have used or present in a harsh way, but always remember, what I write is MY OPINION of things and don't aspect people to follow me. So don't be too 'emo' with what I write, though comments would be appreciated :D.
Share your ideas, and I'll share mine. Together we learn and I hope we will learn a lot of new things.

" Here's a link to the Experiential Studies site's "

Thanks for reading this cheap intro :p, and I hope you enjoy reading this blog.
Sayonara.

Edit: Pictures or more information regarding on weekly topics may be updated sometime later. Please come back & check out some of the older post, they may have something new added to it.