Evaluation

The main distribution of 'The Social Space' project was to made into a CD Rom that could be dealt out to schools. The reason why we have not set the project up as a website is because we feel it not enough to stand on its own and needs to be part of a website rather then being one. However what we have done is export the project in HTML format. The most appropriate website to include this project on would be something like Ceebies or CEOP.

Problems and improvements that could of been made:-

1. Make video more interesting
2. Make the type writer sound loader on the homepage as its a bit too quite
3. To of uploaded the video using Adobe Premier Elements 8

Overall we are very please with the project and think that it interacts well with the target audience which provides an experience that promotes acknowledgment of safety networking; therefore educational and fun!

Screen shots of project in the making!

Please see below some of the screen shots we took during the producing of our project.

The image below show what appears when the quiz has been complete...the summary.

The making of the 'T' acronym.
Making of the stars twinkling.
Making of quiz questions.

Websites for sounds used and considered!

Please see below links to the websites where we found all sounds for project. Not all the websites were actually used, however many were considered.

http://www.dewa.com/sound/

http://www.freesound.org/packsViewSingle.php?id=69

http://www.audiomicro.com/electric-electronic-typewriter-02-sound-effects-516367

http://www.pachd.com/sounds.html

http://beemp3.com/download.php?file=2516582&song=OFFICE%2CTYPEWRITER%2CTYPING+A+LETTER

http://wareseeker.com/free-electronic-typing-sound-effect/

Homepage developments

Below are the screen prints of how the astronauts head was produced. Also there are some examples of affects that were placed over the image in order to create the pixelated affect.

The Image above is the one we decided for the homepage!

Buttons Introduction

Originally for the video button, we was going to have a countdown clip playing like the one below:

However we decided against this. Instead we wanted to use our own image and also felt it

made the project more consistent. What we have implemented instead, is one of the hand

drawn planets (see below) which will have some text over the top with a small explanation of what the participant is to expect from the that specific button. The planet will be presented by increasing and decreasing in size. Also the planet will be present on the Acronym button and video button. We did not feel it was needed for the information page and an explanation comes up before the quiz anyway.

Introduction!

Before the participant enters 'The Social Space', a short introduction will appear on the astronauts shield to explain the experience they are about to encounter. See Introduction below...

Welcome to ‘The Social space’

This interactive experience will provide you with information on how to be safe whilst networking as it is a big part of our lives today and something we should all be aware of. At all times navigation buttons will be available at the bottom of the screen giving you the option to go back to the home page or go to another page.

Have a happy space experience!

Adjustments to video button

When viewing the almost complete video, a group decision was made to animate the video to the selected music (Spaceman by Babylon Zoo). This has been implemented in order to add more interest for the viewer. Adjustments made are visible in the form of freeze frames, effects and colours.

Presentation

Space Man

The homepage image has now been complete. As mentioned in previous blogs the group opted to have an image of an astronaut instead of a futuristic or a cyber image that would not Co-ordinate with the theme of the project. The use of black and white shading is kept simple, also it does not effect the colour theme that is included through out the project. Furthermore as it is the first image that the audience will view it adds a significant importance and somewhat an attraction to it. The group has decided that the introduction will appear on the surface of the astronaut's shield before leading then to an 'enter' button.

E-learning

When looking at other e-learning projects, many of the examples that came up had a similar theme to our project, for example sci-fi, space theme. Here is just one example of an e-learning promotion clip we found.

Project development - Music

Now that the video is almost complete, it has become apparent that there needs to be some music in the background to make it more appealing to the viewer! Here are some options as to what music will be used (they in some way have some relation to the project or music/sounds that will appeal to the target audience):

Flash tutorial

Below is an online flash tutorial we found to help us with creating the quiz.


Flash Tutorial - How to Make A Quiz - Click here for more home videos

Final 5 questions...

We decided that 5 questions was plenty to quiz our participants on as it would make them feel as if they were taking an exam if there was too many. Therefore the final 5 are...

Q.1

What do the SMART rules remind young people to do when online?

A. Meet people you don't know alone NO

B. Be safe, when talking to strangers and don't give out personal

information YES

C. Open unknown files that may contain viruses NO

D. Trust everyone you meet online NO

Q.2

Meeting people you have only been in touch with online can be

dangerous! Who should you tell

if you decide to meet someone you met online?

A. Your dog NO

B. The postman NO

C. Parents or carers YES

D. Yourself NO

Q.3

When accepting emails and files from people you don't know, it can

lead to what sorts of

problems?

A. A free ugly teddy NO

B. Chocolate NO

C. Nice messages NO

D. Viruses or nasty messages YES

Q.4

In the video 'Jack' avoids going out to play with his friends because...

A. He wants to talk online YES

B. Do his homework NO

C. Do a puzzle NO

D. Wash his football boots NO

Q.5

Should you believe everything you are told online?

A. No...it could be a lie YES

B. Yes...everyone tells the truth NO

C. Yes...you could get a free prize NO

D. Yes...i'm safe at home NO

Drawing for the quiz layout!

As spoke about earlier in the blog, through research on the web, we found a good layout to base the quiz on. The background has been hand drawn, altered in photoshop and scanned in! See below!

With the white boxes we are still deciding what to put in them. One of them is going to be the score and the other may be what question the participant is on. However. this is not yet definite.

Screen shots of complete buttons!

Here are some screen shots of the finished acronyms button and also the information page.

Update of where we are so far...

So far we are on target! The video is almost complete, the speech bubbles just need to be added, and we are debating whether or not music needs to added to the background. The acronyms buttons is complete and so is the information page. Our main work is now to concentrate on the quiz and the home page!!! In order to edit the video a software called 'Premier Element 8' is being used which means we can implement motion tracking. This is so we can attach speech bubbles to certain parts of the screen.

Draft quiz questions!!

Below are the questions that we have put together and will feature in the quiz!

Q1.

What do the SMART rules remind young people to do when online?

A. Meet people you don't know alone NO

B. Be safe, when talking to strangers and don't give out personal

information YES

C. Open unknown files that may contain viruses NO

D. Trust everyone you meet online NO

Q2.

What does the 'S' stand for in the smart rules?

A. Safe YES

B. Socks NO

C. Silver NO

D. Silly NO

Q3.

Meeting people you have only been in touch with online can be

dangerous! Who should you tell

if you decide to meet someone you met online?

A. Your dog NO

B. The postman NO

C. Parents or carers YES

D. Yourself NO

Q4.

When accepting emails and files from people you don't know, it can

lead to what sorts of

problems?

A. A free ugly teddy NO

B. Chocolate NO

C. Nice messages NO

D. Viruses or nasty messages YES

Q5.

In the video 'Jack' avoids going out to play with his friends because...

A. He wants to talk online YES

B. Do his homework NO

C. Do a puzzle NO

D. Wash his football boots NO

Q6.

From the video, when do you think 'Jack' has the most fun?

A. Out playing football with his friends YES

B. Doing the washing up NO

C. Brushing the dog NO

D. Talking to strangers online NO

Q7.

Should you believe everything you are told online?

A. No...it could be a lie YES

B. Yes...everyone tells the truth NO

C. Yes...you could get a free prize NO

D. Yes...i'm safe at home NO

Q8.

What does the 'A' stand for in the SMART rules?

A. Apple NO

B. Ants NO

C. Annoying NO

D. Accepting YES

Lips

As part of the S.M.A.R.T acronym animations the image of lips will be part of the 'T' initial which stands for the word 'Tell'. Each lip has been cut on Photoshop so that they can be managed separately on Flash. The lips will have a opening and closing affect as words appear from the middle giving the idea of a talking mouth. The use of lips seemed relevant as it would express the relevant interpretations that we want the audience to connote from this animation. Not much had to be altered on the lips apart from using the blurring tool in order to blend in the colour and therefore make it seem more even and outstanding to the viewer.

Navigation System

As mentioned previously on the 'E-learning project' blog, the group opted to have a navigation system in a form of a spaceship from an inside view. Therefore similar to the image used below we have designed a new form of navigation system that would have the structure of each button on the surface where the participants have a clear visual of each control i.e. home, previous, next etc. The image is a spaceship from the spaceman's point of view looking out into space. This image links in perfectly with the overall theme and concept of the whole project. Our first design did not fit in very well as it proved to be very small and the 'screen' which the animations and graphics would be projected through was far too small.Like most of the images used in the project the navigation system was originally produced as a freehand drawing on paper and later altered on Photoshop. By drawing out our own image it made it possible to structure the buttons in the position that the group agreed upon. The extra 'objects' that were placed on to the drawing would not have much of a function towards the navigation system however it does add to the image and make it look somewhat 'real'. However due to size complication a new image had to be produced and this is the final draft of the navigation system;

Icons (continued...)

Added to the 'Acceptance' part of the acronyms is the icon of a 'folder' otherwise know as an icon for files that are consistent in Window PCs. Like the others this image has been drawn out on paper then later scanned and altered in Photoshop, particularly to emphasise the colours used as well as correct any mistakes and even make the image seem rather graphic and illustrated with a hint of originality. In relation to the icon the group felt it would be appropriate to add a few 'slimy' objects that were designed separately and later attached onto the words 'nasty messages' as it would be involved in a graphic animation that will appear from inside the folder. The slimy figures will visually contribute to the message that is inside the folder; again the images and visual art is easier for our target audience to understand and interpret therefore its suitable for this project.

Icons (continued...)

Also included in the 'A' acronym letter of 'Acceptance' is a simple envelope image that consist of the iconic '@' symbol that is associated with E-mail and E-mail addresses. However a different approach was taken for this icon as most of this design was produced on Photoshop, its simplicity would not interrupt the illustrated theme of the overall project, therefore using the Photoshop 'Rectangle marquee tool' to create the outer shape of the envelope over the sketch drawing that the designer of the group drew and scanned. She later found an @ symbol via google.com/images of which she cut and pasted on the the envelope image, thus completing the image with connotations of its purpose.

Icons

Some designs were produced for the letter 'A' - Acceptance in the 'S.M.A.R.T' acronym that are being included in the e-learning project as mentioned previously. Acceptance touches upon the problematic issues that are involved when surfing the web, for example receiving and accepting un-known files that different sources may send through the use of e-mail, instant messenger, or even downloading folders. For this particular part the group decided that it would be a good idea to visually match the general connotations and interpretation that link to these images. The virus image which was drawn out on a sketchbook then later scanned and altered using Photoshop was made to be an 'ugly' and slimy subject as it would project the same kind of perception that people usually have of the word 'virus'. Further-more, the icon drawn out for the instant messenger is by ordinary associated with the 'smilies' that are continuously used in many different instant messaging enterprises such as 'MSN', 'GMAIL', 'BLACKBERRY'. Thus the audience will be able to easily recognize what the icon stands for and what it represents.

Problem - second testing

During the making of the acronym button a problem did arise. When testing the project for a second time, the participant pointed out that part of the M acronym (meeting) did not make sense. The message we are trying to put across is if the child is meeting with people that they have met over the internet, do not go alone, go with others! However, this message is put across via images and not text. See below...

Don't go alone...

...go with others.

Even after this feedback from the participant, we decided to keep the acronym as it is. We feel that by adding text it will ruin the animation. As discussed through the research undertaken...the fact that the project is visually appealing, has equal importance.

Project testing

In order to see if the animating of the acronyms works on a REAL audience...we put it to test on a 9 year old. The participant understood the project and was able to interact efficiently. The only part of the project that confused the child was that the animation started immediately and therefore she didn't know what she was watching. In order to resolve this, a short brief will appear to explain what they are going to learn about:

'5 SMART Rules on how to safe online'.

Video development

During the editing of the video we realised that the audio was very poor. It would be her hard for the participant to understand what is being said! To resolve this problem we have decided to put speech bubbles in the video and take out the existing audio. The mother will have pink speech marks and the young boy will have blue to represent the sexes.

Clips before video!

Before the video begins, we are thinking of having a short clip of which implies the video is about to be begin. See below some examples...

Homepage Introduction

Below is the introduction. This message will pop up automatically at the beginning of the experience to inform the participant of what to expect. The message is quite simplistic as we have had to take into consideration the age of the users.

Hello and welcome to ‘The Social space’

This interactive experience will provide you with information on how to be safe whilst networking as it is a big part of our life’s today and something we should all be aware of. The futuristic homepage will give you the option of four buttons; these will lead to different experiences and a quiz at the end where you can test your knowledge on what you have learnt in ‘The Social Space’. At all times navigation buttons will be available at the bottom of the screen giving you the option to go back to the home page and select the experience of your choice.

Have a happy space experience!

Project developments - Homepage

Another amendment that has been made to the project is the homepage. The reason for this is the fact that we want to concentrate on sticking to the theme. Therefore we are still going with the idea of having a face, but rather then a futuristic face, we are going to have a image of an astronaut like the one pictured below. This image will not be used though as we are going to draw our own and scan it in

.

Project development - Layout

Before we decided to change the homepage, initially when you selected the video button, an animated TV screen was going to appear, which by turning the TV on would start the video playing. However, now we have opted to have spaceship controls continuously in the background after selecting the homepage button...we decided that this ties in better with the projects theme. Below is an image that we found on the web, we are going for the same idea, but have opted to draw it our self and scan it...image to follow for this!