23rd of July 2012.

Today in class, we discussed about multimedia and how it has contributed to today's society. We also had to create a website using Google Sites, to experience how we can use other types of media, apart from transfering files from USBs, to share files with not only those closest to us, but to an audience consisting also people from all over the world.
While using this unfamiliar type of multimedia, I learnt about creating and managing my own website. I also have picked up the skills to create my own pages on this website and how to add different types of content onto it. Through manging this website also, I have learnt that there are a various amount of options that can be used to customize a website in which I have realised that using a website to share files is very flexible and can be done to an individual's own preference. I have also found that this part of the process in customizing my website very helpful in creating the website into one that is my own and has made me aware of the possibility that I can use this type of multimedia in both my school work and for my own personal interests.

Synopsis of Video.

Our video, created by some computer programs and shots of drawings, focuses around the topic of Augmented Reality, through covering the basics of the topic such as what it is, what it can be used for, the advantages and disadvantages of using it and through using the developing google glasses as an example of augmented reality. The purpose/goal of our movie is to educate and help our target audience (which is the class in this case) to understand this new and advanced developing piece of technology.

Gantt Chart.

This is the gantt chart that indicates our group's workflow for the whole assesment. So far, we have closely been following this chart and working according to plans.

Final Storyboard.

This is our final storyboard for our video project, containing a combination of all our individual storyboards put together. The lines in green are Anjeli's narrations, the lines in red are Justine's narrations and the lines in blue are my narrations.

Storyboard FINAL

6th of June 2012.

Creating a Storyboard
Today in class, my group and I split the components of the project between us to complete a storyboard on. I have the topic of What Can Augmented Reality Do. Below are the storyboards I have created for these components of the presentation.

What Augmented Reality Can Do

Sequence: #1
Shot Description: Oblique Shot
Transition In: Pixelate
Video Image:  Props including Google Glasses, Cockroaches and a Gaming Set
Audio Recorded: Narration/Script
Added Audio: Instrumental Music
Transition Out: Flip
Estimated Time of Take: 1 minute
Narration/Script: Augmented Reality can be used for a various amount of reasons. One example, is that it can help with overcoming your fears. You may not believe this, but it’s true. Take someone who is afraid of cockroaches for example.  Augmented Reality can help this person overcome their fear, as when they look anywhere, like a screen for example;  Augmented reality will automatically project the surface with cockroaches. The idea of this is that it will expose this person to their fear (by controlling the amount of cockraoches they want to appear) to gradually extinguish it. This does not only work for cockroaches however, as it can also help other fears such as flying or falling. Another example that augmented reality can be used for is to enchance gaming, which is currently the most common use for augmented reality. How, you may ask. Well, it can change gaming by bringing your game out of the screen and into the real world, by projecting it in places around you, making you the main character of your own game. These are many more uses for this upcoming advanced piece of technology and the possibilities are endless.

Disadvantage of Augmented Reality; How Expensive It Is

Sequence: #1
Shot Description: Close up Shot
Transition In: Crossfade
Video Image:  Props including a Person, Money and a Company
Audio Recorded: Narration/Script
Added Audio: Instrumental Music
Transition Out: Pixelate
Estimated Time of Take: 20-30 seconds
Narration/Script: With many individuals going through financial problems in today’s society, it may become difficult for augmented reality to be sucessful in sales. This therefore, can come as a disadvantage to both consumers and the manufacturers of augmented reality. It will affect the manufacturers itself, as if they don’t sell their products sucessfully, then they won’t be able to make a profit and creating these products may be considered a waste of both time and materials and it will affect individuals as they may not have enough money to afford this sophisticated piece of technology.

Advantage of Augmented Reality; Advancing Today’s Technology

Sequence: #1
Shot Description: High Angle Shot
Transition In: Flip
Video Image: Props including Technicians, Hospitals and People
Audio Recorded: Narration/Script
Added Audio: Instrumental Music
Transition Out: Crossfade
Estimated Time of Take: 30 seconds
Narration/Script: Augmented Reality has already been in the process of development for decades and is now currently on its way to entering the market. This can pose as an advantage for augmented reality, as through releasing  this newly developed and sophisticated technology, it could help in increasing and advancing technology in specialised places such as hospitals, where it would not only help in the survival of the sick patients but it can also be a source of entertainment and education for them while they are there. Releasing augmented reality also increases the standards of future technology, therefore challenging other manufacturers to also create and develop new and advanced technology that will sophisticate the future.

1st of June 2012.

Today in class, my group & I have planned out the structure of our video project. Below is the layout, including the titles & sub-headings we will be presenting in order for this assignment.

Topic: What is Google Glasses/Augmented Reality

Layout:

1. Introducing 'Augmented Reality'; How it works & POV shots.
2. What it can do/Functions; POV shots, More things it can do (List).
3. Advantages; Advancing technology, Endless possibilities & Multi-purpose.
   Disadvantages; Health, Privacy & Price.
4. Google Glasses; Case study / example; Design, Appearance, Structure, Possibilities, Development, POV shot.

9th of May 2012.

Today in class, since Mr Cavill was absent, we continued to experiment on Audacity Portable. While experimenting with this application, I have developed a basic understanding on how to use the application properly.

Below is a few of the skills I have learnt during the duration of the lesson.

Skill 1: How to record using Audacity Portable

Basically, by pressing the button with a red circle in a centre on the toolbar, you can easily record whatever you like. After recording your piece, click on the button with a gold-ish square also on the toolbar to stop recording activity. Click the start of the piece and press the play button to hear your final recorded piece.

Skill 2: How to import audio files using Audacity Portable
Importing audio files in Audacity Portable can be very challenging, but it can be done in a small amount of easy steps. Firstly, you have to click on the file option on the top bar of the window. Once you have clicked on this, you should have many options avaliable to you. The option you have to press however, is the link that says import. When this is pressed, you can import files from your documents, USB etc. When you have located the file you want to import, select it and press the open button located near it.

Skill 3: Editing sound
Audacity is a software that provides many different tools to edit sound. These tools can be found in the toolbar beside the record, play and stop buttons.

These are the tools and their functions:

Selection Tool
This tool can be used easily and effectively for highlighting any part of the sound that you wish to edit or delete.

Envelope Tool
This tool is one that is able to adjust and change the volume of any part of the audio, just by dragging the blue lines that appear in and out.

Zoom Tool
This tool is useful as it helps to zoom into your track, therefore making it easier to edit your piece of audio.

Drawing Tool
Using this tool gives you the ability to move the individual handles in your audio piece.

Timeshift Tool
This tool can only be used when you are using more than one track and gives you the ability to move the track to wherever you want to.

Multi Tool
This tool gives you acess all of tools at once.

Skill 4: Deleting sound
You can do this by selecting the part of the sound you want to delete. Afterward, just press the delete button on your keyboard.

Skill 5: Adding effects to the sound
You can add effects by pressing the effect button in the menu. Then, select the effect that you want to add from the drop-down menu. You can then experiment with the effects on your sound.

Here are three effects I experimented with and how they alter the sound file when used.

BassBoost
This effect basically allows the audio to increase the bass frequency.

Change Pitch
This effect allows you to change the pitch of your audio without changing the tempo of the audio. The pitch change can be altered in four different ways. The first is by musical note, the second by semitones, the third by frequency and lastly by percent change.

Reverse
This effect reverses the audio so that the end of the audio will be heard first and the beginning of the song will be heard last.