Project Development Issues 9-24-11

Capstone: I'm trying to make an interactive Haunted House drawn in Flash and using the VR Cave.

• time management issues
• Not sure what she means by this...but if she means "make a schedule for this project", then I can't think that far in advance.
• I’ll need time for making a “script” for the haunted house and planning on what rooms to navigate in the haunted house
• Need time to make the art and code
• Need time to test the haunted house and check for errors
• Need time to get music and sounds
• Need time to complete business cards
• Need time to complete promo materials such as posters, flyers, etc.
• skills needed to complete the project
• I might need help getting reacquainted with Flash and ActionScript and learning some new things on Actionscript(Brian Graham said he has moderate knowledge of Actionscript)
• I need help on how to use the Cave and/or program for it
• Animation(though Beth Lykins says that I could just use limited animation)
• Scriptwriting
  
• resources needed (people and technology/materials)
• I'll need the AVL Cave, but I don't know how far in advance I need to reserve it
• I'll need Flash, of course
• I'll need royalty-free sound effects and music
• Not sure what else I'd need though.
• budget(don't know what I'd need to buy for this project)
• Business Cards
• Making promo materials for the Capstone project
• Buying CD-Rs or DVD-Rs
• team issues (even if it is just you and your mentor, that forms a team)
• I'd need someone who knows how to make Flash work with the Cave(not sure if Chauncey can do that)
• I'll need feedback after every week, so I need someone for that(Beth Lykins and maybe Mat Powers on ActionScript)
  
• other issues
• Unsure about what target audience I should shoot for.

Project Development Issues help 9-20-11

OK, here's the situation.

Yesterday, I talked to Beth Lykins about my mobile app idea problem. I then showed her some of my drawings from my S355 course from Fall 2010. She fell in love with them and thinks I should fall back on a plan B regarding my artistic skills.

So I might do something visual regarding the AVL and maybe Flash. It might be a modification of the 3D Haunted House idea, where the Haunted House will likely be drawn in Flash now. I'm not sure about an exact or even an ABSTRACT budget, nor do I know WHAT I'd need to buy at this point.

I don't remember how the AVL controller controlled , nor do I remember if it had buttons on it.

If anyone's willing to make a new team with me, please let me know. I'm looking for someone who is interested in animation, cartoon, or comic-book styled project and/or in Flash and AVL technology.

Capstone Update 9-19-11

I had met with Beth Lykins today before my N450 class, and had expressed my concerns over the capstone problem. She asked me what my strength was, and I said "I like to draw".

I showed her my drawings, and she was very impressed by them, so she has asked me to pursue a capstone idea based on my artistic skills. Maybe I should try out that AVL idea or something visual like a comic book or something animated.

So this means that I might not follow my app idea anymore. I might pick a different secondary mentor such as Mat Powers to help with the comic or visuals and ActionScript and have Chauncey Frend help me with the AVL technology if need be.

Secondary Mentor 9-19-11

What do you think the role of a secondary mentor is?

A role of a secondary mentor is to provide a “second opinion” on the project (whether he or she agrees or disagrees with the progress I’ve done) and to give additional feedback on the project. Perhaps he or she can point out a flaw that the primary mentor could not see; the necessary “third pair” of critical eyes in the team. That mentor could also cover a secondary area of specialization that the primary mentor does not cover.

Where can you find a secondary mentor?

You could find possible secondary mentors under the Informatics Faculty website at http://informatics.iupui.edu/research/. You could look under the desired areas of specialization for your project, such as Human-Computer Interaction, Data Mining, Graphics, Visualization, and Animation.

Who would NOT be a good candidate for this role (the kind of person, not necessarily a name?)

Someone who would not be a very good candidate for secondary mentor, in my opinion, would be someone who isn’t an expert in anything closely related to programs or languages needed for the project of choice. Another thing that would disqualify this person from candidacy would be if the person gave vague feedback, i.e. not pointing me towards a specific directions or pointing out specific mistakes in the project.

Identify at least 2 people who would make a good secondary mentor for your capstone. Interview them in a similar manner you did your mentor candidates.

Todd Shelton

He specializes in Web and Flash development, and has worked in PHP, HTML, MySQL, FlashBuilder, Flex, and Actionscript.

What are your expectations for a capstone student?

I think the student should have a well thought out plan on how to proceed with their capstone and be ready to do a lot of research on their own. The mentor is just that a mentor and to provide guidance not do a persons Capstone or assignments.

What is your general availability for mentoring next semester?

Available

Do you have any project types you are not interested in working with?

Interactive, web, games, mobile applications, audio, but NO Video. That is not my expertise.

What are your thoughts on a secondary advisor?

I believe this is a good fit for some students as the secondary advisor will help in some areas that the main advisor can't.

He is familiar with Flash Builder, but not familiar with Objective-C, the language for Apple iOS and says that Flashbuilder can compile to both iOS and Java (Android phones).

M. Pauline Baker

Baker specializes in Human-Computer Interaction. More specifically, she specializes in “novel technologies”, such as sensor-based and camera-based interfaces.

Expectations of a capstone student: Able to make a good plan or good idea, and carry out the plan or idea. Balance between independence and dependence on mentors.

She is available for secondary mentoring in the Spring 2012 semester.

Projects not interested in working in: None.

She has not worked in Objective-C, but has worked in C, C++, ActionScript, Java, and Lisp. Does not currently know who else works in Objective-C.

Primary Mentor Profile 9-19-11

1. State your capstone idea in 100 words or less.

I want to make a smart-phone app that helps people with riding IndyGo buses, possibly based around bus routes going to certain suburbs/neighborhoods such as Broad Ripple, Greenwood, and Downtown Indianapolis.

2. Identify and discuss 4 key components you are searching for in a mentor.

I want a mentor who:

+Balances structure and freedom

+Has a sense of humor

+Gives me frequent, specific, and timely feedback to help me on my way

+ Is knowledgeable about a certain technology, such as mobile apps

3. Identify 3 potential mentors from the MAS faculty you would like to approach to discuss your capstone. Make sure one of them is someone from whom you have never taken a class.

+Davide Bolchini

+Jennifer Kay Stewart(formerly Christine Newlon, but she did not have a Ph.D yet, so she could not do capstones)

+Elizabeth Lykins

4. Explain what these faculty members could bring to your capstone and why you are interested in working with them.

+Davide Bolchini is an associate professor in Human-Computer Interaction, which may involve interfaces in mobile apps. Since I am not familiar with programming mobile apps or human-computer interaction, he might help me develop this IndyGo mock app.

+Jennifer Kay Stewart specializes in Media Arts, Digital Literacy, and Education. Media Arts may encompass development of mobile technology.

+Elizabeth Lykins is my current mentor. I had chosen her because I didn’t have a capstone idea. I was hoping to make a video game for a capstone, but Professor John Ludwick advised against working in the video game industry because of the inconvenient, upwards-of-80-hours-a-week-from-Monday-to-Sunday schedule. I’ve had to reevaluate my capstone path, and ended up cultivating ideas for Beth over the summer.

5. Either via web research, email, phone, or in person interview, discuss the following topics about each faculty member you are interested in working with:

1. Their area of expertise

Bolchini is an expert in the area of Human-Computer Interaction, which includes interface development, may also encompass development of mobile applications.

Stewart specializes in Online Education, Web Development, and Project Management.

Lykins specializes in imagery, creativity, team building, idea development and visual storytelling.

2. Their expectations of a capstone student

Bolchini-Does not typically take in capstone students

Stewart-“I expect the capstone student to take the project as seriously as they would take a first job.”

Lykins-“they will meet at least 30 minutes a week; they will notify her if they have problems; they are willing to comprise if needed on the idea or implementation.”

3. Their general availability for mentoring next semester

Bolchini-see above

Stewart-“I am available to informatics majors only.”

Lykins-“I am already slated to work with Beth during the Spring 2012 capstone.”

4. If they have any project types they are not interested in working with

Bolchini-see number #2

Stewart-“I would not be well equipped to work in sound or video.”

Lykins-She is not interested in doing capstone websites

5. Their thoughts on a secondary advisor

Bolchini-see number #2

Stewart-“I would be happy to advise informatics majors.”

Lykins-Someone who would be strong in area of expertise needed for capstone (in my case, with the IndyGo app, I’d need Skip Comer, Todd Shelton, Jennifer Stewart, or Joseph Defazio)

6. Anything else you might want to add

Bolchini-is currently busy advising MS and Ph.D students in his Human-Computer Interaction program.

Stewart-“Unfortunately, I am an Informatics faculty and I am to work with informatics majors this semester. I enjoy working with media arts students, but it just isn’t in the cards this semester.”

Lykins-N/A

Peer Capstone Support 9-9-11

So, judging from my previous blog, almost everyone loved the IndyGo app idea. Since the app idea was meant for smartphones, iPhones, and whatnot, I would have to categorize my capstone under "interactivity", or more specifically, what another student(Ashleigh Finley) calls "mobile app design and development". According to Beth(Lykins), it could also fall under "social media". The social media stuff is a story for the other assignment.

I have decided that I want to work with Ashleigh Finley on fleshing out my IndyGo app, since she is also working on mobile app technology.