Exercise 1: Which is the new media solution?
For each of the following capstone ideas, identify which solution embodies many-to-many principle, and explain why in one or more paragraphs. You should have at least 4 paragraphs, one for each problem. Be prepared to read your answer aloud in the next class. You will also be posting these responses in your own wordpress site later.
1. Problem: A disappearing language
Ian Larson wanted to help preserve the Passamaquoddy language from extinction.
Solution A
Create a taskforce 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.
Solution B
Distribute laptops with video cameras to schoolkids 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.
2. 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.
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 a mobile phone to reveal a Web site built to feature photographs taken by those explorers.
3. 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.
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.
4. 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.
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:
Problem 1.
Solution B is the New Media Solution, as it deals with video cameras, making technology the center of the solution. Having recordings of these people and creating records, this helps future generations, especially those who want to preserve the language. Also creating a website means people can access this information anywhere, which is intuitive because that, (creating a data base to help preserve this language for the future) is the goal. I do think Solution A is better in regards that they a physically proactive in the community.
Problem 2.
Clearly Solution B is the New Media Solution here. By creating a virtual world, that is using technology to their advantage. Doing convincing documentary is also proactive, it is the fact that with using a website, the user can control it. They can also share this website easily.
Problem 3.
Solution B creates an environment that many users can see/share. Apps are worldwide. I prefer Solution A as I think hands on is better.
Problem 4.
With Solution A, people can pick the fruits and vegetables and hand them out to their friends, and by sharing this helps get the message across.