„Central Research Question: How can interactive design facilitate the creation of user-friendly platforms for intergenerational digital storytelling in family history preservation?“
The central research question focuses on:
This research question dives into the intersection of interactive design, user-friendliness, intergenerational storytelling, and family history preservation within the context of developing a genealogy app. It explores the intricate balance between technology and human connection, aiming to leverage interactive design principles to create a platform that bridges generational gaps, preserves family legacies, and fosters storytelling in a user-friendly manner.
The essence lies in understanding how design choices influence the user experience, ensuring that the app transcends mere functionality and becomes a conduit for seamless, intuitive, and emotionally resonant storytelling. The research seeks to uncover design strategies that cater to diverse user demographics, facilitate easy content sharing, maintain robust privacy measures, and offer a meaningful, engaging experience across generations.
Now, let’s dive deeper into each sub-question within the context of the genealogy app designed for intergenerational digital storytelling and family history preservation:
Key features and functionalities for user-friendliness:
Intuitive Interface: The app’s interface should prioritize simplicity, allowing users of varying technological proficiency to navigate effortlessly. This includes clear navigation, minimalistic design, and logical layout to facilitate easy content uploading and retrieval.
Multimedia Integration: Offering flexibility in content types (images, videos, text, audio) ensures a comprehensive representation of family stories. An efficient media upload and playback system would enrich the storytelling experience.
Customization: Allowing users to personalize their family trees, adding custom details, and arranging content according to their preferences fosters a deeper sense of connection and ownership.
Collaborative Functionality: Enabling multiple family members to contribute, edit, and collectively build the family narrative promotes a shared and inclusive storytelling experience.
Accommodating user needs across generations:
Customizable Accessibility: Implementing features that cater to different age groups‘ needs, such as adjustable font sizes, color contrasts, and simple navigation paths, ensures inclusivity and usability for all.
Content Variety: Offering multiple avenues for storytelling (visual, auditory, textual) caters to diverse user preferences, providing a flexible and engaging experience.
Tutorial and Support: Providing guided tours or tutorials within the app assists users who might be less familiar with technology while maintaining a seamless, unobtrusive experience for more tech-savvy users.
Privacy in sharing family stories:
Tiered Access Controls: Enabling users to set different permission levels ensures that sensitive information is only accessible to approved family members, maintaining privacy within the family circle.
End-to-End Encryption: Implementing robust encryption measures for stored data ensures that personal stories and content remain secure from unauthorized access or breaches.
Consent Mechanisms: Offering clear settings and prompts for sharing beyond the family boundary ensures that users have explicit control over what gets shared outside the app, respecting their privacy choices.
Technical challenges in creating a robust platform:
Data Storage and Management: Addressing challenges related to organizing and storing multimedia content efficiently to ensure quick access and retrieval without compromising user experience or performance.
Cross-Platform Compatibility: Ensuring the app functions seamlessly across different devices and operating systems without sacrificing usability or functionality.
Security Measures: Overcoming technical hurdles in implementing robust security measures, encryption protocols, and continuous monitoring to safeguard user data and maintain privacy.
Each of these aspects plays a critical role in not just creating an app, but in shaping an inclusive, secure, and immersive platform that embraces the diversity of user needs and preferences across generations, while preserving the essence of family storytelling.
“The research will commence with a comprehensive literature review to understand the existing landscape of genealogy apps and intergenerational digital storytelling. This will be followed by user research to identify diverse needs and preferences across generations. The subsequent phases will involve designing and testing the app, addressing technical and privacy concerns, and iteratively refining the platform for user satisfaction. Ultimately, the research will seek to offer insights into the impact of design in preserving and celebrating family histories through digital means. “ – I chose to focus on this part from my last entry
So, let’s break down the research process into actionable steps:
1. Comprehensive Literature Review:
– Scope: Explore academic databases, journals, and publications focusing on genealogy apps, user experience in digital storytelling, intergenerational communication, and design principles in family history preservation.
– Approach: Summarize existing research, noting key findings, trends, successful design strategies, and gaps in the current landscape. Use this information to inform the app’s foundational design.
2. User Research:
– Identifying Participants: Recruit a diverse range of participants from different age groups and cultural backgrounds to understand varied perspectives.
– Research Methods: Employ surveys, interviews, and focus groups to gather insights into user needs, preferences, technological proficiency, and storytelling habits within families.
– Data Analysis: Analyze collected data to identify common patterns, pain points, desires, and expectations among users, ensuring the app accommodates diverse requirements.
3. Design and Prototyping:
– Iterative Design Process: Utilize user insights to create wireframes and prototypes, incorporating intuitive navigation, diverse media integration, customizable features, and privacy controls.
– Usability Testing: Conduct user testing sessions with participants across different age groups to gather feedback on the app’s usability, navigation, and overall experience.
– Iterative Refinement: Incorporate user feedback into subsequent iterations, refining the app’s design and functionalities to align closely with user expectations.
4. Addressing Technical and Privacy Concerns:
– Technical Development: Collaborate with software developers to build a robust, scalable, and secure platform capable of handling multimedia content and ensuring cross-device compatibility.
– Privacy Protocols: Implement strong encryption measures, tiered access controls, and consent mechanisms to safeguard user data and maintain privacy within family circles.
5. App Testing and Evaluation:
– Beta Testing: Deploy the app for a limited audience or beta testers within families to assess real-world usage and gather comprehensive feedback.
– Evaluation Metrics: Define key performance indicators (KPIs) such as user engagement, content upload rates, user satisfaction scores, and privacy compliance to measure the app’s success.
6. Iterative Refinement and Finalization:
– Feedback Integration: Use gathered insights to refine the app further, addressing any remaining issues or suggestions from users.
– Finalization: Prepare the app for public release, ensuring it meets high standards of usability, security, and functionality based on iterative improvements.
7. Impact Assessment and Insights:
– Impact Evaluation: Assess the app’s impact on preserving and celebrating family histories through user testimonials, surveys, and usage analytics.
– Insights and Recommendations: Summarize findings, highlighting the influence of design in enhancing intergenerational connections and preserving family legacies digitally. Provide recommendations for further improvements or implementations.
Each of these steps involves a balance of user-centric design, technological considerations, iterative improvements, and an overarching focus on bridging generations through storytelling while preserving familial heritage. Collaboration among multidisciplinary teams, including designers, developers, and researchers, is crucial throughout the process to ensure a holistic and successful outcome.
The villain arc in film is a compelling narrative journey that explores the development, motivations, and actions of the antagonist within a story. Here’s how it often unfolds:
1. Introduction and Motivation: Villains are introduced with distinct motives or circumstances that lead them down a darker path. These motivations can stem from personal trauma, a desire for power, revenge, ideology, or even a warped sense of justice.
2. Humanization and Complexity: Well-crafted villain arcs often humanize the antagonist, showing their vulnerabilities, struggles, or the events that shaped their perspective. This complexity adds depth and makes them more relatable or understandable to the audience.
3. Conflict and Opposition: Villains become the primary source of conflict, providing opposition to the protagonist’s goals. Their actions create tension, driving the story forward and challenging the hero both physically and emotionally.
4. Evolution and Development: Throughout the narrative, the villain undergoes changes. They may experience internal conflicts, moments of doubt, or realizations about their actions. This evolution can lead to shifts in their motives or ideologies.
5. Climax and Resolution: The villain arc reaches its peak during the climax, where their actions and motivations collide with the hero’s. This often results in a showdown or confrontation that tests both characters. The resolution of the villain arc can vary—ranging from redemption, defeat, or their own undoing due to their flaws or actions.
6. Impact on the Protagonist: The villain arc deeply impacts the protagonist’s journey. The antagonist’s actions force the hero to grow, adapt, or confront their own weaknesses, leading to character development.
A well-crafted villain arc challenges the audience’s perceptions and generates emotional investment. It explores the shades of gray in morality and humanizes characters who are often seen as purely evil. Some films even offer redemption arcs for villains, showcasing their potential for change or growth.
Ultimately, a compelling villain arc enriches the storytelling experience, providing depth, tension, and a dynamic counterbalance to the hero’s journey.
The narrative of female rage in film has evolved significantly throughout history, reflecting changing societal attitudes towards gender, power, and expression. In earlier cinematic narratives, female anger was often subdued or expressed through subtleties due to prevailing cultural norms and censorship.
Early Cinema (1920s-1950s): Female characters were typically confined to specific roles, and their anger was often portrayed as repressed or channeled into quieter forms of resistance. For instance, characters like Scarlett O’Hara in „Gone with the Wind“ or Joan Crawford’s Mildred Pierce depicted rage simmering beneath the surface due to societal constraints.
1960s-1970s: This era saw some shifts as films like „Bonnie and Clyde“ or „Thelma & Louise“ showcased women pushing back against societal norms and expressing anger more openly. These narratives explored female rage as a response to oppression or injustice.
1980s-1990s: Films like „Fatal Attraction“ and „Basic Instinct“ sometimes depicted female rage through the lens of mental instability or as a dangerous force, often tying anger to a negative portrayal of female characters.
Contemporary Cinema: The portrayal of female rage in recent years has become more diverse and nuanced. Films like „Mad Max: Fury Road“ and „The Hunger Games“ franchise present strong female protagonists who express rage as a response to systemic oppression and personal trauma. These narratives delve into complex emotions and showcase women’s resilience and strength.
Throughout these periods, the narrative of female rage in film has shifted from subdued or villainized portrayals to more empowered and multifaceted representations. These narratives often explore the reasons behind the anger, addressing issues such as gender inequality, abuse, or societal expectations, providing a platform for nuanced storytelling and challenging traditional gender roles. The evolution of these narratives reflects a broader cultural shift towards acknowledging and validating women’s experiences, including their anger, as an integral part of their stories.
Fiktionale Filme können zum Teil oder zur Gänze auf wahren Begebenheiten aufbauen und gleichzeitig erfundene Charaktere und Situationen beinhalten. Ein Nicht-Fiktionaler-Film muss auf Wahrheiten basieren und darf keine Situationen, Charaktere und Gegebenheiten hinzufügen. Non-Fiction unterscheidet sich von Fiktion durch hinzugefügte Erfindungen. Auch wenn ein Film auf wahren Ereignissen beruht oder von diesen inspiriert wurde, ist er Fiktion, sobald die Autor*innen neue Aspekte hinzufügen. Die Wahrheit in dokumentarischen Filmen lässt keine künstlerische Freiheit zu. Gestaltungsspielraum gibt es bei der Auswahl der Inhalte. Filmschaffende legen fest worauf sie den Fokus legen, was sie weglassen und wie sie den Film strukturieren. Dokumentarfilme eröffnen neue Welten und wecken im bestem Fall Interesse für Themen, die zuvor nicht im Bewusstsein der Zuseher*innen verankert waren. Dabei handelt es sich nicht ausschließlich um Geschichten, die eine Hauptfigur in den Vordergrund stellen. 1
Fakten alleine machen keinen Dokumentarfilm aus. Laut Sheila wären ansonsten einfache “how to” Videos, die beschreiben wie ein Duschkopf zu entkalken ist, eine Dokumentation. Als weiteres Beispiel nennt Sheila das Material einer Verkehrskamera. 2
Sheila definiert den Dokumentarfilm als nicht-fiktionales Werk, welches sich zwischen Journalismus und Kunst ansiedelt. Filmemacher*innen verweben lose Informationen zu einer kunstvollen Gesamterzählung. Sie erfinden nichts, sondern drücken sich durch die Anordnung und Auswahl der Erkenntnisse aus. Diese Anordnung kann als Story verstanden werden. 3
Kurzzitate:
1 (Sheila 2023, S.2f)
2 (Sheila 2023, S.4)
3 (Sheila 2023, S.5)
Literaturverzeichnis:
Sheila, Curran, Bernard: Documentary Storytelling. Creative Nonfiction on Screen. 5. Aufl. New York: Routledge 2023
As a dedicated advocate for meaningful and impactful art, I have embarked on a journey that has led me to explore a Master’s thesis in Interactive Design, a path that transcends my previous work as a Graphic and Multimedia Designer. Throughout my life, I’ve channeled my creative energy into projects addressing critical issues such as domestic violence, substance abuse prevention, inclusivity for individuals with impaired development, and various ecological initiatives. However, for my Master’s thesis, I have chosen to dive into a project that holds deep personal significance while addressing the universal need for connection, remembrance, and storytelling.
Thesis Concept:
The core concept of my Master’s thesis centers around the development of a genealogy app that serves as a unique platform for preserving, sharing, and celebrating family histories across generations. This endeavor aims to move beyond the conventional family tree applications, offering an innovative and immersive approach to connecting with our roots and fostering intergenerational relationships.
Key Features:
Inclusive Storytelling: Unlike traditional family tree applications, this platform is not limited to listing ancestors‘ names. It encourages users to provide information about beloved relatives who have passed away, ensuring their legacies are preserved. Additionally, it empowers living family members to share their stories, be it through videos, text, images, or audio recordings.
Life Milestones Tracking: The app enables users to meticulously record every significant moment in their lives, from first steps and first words to graduations, promotions, and even marriages. This feature transforms the app into a living, breathing chronicle of family history.
Privacy and Accessibility: Privacy is a paramount concern; access to the family tree is protected by a password, ensuring only approved family members can participate. It can be used for immediate families, bridging geographical gaps and keeping everyone updated on life’s joys, big and small.
Global Family Connection: For those seeking to extend their family network across the world, the app accommodates a comprehensive family tree. Every family member has the opportunity to contribute their own information and insights about the relatives they know, fostering a greater sense of kinship.
Personal Significance:
This project holds personal significance for me, as it’s born from a desire to preserve cherished memories of my late father. Our close bond meant that we rarely captured our time together through photos, videos, or audio recordings. Now, in his absence, I understand the profound importance of preserving these moments. This app seeks to help individuals cherish their loved ones by documenting and sharing their stories beyond the confines of social media.
In addition, the app offers a unique way to bridge generational gaps. My partner and I have begun discreetly recording his 96-year-old grandfather, capturing his captivating stories and wisdom for our future children, who may never meet him in person. These stories are not just for us but for future generations to understand and connect with their roots.
Usability:
One of the cornerstones of this project is its user-friendliness. It is designed to be intuitive and accessible to all, from tech-savvy children to elderly grandparents. This ensures that everyone can participate in preserving their family’s history without unnecessary complications.
Conclusion:
In a world increasingly driven by digital technology, the concept of preserving and sharing our family histories takes on new dimensions. This genealogy app is not just an application but a testament to our shared human experience, a bridge between generations, and a safeguard for the memories and stories that make us who we are. It holds the potential to foster a profound sense of closeness and humanity in an ever-connected, yet sometimes disconnected world.
Elaboration of the key tasks with a connection to the content I’ve already provided:
1. Announce and describe the overall topic in general:
The overarching theme of this master’s thesis centers around the development of an innovative genealogy app, designed for intergenerational digital storytelling and the preservation of family histories. It addresses the modern need for maintaining and celebrating family connections.
2. Use of tagwords that describe the topic:
Tagwords encompass digital genealogy, intergenerational storytelling, family history preservation, user-friendly platform, personal memories, family connections.
3. Use good and simple examples (pics/videos/links) that describe your topic:
The app may include simple but illustrative demo videos and screenshots showcasing how users can document family milestones, share stories, and create a digital family tree. These examples would make the concept tangible for readers.
4. Show central research question(s) and sub-questions:
Central Research Question: „How can interactive design facilitate the creation of user-friendly platforms for intergenerational digital storytelling in family history preservation?“
Sub-questions:
What are the key features and functionalities that would make such an app user-friendly?
How do user needs differ across generations, and how can the app accommodate them?
How can privacy be ensured while sharing personal family stories?
What are the technical challenges involved in creating a robust platform?
5. Underline the relevance for the design fields:
This project is highly relevant for the design field as it combines user experience design, interface design, and information architecture to create a platform that not only fulfills a practical purpose but also embodies the essence of storytelling and human connection through design.
6. Name some approaches how design could help to solve issues/questions:
Design can address these issues by:
Creating an intuitive and user-friendly interface for allgenerations.
Ensuring robust data privacy features.
Facilitating the seamless sharing of multimedia familymemories.
Employing user-centered design principles to cater to diverse user needs.
7. Name some of the challenges that you expect during research:
Challenges may include:
Balancing user-friendliness with comprehensive features.
Addressing potential privacy concerns.
Handling data security and storage.
Navigating technical complexities in multimedia integration.
8. Underline your personal motivation:
My personal motivation arises from the loss of my father and a desire to preserve cherished memories. The emotional connection to the project fuels my commitment to making it a success.
9. Link to relevant institutions (commercial/academic):
This research can benefit from collaborations with academic institutions specialising in human-computer interaction and UX design. It may also find potential partners in the genealogy and family history preservation industry.
10. A preview of intended steps in the upcoming research phase:
The research will commence with a comprehensive literature review to understand the existing landscape of genealogy apps and intergenerational digital storytelling. This will be followed by user research to identify diverse needs and preferences across generations. The subsequent phases will involve designing and testing the app, addressing technical and privacy concerns, and iteratively refining the platform for user satisfaction. Ultimately, the research will seek to offer insights into the impact of design in preserving and celebrating family histories through digital means.
CAUTION: It’s crucial to note that these distinctions are broad generalizations, and many writers defy these expectations. Moreover, the most compelling storytelling often comes from authors who can authentically portray diverse perspectives, regardless of gender.
Explanation
Written by a Women: Women authors often bring a unique perspective to their work, emphasizing emotions, relationships, and character development. They may delve into nuanced explorations of female experiences, offering insights into the complexities of identity, societal expectations, and relationships. Female writers might pay special attention to the interior lives of characters, providing a deep emotional resonance to their stories.
For example, a scene written by a woman might intricately explore the emotions and thoughts of a female protagonist as she navigates a challenging situation. The narrative might emphasize the importance of female friendships, shedding light on the character’s inner strength and resilience.
Written by a Man: Male authors may, on the other hand, approach storytelling with different thematic focuses. Their narratives might center on action, external conflicts, or societal structures. Male writers might explore themes related to masculinity, fatherhood, or the dynamics of power and authority. Their writing style might be more direct or action-oriented.
For instance, a scene written by a man might emphasize the external challenges faced by a male protagonist. The narrative might highlight the character’s journey through physical trials, testing his strength and courage. Themes of camaraderie or competition might also play a significant role in the storytelling.
Naturdokumentationen bedienen sich einiger Tricks, um die Aufmerksamkeit des Publikums zu gewinnen und zu halten.
Ein wichtiger Bestandteil von Tierdokumentationen ist das Sounddesign. Um in das Geschehen der Natur nicht einzugreifen, werden die Aufnahmen meist aus sicherer Entfernung aufgenommen. Teleobjektive ermöglichen das Hineinzoomen an diese weit entfernten Szenen. Tonaufnahmen sind aus diesen Distanzen nicht möglich. Wird beispielsweise eine Luftaufnahme in einem Dokumentarfilm verwendet, enthält die originale Tonspur nur das Geräusch des Hubschraubers. Filmschaffende fügen daher in der Postproduktion Sound hinzu, der das Naturereignis unterstreicht.
Storytelling findet auch bei Tierdokumentationen ihre Anwendung. Einen Kampf zwischen zwei Kängurus zu filmen, kann mehrere Tage oder Wochen dauern. Bis es zum eigentlichen Kampf kommt, wird viel Material gesammelt. Dieses Material gewinnt an Bedeutung, wenn es den Kampf zwischen zwei Kängurus zu einer Geschichte werden lässt. Nahaufnahmen des Blickaustauschs zwischen den beiden Rivalen oder eines Babykängurus, das sich im Beutel seiner Mutter versteckt, machen die Szene emotionaler.
Für den Filmemacher Simon Cade sind Tierdokumentationen keine falschen Abbildungen der Natur, sondern Geschichten, von denen wir lernen können. Dokumentarfilme, die nur aus Fakten bestehen, würden unsere Aufmerksamkeit nicht fesseln, so Cade. 1
1. Optimisation of production workflows in Western and Japanese animation: Rotoscoping, Motion Capture and other Hybrid 2D/3D Techniques
This topic deals with the question of how Western and Japanese animators and animation studios try to optimise their production workflows and how they incorporate technologies such as Rotoscoping, Motion Capture as well as other Hybrid 2D and 3D techniques into their pipeline. The aim is to provide accurate insight into different 2D and 3D production workflows and compare them along with the results they achieve. The main interest will therefore be the practical applications of such techniques and the comparison of the different results they achieve within their cultural, narrative and genre-specific context. To summarise, after an in-depth study of the material, which will hopefully show both the advantages and the disadvantages of the different approaches, the next step will be to look for ways to incorporate the learned into my own design. This will be done via different case studies and short projects, such as short animations, character models or even a short movie.
1. Agarwala, A. / Hertzmann, A. / Salesin, D. / Seitz, S.: Keyframe based tracking for rotoscoping and animation . In: “ACM transactions on graphics, 2004, Vol.23 (3)”, ACM, New York 2004 , DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.1145/1015706.101576 2. Bratt, B: Rotoscoping, Routledge, 2021, ISBN: 9780240817040. 3. Davison, A. / Deutscher, J. / Reid, I.D.: Markerless Motion Capture of Complex Full-Body Movement for Character Animation, in: “Computer animation and simulation 2001”, Springer, Vienna 2001, ISBN: 3211837116. 4. Dunlop, R.: Production pipeline fundamentals for film and game. Focal Press, Burlington 2014, ISBN: 1-317-93622-1. 5. Kitagawa, M. / Windsor, B.: MoCap for artists: workflow and techniques for motion capture. Elsevier / Focal Press, Amsterdam / Boston 2008, ISBN: 9786611307301. 6. Menach, A.: Understanding motion capture for computer animation, Morgan Kaufmann, Amsterdam 2011, ISBN: 9780123814968. 7. Lanier, L.: Professional digital compositing: essential tools and techniques. Wiley Pub, Indianapolis 2010, ISBN: 9786612471834. 8. Lin, Z.: Research on film animation design based on inertial motion capture algorithm, in: “Soft computing (Berlin, Germany), 2021, Vol.25 (18)”, Springer, Berlin 2021, DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.1007/s00500-021-06001-y. 9. Miyakoshi, M.: Correcting whole-body motion capture data using rigid body transformation, in: “The European journal of neuroscience, 2021, Vol.54”, Wiley Subscription Services, France 2021, DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.1111/ejn.15531. 10. Roberts, S.: Character Animation Fundamentals: Developing Skills for 2D and 3D Character Animation. Routledge, London 2017, ISBN: 9786613267436. 11. So, Clifford, K.F. / Baciu, G.: Entropy-based motion extraction for motion capture animation, in: “Computer animation and virtual worlds, 2005, Vol.16 (3-4)”, John Wiley & Sons Ltd., Chichester 2005, DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.1002/cav.107´.
2. Gamification and Exploration in a VR environment
The goal of this topic would be to explore the different possibilities to work, play and design within a VR environment. With a very experimental approach, the final outcome of this topic can not yet be defined, but would very likely be some form of VR environment that allows for a playful and creative exploration of different applications and possibilities that such a digital space provides. Since VR can be seen as a completely different entity from our real world allowing for the addition of a second reality right within our lived-in one, with different rules, options and limitations, the current possibilities seem almost endless and are only restricted by our imagination as designers. As such and to set a boundary for the planned thesis, the exploration of two very particular topics is of special interest to me. These are:
2.1 An integrated approach to an interactive digital VR museum Based on the current research project I am working on at the Graz University of Technology, funded by the FWF, the possibility of building a completely interactive, decentralised virtual museum within Virtual Reality could be researched. Possible topics to look into include but are not limited to: user interaction and how to increase engagements, tools to allow exploration, interfaces and information design, accessibility, visual narration and perception of space and many, many more. As such, more in-depth research of this topic could prove to be worthwhile.
2.2 Gaming and designing in / for VR Another topic that seems quite promising is inquiring how gaming and exploration can even work in a virtual reality environment, both from a design standpoint and from the view of a user. To explore the different possible playful experiences that can be created and how to create them would be the main focus of this research. By looking into existing examples, such as VR games and the user-driven and collaboratively designed environment of VR chat, a deeper understanding of the topic could be achieved, which then in turn would be used to inform the design decisions shaping the new environment created as part of this research.
All in all, this topic is sure to be the most ambiguous and open among the presented, but also the one with the most potential for playful exploration and development. As such, VR and the inquiry of possible applications, is currently my favourite.
1. Jerald, J.: The VR book: human-centered design for virtual reality, Association for Computing Machinery (pub.), Morgan & Claypool, San Rafael 2016, ISBN: 9781970001129. 2. Sherman, W.R. / Craig, A.B.: Understanding Virtual Reality: Interface, Application, and Design, Elsevier Science, Burlington 2002, ISBN: 9780080520094. 3. Caarrozzino, M. / Bergamasco, M.: Beyond virtual museums: Experiencing immersive virtual reality in real museums, in: “Journal of cultural heritage, 2010, Vol.11 (4)”, Elsevier SAS, 2010, DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.1016/j.culher.2010.04.001. 4. Lengua, D. / Lengua, M.: Moving Towards Digital Lands: on Processes of Interaction in Museum’s Virtual Spaces, in: “Meta space”, DISTANZ Verlag, Berlin 2022. 5. Plowman, J.: Unreal engine virtual reality quick start guide: design and develop immersive virtual reality experiences with unreal engine 4, Packt Publishing Ltd, Birmingham / Mumbai 2019, ISBN: 1-78961-504-6. 6. Mitsea, E. / Drigas, A. / Skianis, C.: VR Gaming for Meta-Skills Training in Special Education: The Role of Metacognition, Motivations, and Emotional Intelligence, in: “Education sciences, 2023, Vol.13 (7)”, MDPI AG, Basel 2023, DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.3390/educsci13070639. 7. Evans, L. / Rzeszewski, M.: Hermeneutic Relations in VR: Immersion, Embodiment, Presence and HCI in VR Gaming, in: “HCI in Games”, Springer International Publishing, Cham 2020, DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-50164-8_2. 8. Yildirim, C.: Cybersickness during VR gaming undermines game enjoyment: A mediation model, in: “Displays, 2019, Vol.59”, Elsevier B.V, 2019, DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.1016/j.displa.2019.07.002.
3. 3D character modelling and narration in Virtual YouTubing / the V-Tuber-community: How to make your character engaging via VFX and animations to underline your narration
Virtual YouTubing (V-tubing) has evolved over the recent years from a small niche community into an active and dynamic format of online content creation, where content creators interact with their audiences through animated 3D avatars. This topic delves into V-Tubing as a form of content creation, focusing on its combination of 3D character modelling and rigging and the narration and storytelling behind the characters of different creators. The main inquiry will be, how content creators use visual effects (VFX) and animations to create engaging characters that line up with their created narratives.
V-tubers, in this context, balance different skillsets, between technology and its capabilities to entertain and the storytelling aspect of their character. It is not surprising then, that some creators instead already opt to outsource one or the other, sometimes even both, to a digital artist, since the skillset required is expansive and the quality of many models in the competition is on the rise. Nonetheless, there is also still those that do everything themselves. The research aims explores the intricacies of character creation, using 2D character designs in combination with 3D modelling and rigging to craft distinct personas and then employing advanced animations and VFX to enhance their narrative expressiveness. By doing so, a deeper understanding of the complexity these creators are faced with, can be achieved.
The proposed research will then go on to explore the possibilities of viewers developing emotional attachment towards these digital personas, examining how the interplay of animations and VFX may enrich the viewer experience and engage the viewer. It will include studies into collaborations and manners of fan engagement – for example, fan art – that acts as the foundation of this community.
Finally, this topic aims to create one such V-Tuber model from scratch, going through all the most common steps from first draft to finished character. By doing so and by documenting the process, it will hopefully act as an investigation into the role of technology in facilitating the creation of these characters, including the software and hardware used to bring V-Tubers to life.
