Maker Space: week 3: 14/2/18: VR activities, talk and visit to the Lowery art gallery:

This week's maker space session we were given the chance to try out a VR gaming system from visiting game designers and 3rd years here in Media city today giving a talk of their work. We each took turns playing  on the VR games, and watched each other play on the screen. Seeing the equipment for the apparatus was rather technical besides the headset, as the player needed to be strapped into the harness and have special sensors placed on their feet for the player to move and walk in the virtual environment. I didn't have the chance to try out the equipment as the group was now due a visit to the Lowery Art Gallery to the Digital human exhibit. We arrived at the gallery and we looked around taking a particular interest in the hipster bar.

The idea being the subject would stand in front of a screen then by pressing a button the screen would scan us and see if we were hipster enough to enter the bar. Some of us got a low percent and couldn't enter, although after a few times we got a higher percent mark to enter. It took me about seven times
to enter until I achieved a 95.5% rating so that I could enter. I went to look around the gallery to see the paintings on display and though we weren't allowed to take photos I could still remember it all,

and even get ideas for my own work.

Feelings:

I was very excited to try out the VR system on show in the University cafe, and it would be my first time playing a game in virtual reality. I was very disappointed when I couldn't take my turn in using the game due to moving onto the trip, and I was nervous about the time and wasn't sure I'd get my turn. However my sadness faded when we looked around the digital human exhibition, seeing the displays of colourful artwork and the interactive galleries. One of interest was a security room set up seeing some rooms and parts of the gallery, I was feeling inspired by this set up as it could be a potential story idea. The most entertaining of the exhibits was the hipster bar seeing the others try and get in was funny to watch and I enjoyed my attempts to fool the camera without success.

I looked around the gallery, and whilst I'd been here a lot of times I enjoyed it every time I came to

see the paintings. I was feeling inspired looking at the paintings and could provide a steer in art style for my Story writing module.

Evaluation:

Whilst I enjoyed looking at the VR, I found it bad that I couldn't use the device myself to see what it was capable of, and the other students enjoyed watching and playing the game yet I couldn't do so myself. What was good about the VR was seeing what sensors were used in the apparatus, I could tell it was very advanced. Paige and I even had a talk with a person named Ben Wild who works at a game/comic book studio near Media City and knowing this we followed him on Facebook to see our work could be beneficial to our employment/work experience placements. I found it rather good to look around an art gallery for the session as this was the time to seek inspiration for an art style for my 19th century themed  story for the story writing module.

Analysis:

I began to realise the situation didn't help that I was lower on the list for doing the game experience, rather than talking to Annabeth about this I just accepted this and moved onto the gallery. The gallery visit was rather educational and fun trying to get into the hipster bar, and though the orange juice treat wasn't much I think the taking part element was what mattered most. Looking around the gallery paintings was the most important element to me as I liked seeking inspiration. I would've taken photos for a research page but I didn't want to violate the rules and so I didn't take any photos.

I possibly should've taken some flyers and guides from the entrance to act as an research source for my book.

Bubble cannon (most amusing exhibit)

Conclusion:

In hindsight I would do some things differently, as regards to not being able to participate in the VR gameplay  I would've talked to Annabeth about this so that I wouldn't miss my turn. I possibly would've come back to the campus after the gallery visit to see if I could have my turn. In terms of the gallery visit I should've brought a sketchbook with me so that I could sketch some research ideas in response to Lowery's artwork to give me ideas of how to approach or style future projects. Otherwise it was an enjoyable session today and a great help to get my creative cogs turning.

Action Plan:

For future reference I would possibly see if I could get an earlier slot on the VR so that I wouldn't miss out on the experience. If we visited the gallery again I would need to pack a sketchbook for sketching out the paintings and draw possible ideas from them for either my own or for work on the modules. What I learned from the experience was that sometimes to seek inspiration for a project you look at the work of others and learn how to translate that inspiration into my own ideas.