All finished my exams now... Both seemed to go ok but i'll have wait for the results to see how they went. It's gotten to the stage where I'm beginning to hallucinate so looking forward some sleep and some shopping. Then the coding can begin. i've taken all of Liz's advice on board so I'll be starting to attempt the first few bits in the coming days!
Yuck... it's exam time so all project work is on the back burner for the moment while I get some proper study done. Just two exams but two stinkers at that so I'll be drinking alot of coffee and having some late nights over the next few days. All will be finished up on the 16th so after a couple of days rest and recouperation I plan to get back on the project bandwagon....
Finally got a hold of Liz only to have her scare the bejesus out of me about the amount of work i have to do. I've since done some deep breathing and have calmed down enough to consider my options. There's alot to take in but she's given me some good advice on how to get started so I'll give it a go once the exmas are over and see how i get on. Watch this space!
Here's a nice articel which Liz gave me to read to help me get to grips with the basics. Happy reading.
http://www.flashmagazine.com/tutorials/detail/getting_across_to_flash_with_java/
I've decided on using the TiltViewer for my application as I have kind of fallen in love with it. I've been playing around with it for a while and I've switched the code around to incorporate some of the flyers I have made. Origionally the application was linked to Flickr. It pulled in images from Flickr and flipped around to give a description and a link to the Flickr page. It can be used as a viewer for your Flickr account. I've changed around some of the code so that it now brings in some of my own images, gives you more information and links to a video page (which I have yet to make). At the moment it is linking to Youtube video. I'm really looking forward to making it bigger and adding more design. I then hope to set up a login and a database for the administrator.
You can see my work so far: Click here
Here's a quick snapshot of the application as it looks in it's very early stage
I had my design presentation today (Tuesday 9th December) which I'm glad to have over! All went well I think and I've gotten some positive feedback on the work i've done so far. I'm now looking forward to getting stuck into some hardcore work over the xmas break. Loads to do with regards to the technical side of things. My meeting with Liz last Thursday had to be postponed as the lab was taken over with 2nd year presentations. I've spoken to Liz and she said she'll be available to answer questions tomorrow from 4 to 6 so i'll see if i can borrow her for a few minutes to discuss some of the features I want to include in my project. I'll keep you posted!
I've organised to meet Liz today to talk about connecting the Flash interface to my database. Not quite sure what to expect but she assures me I'll be able for it so I've got my fingers crossed. I'll let you know what's in store for me in the next post.
I've been told my design are too girly.... so ive gotten rid of some of the pinks which i used to make a new banner image. Below is the newest version. Not sure if I like it as much though :(
Here's some of the latest bits and bobs I've found to give me some ideas. The last two are freeware which I can actually use so I may try and change around the software to do what I need it to. I love the tilt one but I'm presuming it's not suitable for touchscreen. I'll have to check it out when I get home on the touchscreen the college gave me.
www.flashloaded.com/flashcomponents/3dwall/
http://www.airtightinteractive.com/projects/tiltviewer/app/
http://www.airtightinteractive.com/projects/postcardviewer/app/
Been searching the web and reading up on how to connect Flash to a database. The good news is that there is loads of good examples and snippets of code scattered around the internet to help me on my way. So far I've been reading up on the following links.
http://www.devx.com/webdev/Article/30638
http://snipplr.com/view/1905/php-connecting-flash-to-a-database-remoting/
http://www.tek-tips.com/faqs.cfm?fid=5239
http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flashremoting/articles/ado_connect_03.html
http://webscripts.softpedia.com/script/Snippets/Connecting-Flash-to-a-Database-26040.html
I'm also planning to book Liz (Programming lecturer) for a chat in the near future to see if she can give me some advice on the best way to do it.
Here's my latest design for the project. Its the slider for the touchscreen. The idea is that you place your finger on the slider at the bottom to scroll (sideways) through the digital posters. Pat liked this design as an initial concept so I'm going to spend some time jazzing it up and working on some of my own posters before the design presentation in december.
Had another few ideas for the touchscreen part of the project. Forgot to mention in earlier posts that that I've decided to make this using Adobe Flash. I feel that its the best choice for making a rich interface. I also hope to connect the interface to a database to make it easily updatable. As far as the look goes, I'll be very much influenced by the following links:
Hopefully this video that I found will give you an idea of what i hope to acheive with the augmented reality screen. Not quite sure what i want to display but this video gives you an insight into some of the stuff that can be done.
I have now decided to make the kiosk even more interactive by adding an augmented reality feature similar to the kiosk shown in the "Cool Interactive Kiosk" link. The Flyers which can be taken from the kiosk will have an interactive featue. The idea is that when you hold them up in front of the large screen, they will display a 3D image in front of the card, perhaps a 3D image of the band or artist for which the flyer is advirtising. I haven't fully decided on what to include in the 3D image, so I'll keep you up to date with how this idea develops.
The drawing below is the first ( very rough!) drawing of the concept as it stands. The idea is a large touchscreen table top. Users interact with the screen by placing their finger on one of posters/flyers on the screen and dragging it to the center to activate the content contained within it. Once the user lets go, the whole screen is taken over with information about the event they have chosen. Information will include video, audio, still images and text. I hope this gives you a better insight into my idea for the time being. Extra features will be included once I have decided for certain which ones I will use. 
in the middle of researching the endless possibilites that are open to my project at the moment. A bit laborious but I'm learning loads. Found looooooads of cool stuff on the web to do with touchscreens that are out there at the moment. Fell free to check out some of my favourites which I have added to my "Relevant Links" section of this blog. Some very impressive stuff in there. Kind of scary when you realise what your up against! I'll be back soon to keep you up to date with whats going on and to upload a few sketches of the first design ideas that i have come up with. Chat later....
Finally decided on a project! For my FYP, I am making an interactive table-top that will be used as a guide for all the events ( gigs, comedy shows, exhibitions, plays etc) that will be happening around Limerick in the next month. The table top will be touch screen, allowing you to browse through virtual posters and when clicked will allow you to view reviews, pictures, videos and extra information about the event in question. At the moment the project is in the research stage as I am trying to figure out what is plausible and what is not. I'll keep you posted!
The purpose of this blog is to take you through the developement of my final year project. At the moment the project is still very much in the thought phase as I'm still deciding on the subject as my previous ideas have been scrapped due to difficulties with the software involved. Loads of ideas still to be discussed with my project supervisor so watch this space!
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