X = Better Solution 

EXERCISE 1: WHICH IS THE NEW MEDIA SOLUTION?

For each of the following capstone ideas, identify which solution embodies the “many-to-many” principle, and explain why in one or more paragraphs. Be prepared to read your answer aloud in the next class.

PROBLEM: A DISAPPEARING LANGUAGE

Ian Larson wanted to help preserve the Passamaquoddy language from extinction.

SOLUTION A

Create a task force from a select group of Native American language experts, and ask them to write down a dictionary of words and their definitions. Enter these definitions into a database and build a Web site that allows anyone to search for terms and hear their pronunciation. Hire a high-profile Web designer and marketing firm to ensure that as many people as possible learn about this resource.

X SOLUTION B

Distribute laptops with video cameras to school kids in the Passamaquoddy community, and ask them to record their grandparents telling stories in Passamaquoddy. Upload these to a Web site along with the grandparents’ definitions of particular words used in the story, and make these words searchable via a tag cloud.

Answer:

Solution B is the better choice because there are more human interactions in this solution. Having the kids be able to record their grandparents tell their stories and have other people be able to look up the definitions of those words makes it so there is a constant connection between a huge network of people. There is more emotion behind this solution because each grandparent will most likely tell different stories in different ways essentially giving a whole bunch of perspectives. While Solution A had a similar premise solution B was hearing the stories from the community than from a set group

PROBLEM: NEGLECTED RUINS

Evan Habeeb wanted to make people aware of the beauty of abandoned buildings.

SOLUTION A

Assemble a film crew and visit abandoned homes, factories, and other buildings. Bring lights to illuminate these spaces dramatically, and record ambient sounds like dripping water. Edit the footage onto a DVD to create a compelling account that documents these relics for posterity, and distribute copies to historical societies across the state for their collections.

X SOLUTION B

Build a Web site that allows adventurers to print stickers they can leave behind in abandoned buildings they explore. Create the stickers so they can be scanned by mobile phone to reveal a Web site built to feature photographs taken by those explorers.

Answer

Solution B is the better choice because there is more human connection than solution A. Having it so people can leave stickers makes it show that more and more people have come and explored the abandoned facility and makes it so people will scan the QR codes that other people left behind. Having more stickers will allow individuals to view other pictures taken by other explorers and possibly help discover new areas that they didn’t know of. Also having QR codes and smartphones will increase the likelihood of sharing

PROBLEM: MISUNDERSTANDING COMPUTER ANIMATION

Ryan Schaller and Jason Walker wanted to help people understand the many layers required to create a computer-animated film, including wireframe, textures, and light effects. As a case study, they created an animation depicting a cartoon archeologist digging for ancient artifacts.

X SOLUTION A

Design and build a touch-screen interface that allows viewers to “rub” away layers of the film with their hands to reveal previous stages of the animation as it plays.

SOLUTION B

Create an iPad application that documents each stage of the animation process, using stills from the archeologist film as illustrations. Explain techniques such as ray tracing, motion capture, and morphing. Include links to companies that create animation software such as Autodesk.

Answer:

Solution A is the better choice in this situation because it is more interactive than the other solution. I think this is a more fun option to be able to do than just watching a film explaining how it is done. Also, this is more accessible to other people because of how simple it is, so more people will want to be able to try it out. Having it be more accessible will keep making it so there will be a constant network of people wanting to use this touch screen interface thus relating to the many to many concept.

PROBLEM: A BROKEN FOUNTAIN

Danielle Gagner wanted to renovate the waterfall fountain under the skylight in the middle of the University Union, which had fallen into disrepair.

X SOLUTION A

Repurpose the existing plumbing to irrigate a garden planted in the former fountain. Research the types of plants that would grow well together at different levels of the fountain, and meet with dining hall staff to find out what herbs or vegetables they might add to salads and other offerings. Then plant these in collaboration with the sustainable agriculture club on campus, and invite students to pick the resulting parsley, strawberries, and other fare from the garden for their lunch.

SOLUTION B

Use Google Image Search to download photographs of natural bodies of water such as streams, rivers, and the ocean. Combine these with nature footage from sources like National Geographic and the Discovery Channel to create a multichannel video installation that projects images of flowing water and rippling waves onto the fountain, which has been covered with theatrical screening. Supplement the moving images with the sound of a babbling brook emanating from surround-sound speakers mounted on the ceiling.

Answer:

This Solution sounds better than the other one because this one brings the community together compared to the other one and enforces the many to many concepts. Being able to grow a community garden for other students to harvest off of is a great idea because there will be a lot of people coming by and picking fruit or vegetables for a snack or for their meal. The other solution seemed to have somewhat of the same idea in mind but it took the whole community aspect out of it and ditched entirely. This solution works better because it essentially doing what B is doing but in a more physical way.

EXERCISE 2: INVENT YOUR OWN MANY-TO-MANY SOLUTIONS

Pick one of the following problems and brainstorm a solution that embodies a many-to-many approach. Describe your solution in two or more paragraphs and be prepared to read it aloud in the next class.

My Answer

VISUAL ART IS TOO STATIC

How can you create a mural that responds to individual viewers?

What I would do is set up a screen interface with a camera so that whenever a person would walk in front of the mural it would show what it would look like if  they were drawn in different art styles like watercolor, hand-drawn, vector, etc. I would have it so there would be buttons you could press to change the style you would like yourself drawn in. This would add a more interactive experience in a place like an art museum and so instead of walking around looking at a bunch of static paintings, you will be able to experience the art interacting with your own self. The way I think that this solution embodies the many to many approach is because I feel like if people caught wind of this being shown at a museum there will be individuals that will be curious to try it and not only that we have the bystanders who will watch the person interacting with the piece and then it might possibly spike their curiosity to try it out and then the cycle continues. There is a good feeling this piece of technology can connect to people more than just a still painting