How to create a virtual reality game...
29 Sept 2011
Augmented Reality - The next big thang?
The idea of augmented reality was first mooted as far back as in 1965, with Ivan Sutherland's now famous essay Augmented Reality: The Ultimate Display. In it, he said that "with appropriate programming… a display could literally be the Wonderland into which Alice walked," stating that digital handcuffs would be able to actually restrain users, and those shot by digital characters would be killed in real life ... His vision bears an uncanny resemblance to the Matrix!
Could this be used a means for data collection?
Could this be used as a means for data representation?
I've always been fascinated by computers and the shear complexity of what they do, produce and create. Its mind boggling how far computational technology has come along in the past 10 years opening avenues for BIM, social networking, a global community, the list is endless.
The likes of facebook, twitter and myspace have probably been the most touted recent advances within the computational world, generating platforms of interaction on a scale never before seen. But these technologies are as old now as they are new: what is going to be the next significant technological advancement? Could it be Augmented Reality?
It is defined as the following:
Augmented reality (AR) is a term for a live direct or indirect view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are augmented bycomputer-generated sensory input such as sound, video, graphics or GPS data. It is related to a more general concept called mediated reality, in which a view of reality is modified (possibly even diminished rather than augmented) by a computer. As a result, the technology functions by enhancing one’s current perception of reality. By contrast, virtual reality replaces the real world with a simulated one.
In simple terms its the overlaying of computer generated data into a real-world environment. Here are some videos showing its various uses...
Above: A video showing simple augmented reality with 'place recognition' for smartphones.
Above: Here the AR app uses the camera to recognize a pattern and superimposes a 3D object into the virtual / actual space (on the screen).
Above: AR used to advertise products.
The investigation into a virtual / real cross over could be a pretty interesting subject. What is real? What quantifies something as being real? How does one measure this? Is 'real' what we can sense, i.e. see, touch, hear, taste, smell? If a virtual world can produce and stimulate these sense's then the gap between the real and the virtual blurs. ARGHHGH it boggles my mind, but in conclusion I think I've worked out how to theoretically invent the Matrix...
26 Sept 2011
The Decline of the Potteries (Article)
The following article from This is Staffordshire in January 2009 gives reasons for the decline of the pottery industry in Stoke (click here).
List and Photo-Reel of Derelict Potteries in Stoke-On-Trent
The chaps at 28 Days Later (The UK UE Urbex Urban Exploration Forums) have a collection of shots of derelict potteries in Stoke (click here).
Some Useful Resources on Stoke From a Similar Unit Studied at BIAD
The content in these two blogs could be useful as a starting point with some interesting articles, photographs and data surrounding Stoke-on-Trent: Stoke-Lab and Stoke Scope. All research was collected by the BIAD, so I take no credit for finding this stuff!
Below are some links I thought to be of particular interest:
Below are some links I thought to be of particular interest:
- Tourism Facts and Figures
- Emotion Map by MonkeyRose
- Information on the new Urbed Masterplan (and some information more here).
- BNP target Stoke (Disclaimer: Reading anything about the BNP may result in MASSIVE RAGE!)
Defining Psychogeography
Seems as though this week we have to do two things ...
1. Research 'Psychogeography' - people that do it, the methods they employ and how this could inform our methodology for data collection + analysis in Fenton.
2. Research Fenton to pick up on interesting facts, points, observations which will re-inform our researched methodologies.
Bit of a definition to kick things off ... "Psychogeography was defined in 1955 by Guy Debord as "the study of the precise laws and specific effects of the geographical environment, consciously organized or not, on the emotions and behaviour of individuals." Another definition is "a whole toy box full of playful, inventive strategies for exploring cities...just about anything that takes pedestrians off their predictable paths and jolts them into a new awareness of the urban landscape."
I'm guessing the above definition is what we've got to do!
1. Research 'Psychogeography' - people that do it, the methods they employ and how this could inform our methodology for data collection + analysis in Fenton.
2. Research Fenton to pick up on interesting facts, points, observations which will re-inform our researched methodologies.
Bit of a definition to kick things off ... "Psychogeography was defined in 1955 by Guy Debord as "the study of the precise laws and specific effects of the geographical environment, consciously organized or not, on the emotions and behaviour of individuals." Another definition is "a whole toy box full of playful, inventive strategies for exploring cities...just about anything that takes pedestrians off their predictable paths and jolts them into a new awareness of the urban landscape."
I'm guessing the above definition is what we've got to do!
24 Sept 2011
Fenton According to Wikipedia
Rightly or wrongly it is increasingly common for any digital desktop research about a subject to begin with Google and then quickly move onto an open-source platform such as Wikipedia ("The Free Encyclopedia"). With this in mind this post will look at the things that Wikipedia says about Fenton and it's references.
Fenton, meaning "flat, marshy land" is one of the six towns of the Stoke-on-Trent conurbation, situated in the south-east of the city. It has been dubbed the town Arnold Bennett, the English novelist, forgot in his 1902 work Anna of the Five Towns (he also wrote the Clayhanger triology and The Old Wives' Tale). It lies in a key geographical location, within easy reach of the A500, A34 and the A50, and is just a short distance away from Longton, Hanley and Newcastle-under-Lyme.
Many people semingly consider Fenton a sprawl of villages, including Heron Cross, Mount Pleasant, Saxonfields and Pool Dole, and although it has had its share of big industry, particularly from the Potteries trade, it is predominately a residential area. It first started to become populated when groups of farms and private small-holdings were built there, with the rapid develpment of the Potteries by the 1850s leading to growth around Duke Street and China Street. Fenton has been the home of a number of potteries such as Coalport, and its architectural heritage includes the Listed Christchurch, War Memorial, Bottle Kilm at the former Bencroft Works and the Calcining Kilns at James Kents. Large houses were established alongside pot-banks including Great Fenton Hall, Heron Cottage and Grove House. The two principal districts, Fenton Vivian and Fenton Culvert – each with their scattered communities, were brought together to make an urban district with its own board of guardians in 1894. On 1 April 1910, the town was federated into the county borough of Stoke-on-Trent. By 1925 the area was granted city status. It was bombined in the First World War by Zeppelin L21.
Unlike over Potteries towns it doesn't have a centre, with amenities and shops spread over a sizeable area. a market, with approximately 25 stalls, is held every Thursday, based in City Road. Victoria Road contains DIY shops, home furnishings and electircal stores and a retail park, which inlcudes a Dunelm Mill and a Curry's. The town has a library (on Baker Street), based within the carnegie library, the only such building in Stoke-on-Trent. It also has a magistrates court, serving the whole city from within Fenton's old town hall. Fenton Manor Sports Complex apparently houses the biggest swimming pool in Staffordshire and 1,300-seat areana. Other recereational facilities can be found at Fenton Park, with football pitches, pavilions and a playground.
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| Fenton Skyline in August 2010 (Image: Wikipedia / EchetusXe) |
Fenton, meaning "flat, marshy land" is one of the six towns of the Stoke-on-Trent conurbation, situated in the south-east of the city. It has been dubbed the town Arnold Bennett, the English novelist, forgot in his 1902 work Anna of the Five Towns (he also wrote the Clayhanger triology and The Old Wives' Tale). It lies in a key geographical location, within easy reach of the A500, A34 and the A50, and is just a short distance away from Longton, Hanley and Newcastle-under-Lyme.
Many people semingly consider Fenton a sprawl of villages, including Heron Cross, Mount Pleasant, Saxonfields and Pool Dole, and although it has had its share of big industry, particularly from the Potteries trade, it is predominately a residential area. It first started to become populated when groups of farms and private small-holdings were built there, with the rapid develpment of the Potteries by the 1850s leading to growth around Duke Street and China Street. Fenton has been the home of a number of potteries such as Coalport, and its architectural heritage includes the Listed Christchurch, War Memorial, Bottle Kilm at the former Bencroft Works and the Calcining Kilns at James Kents. Large houses were established alongside pot-banks including Great Fenton Hall, Heron Cottage and Grove House. The two principal districts, Fenton Vivian and Fenton Culvert – each with their scattered communities, were brought together to make an urban district with its own board of guardians in 1894. On 1 April 1910, the town was federated into the county borough of Stoke-on-Trent. By 1925 the area was granted city status. It was bombined in the First World War by Zeppelin L21.
 |
| Heron Cross Pottery & Bottle Kiln (Image: © Brian Peach July 2001) |
Unlike over Potteries towns it doesn't have a centre, with amenities and shops spread over a sizeable area. a market, with approximately 25 stalls, is held every Thursday, based in City Road. Victoria Road contains DIY shops, home furnishings and electircal stores and a retail park, which inlcudes a Dunelm Mill and a Curry's. The town has a library (on Baker Street), based within the carnegie library, the only such building in Stoke-on-Trent. It also has a magistrates court, serving the whole city from within Fenton's old town hall. Fenton Manor Sports Complex apparently houses the biggest swimming pool in Staffordshire and 1,300-seat areana. Other recereational facilities can be found at Fenton Park, with football pitches, pavilions and a playground.
The Fenton Five
Welcome to 'The Fenton Five' a research blog produced by BArch students in the [Re_Map]ICU unit at the Manchester School of Architecture to document the Fenton area of Stoke-on-Trent. The unit aims to become the 'leading authority' on Stoke-on-Trent and has set about documenting the six principle areas that comprise the city. As a unit [Re_Map] is preoccupied with data, mapping, networks and visualization and is interested in the contemporary city as a political, economic and cultural hybrid in flux rather than as a fixed place.
This blog will also document ongoing research into pyschogeography and other mapping techniques that will form the basis for the first project conducted by the unit Data Definition within the Dérive. As part of the project The Fenton Five (and other [Re_Map]ICU project groups) will investigate the architectural ramifications of 'wandering' in the city and landscape. Whereas Guy Debord and the SI (Situationist International) were content to simply execute these experiments, the unit is interested in their conception, their record and most specifically, their translation into form that has a geo-spatial context. The unit is interested in the convergence of mapping, GPS, data and sensation in three-dimensional and locational space.
This blog will also document ongoing research into pyschogeography and other mapping techniques that will form the basis for the first project conducted by the unit Data Definition within the Dérive. As part of the project The Fenton Five (and other [Re_Map]ICU project groups) will investigate the architectural ramifications of 'wandering' in the city and landscape. Whereas Guy Debord and the SI (Situationist International) were content to simply execute these experiments, the unit is interested in their conception, their record and most specifically, their translation into form that has a geo-spatial context. The unit is interested in the convergence of mapping, GPS, data and sensation in three-dimensional and locational space.
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