Monday, December 31, 2012

MULTIMEDIA APLLICATION


MULTIMEDIA APPLICATION

APPLICATIONS USED FOR “PLAYING WITH SHADOWS” PROJECT
·         Adobe Illustrator
·         Adobe AIR
·         Adobe Flash
·         Microsoft SDK for kinect

Adobe Illustrator:

In our project for shadow projection we will have characters that are from different countries including Palestine, Indonesia, Botswana, Thailand and Malaysia to be randomly picked by the user. These characters will be assigned profiles. In total there are 10 characters and these were designed in Adobe Illustrator CS5. Adobe Illustrator is primary a vector graphic manipulation software. A vector graphics editor is a computer program that allows users to compose and edit vector graphics images interactively on a computer and save them in one of many popular vector graphics formats, such as EPS, PDF, WMF, SVG, or VML. It is used to create images that are small in file size, but can be resized to any dimension while still maintaining print quality. Some common uses for Illustrator is for logos, illustrations, layouts for fliers, advertisements, billboards, signage, brochures, business cards, web design, and loads more. Illustrator can be used for just about anything outside of photographic images.




Adobe AIR:
Adobe Integrated Runtime, also known as Adobe AIR, is a cross-platform run-time system developed by Adobe Systems for building Rich Internet applications (RIA) using Adobe Flash,Apache Flex (formerly Adobe Flex), HTML, and Ajax, that can be run as desktop applications or on mobile devices. AIR allows developers to use familiar tools such as Adobe Dreamweaver®, Flash Builder®, Flash Catalyst®, Flash Professional, or any text editor to build their applications and easily deliver a single application installer that works across operating systems. Adobe AIR runs on Windows®, Mac OS, Android™, iOS, and BlackBerry® Tablet OS.

System requirements

Windows

·         2.33GHz or faster x86-compatible processor or Intel® Atom™ 1.6GHz or faster processor for netbooks
·         Microsoft® Windows® XP Home, Professional, or Tablet PC Edition with Service Pack 3; Windows Server® 2003; Windows Server® 2008; Windows Vista® Home Premium, Business, Ultimate, or Enterprise (including 64-bit editions) with Service Pack 2; or Windows 7
·         512MB of RAM (1GB recommended)

Mac OS

·         Intel Core™ Duo or faster processor
·         Mac OS X v10.6 or v10.7
·         512MB of RAM (1GB recommended)

Android

·         ARMv7 processor with vector FPU, minimum 550MHz, OpenGL ES 2.0, H.264 and AAC HW decoders
·         Android™ 2.2, 2.3, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2, and 4.0
·         256MB of RAM

IOS

·         iPod touch (3rd generation) 32 GB and 64 GB model, iPod touch 4, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPad, iPad 2, iPad3
·         iOS 4.3, 5.0, and iOS5.1

BlackBerry Tablet OS

·         BlackBerry® PlayBook

Adobe Flash CS5:


Adobe Flash (formerly Macromedia Flash) is a multimedia platform used to add animation, video, and interactivity to web pages. Flash is frequently used for advertisements, games and flash animations for broadcast. More recently, it has been positioned as a tool for "Rich Internet Applications" ("RIAs").
Flash manipulates vector and raster graphics to provide animation of text, drawings, and still images. It supports bidirectional streaming of audio and video, and it can capture user input via mouse, keyboard, microphone, and camera. Flash contains an object-oriented language called ActionScript and the Flash editor supports automation via the JavaScript Flash language (JSFL).
Flash content may be displayed on various computer systems and devices, using Adobe Flash Player, which is available free of charge for common web browsers, some mobile phones, and a few other electronic devices (using Flash Lite).
Some users feel that Flash enriches their web experience, while others find the extensive use of Flash animation, particularly in advertising, intrusive and annoying. Flash has also been criticized for adversely affecting the usability of web pages
So, we are using adobe flash CS5 to make an ActionScript of the movement. First, we make the ActionScript the bone tool of the shadow after that we connect the bone tool with the ActionScript of the Kinect. As we know adobe flash have many library for Kinect, so we choose adobe flash. ActionScript 3.0 is the actionscript that we choose, because actionscript 3.0 is the compatible actionscript for Kinect.











 

















Microsoft SDK:
A software development kit (SDK or "devkit") is typically a set of software development tools that allows for the creation of applications for a certain software package, software framework, hardware platform, computer system, video game console, operating system, or similar platform.
It may be something as simple as an application programming interface (API) in the form of some files to interface to a particular programming language or include sophisticated hardware to communicate with a certain embedded system. Common tools include debugging aids and other utilities often presented in an integrated development environment (IDE). SDKs also frequently include sample code and supporting technical notes or other supporting documentation to help clarify points from the primary reference material.
SDKs may have attached licenses that make them unsuitable for building software intended to be developed under an incompatible license. For example, a proprietary SDK will probably be incompatible with free software development, while a GPL-licensed SDK could be incompatible with proprietary software development. LGPL SDKs are typically safe for proprietary development.
A software engineer typically receives the SDK from the target system developer. Often the SDK can be downloaded directly via the Internet. Many SDKs are provided for free to encourage developers to use the system or language. Sometimes this is used as a marketing tool.
An SDK for an operating system add-on (for instance, QuickTime for Mac OS) may include the add-on software itself, to be used for development purposes if not necessarily for redistribution together with the developed product. An interesting situation arises here between platforms where it is possible to develop applications that can at least start up on a system configuration without the add-on installed, and use a Gestalt-style run-time environment query to determine if the add-on is present, and ones where the application will simply fail to start. In other words, it is possible to build a single binary that will run on configurations with and without the add-on present, albeit operating with reduced functionality in the latter situation.
Providers of SDKs for specific systems or subsystems may sometimes substitute a more specific term instead of software. For instance, both Microsoft and Apple provide driver development kits (DDK) for developing device drivers.


Tuesday, December 18, 2012

CULTURE CHARACTERS

CHARACTER : Herero women
COUNTRY: Namibia



Using Kinect to Create Flash Animations with Awesome Animator


If you want to create a quick animation then instead of animating every frame by hand wouldn’t it be simpler just to scan in some human motions and use those? Well now if you have a Kinect that is exactly what you can do!!! Just plug your Kinect into your PC (you may need a separate power adapter if your Kinect cam bundled with your XBox or if you bought your Kinect separate from your XBox it should plug straight in with the USB).


Now you will need some software which turns your actions captured on the Kinect into a motion capture file (BVH). You can download some free software from the Brekel website.
Now do a little dance, jump up and down and capture your motions. Save them as a BVH file.
You can then import this BVH file into Awesome Animator (make sure you download the latest version) to create a Flash animation. The animation will show your movements as a stick figure but you can change these by double clicking on a rectangle and changing it for a different graphic.
Here is an example of importing a BVH file to Awesome Animator. (This one is of a horse but the same principle applies.) I have changed the head from a rectangle to something more interesting.





If you don’t have a Kinect you may be able to download some free BVH files that others have created.
Once you have made some good animations you can put them on your website or share them with your friends and don’t forget to mention they were made with Awesome Animator!!!
Digital Puppetry
Just because you are a human it doesn’t mean your animation must be of a human. For example, you could use your arms to pretend to be the jaws of crocodile. Then when you import the BVH file into Awesome Animator simply delete all the layers except for the arms (which will now be jaws) and use them as the basis of an animation!!!
You can combine multiple captures. For example first capture your body. Then capture your arm gestures again but this time use them for animating the mouth of your character.
A third capture could use your arms to animate a claw.
You can add different captures for different characters by importing the BVH inside different MovieClips.
Now just export your animation as a Flash (SWF) file!!!


resource : http://awesomeanimator.com


Hand tracking with Kinect in Flash




after search a lot in internet try this and try that thats what i have came out with it to the next step of our project which is  the easiest way to connect Flash to your Kinect. Nothing to install, no setups, no terminal. And the settings and source files to make it happen are included ;)

1. You'll need to download:
*Synapse: http://synapsekinect.tumblr.com
*OSCulator http://www.osculator.net/download
*The 2202 Pack: An OSCulator file that keeps the communication flowing + the .fla source tracking both hands:http://www.zeladores.net/2202.zip
*The NETLab toolkit: http://www.netlabtoolkit.org/

2. Copy the contents of the "NETLabFlashWidgets_3_2_1″ folder to the Flash folder /Configuration/Components
2b. Do a GET INFO (command-I) on the NETLabHub.app + in the info window check the "Open in 32 bit mode"
=

Hand tracking in Flash is now a 1′ operation:

- Plug your Kinect and be sure you downloaded all files and followed the steps for the NETLab toolkit (copy widgets, check The Hub to run "32-bit")
- Run The Hub.
- Open the file "OSC hands" in OSCulator.
- Open the trackhands.swf (you published, remember?)
- Run Synapse.
- Do the cactus position and hold it for a few seconds until Synapse detects your skeleton, then the trackers in the swf should start following your hands.
Done.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Flowchart



Tasks Divided.

Design Characters of the shadow - Ibtisam tayeh & Muhammad Asha Gayuza

Coding of the project - Tantri Muditahawari & Alaa Moufeed Alshorbaji

Projector, kinect, computer, printings - Naimah Tseladikae

Budget preparation.







The rough budget of the project

                         Items

                     Cost

      1)    Kinect


      2)    Projector


      3)    Computer


      4)    Printings



     Total :

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Background Research: 10 Iconic Character

Background Research and Finding Facts




Spaceman

An astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft. While generally reserved for professional space travelers, the terms are sometimes applied to anyone who travels into space, including scientists, politicians, journalists, and tourists. 


















Indonesia: Malin Kundang


Malin Kundang (also called Si Tanggang or Nakhoda Manis) is a Southeast Asian folktale about retribution on an ungrateful son. A sailor from a poor family, the protagonist sneaks onto a trading ship, eventually becoming rich, marrying a princess, and acquiring his own galleon. On his return to his home village, he is ashamed of his humble origins and refuses to recognise his elderly mother. She curses him, and when he sets sail, he and his ship are turned to stone.

In Indonesia, the story is called Malin Kundang, and the legend is based in West Sumatra. Air Manis, a beach near Padang, has a rock formation called Batu Malin Kundang that is said to be the remains of his ship.
Another Indonesian folk story which is alike but take the different location is the legend of Sampuraga. The legend is based in Central Borneo. Belantikan Hulu, a remote area along the river Lamandau, Indonesia, has a rock formation called Bukit Sampuraga which is believed to be the ruins of his ship.





















Roro Jonggrang


The legend tells the story about two ancient and neighbouring kingdoms in Java, Pengging and Boko.
Pengging was prosperous, and wisely ruled by its king Prabu Damar Moyo who had a son named Bandung Bondowoso. By contrast, Boko was ruled by a cruel man-eating giant named Prabu Boko, supported by another giant Patih Gupolo. Despite his unpleasant nature, Prabu Boko had a beautiful daughter named Rara Jonggrang.
The story relates that Prabu Boko desired to expand his kingdom, and so began training an army and raising taxes for an invasion of Pengging. His forces launch a surprise attack on Pengging, and the ensuring war causes devastation and famine on both sides. In order to defeat the invader, Prabu Damar Moyo sends his son Bandung Bondowoso to fight Prabu Boko. After a furious battle, Prabu Boko is killed by the prince's supernatural powers. His assistant, the giant Patih Gupolo, leads his armies away from the battlefield in defeat.
Returning to Boko Palace, Patih Gupolo tells princess Rara Jonggrang of the death of her father. The princess is heartbroken, but before she can recover from her grief the Pengging army besieges and captures the palace. Prince Bandung Bondowoso is mesmerized by the beauty of the mourning princess and propose marriage, but his offer is swiftly rejected. Bandung Bondowoso insists on the union, and finally Rara Jonggrang agrees on two impossible conditions: first the prince must build a well named Jalatunda, and second, he must construct a thousand temples in only one night.

















Ondel - ondel



Ondel-ondel is a form of folk performance using a large puppets. It originated from Betawi, Indonesia and is often performed in festivals. The word ondel-ondel refers to both the performance and the puppet.
Ondel-ondel, the puppet, is about 2.5 meters tall with ± 80 cm diameter, made of woven bamboo. It is constructed in such a way so that it easily lifted by one person from the inside of the puppet. The puppet is usually dressed in brightly coloured garments, and in some occasions, in traditional Betawi clothing.





  


















Malaysia: Hang Tuah


Hang Tuah (Jawi:هڠ تواه) is the legendary Malay warrior who lived during the reign of Sultan Mansur Shah of the Sultanate of Malacca in the 15th century. He was the greatest of all the laksamana, or sultan's admirals, and was known to be a ferocious fighter. Hang Tuah is held in the highest regard, even in present-day Malaysian Malay culture, and is arguably the most well-known and illustrious warrior figure in Malaysian history and literature.




















Wayang Kulit Kelantan


Wayang Siam Leather (or leather puppet Manitoba ) is an art puppets that originated from Naim , Malaysia . It is one of four types of shadow puppet show in Malaysia. Movies Leather Siam has been identified as the type of the oldest shadow puppet show in Malaysia. Moreover, this kind of shadow play is the most famous and important in Malaysia since the ancient times to the present.

Once, Skin Wayang Siam never got hit with the Malays until its influence has spread from Bihar to neighboring states like Rajasthan , Madhya Pradesh , Orissa and Silver . In addition, this art has a strong presence in four regions of Southern Thailand, Pattani , Yala , Narathiwat and part ofSongkhla , which was once the former Sultanate of Patani region.















Thailand: Menora Dancer
Menora (Jawi: منورا) is a type of dance drama of south Thailand origin and practiced mainly in the northern states of Malaysia and southern provinces of Thailand. Menora also known as Nora or Lakon Chatri in Thai language.[1]
The basic features of the performance include a lengthy invocation, a dance by the main character, and a play or skit. The invocation is enacted by slow rhythmic movements of legs, arms and fingers.[2] The dramatic repertoire of Menora performance is based on stories of Thai legends and Buddhist Jataka tales, many of which already accultured into Malay society centuries ago. 

























Palestine: Thob

Women in Palestine used to wear a Thob; a full length flare dress, that is loosely-fitted to allow a lot of movement. Until the 1940s, traditional Palestinian costumes reflected a woman's economic status, whether married or single, and the town or district of origin, and a knowledgeable observer could glean such information from the fabric, colors, cut, and embroidery motifs (or lack thereof) in a given woman's apparel. 
















Botswana: Herero Women


The Herero are an ethnic group inhabiting parts of Southern Africa. The majority reside in Namibia, with the remainder found in Botswana and Angola. About 240,000 members are alive today. They speak the Herero language which belongs to the Bantu languages.