Honoring Myself Reflection Essay

Now that I have some video work experience, I truly know what it takes to make videos. Good videos don’t just happen; they take work from concept to completion. The concept is ultimately the most important part of this process. A good concept is accompanied by a script, proposal and storyboards. This is the paperwork that guides the entire process like a map. The more details are put onto paper, the better the results will be. A good concept takes time to develop. A professional can write a rough draft script in 12 weeks and may need additional months for rewrites.  An 11-minute film can take 6 weeks to produce storyboards.  A Hollywood film usually takes 2 years to complete a proposal, script, storyboards, and secure funding. Taking all of this into consideration I can be proud of my videos that were rushed in comparison to professionals.

My new rate of video production is faster than last quarter when taking every factor into consideration. I am faster, but I also do more editing and film more content to work with. My ability to pump out quick videos is improved, but they are just that (quick videos). With more time to work on one single project and have nothing else to worry about, I could truly create something great.

 My “in kind” rate for nonprofits I believe the same applies. When just going to a location to video document the events taking place, the process is much different. A plan is still needed, but the results then are dependent on equipment and teamwork. As a lone soldier without a lot of equipment, I have more work to do than if I had a team or more equipment to utilize.

Marketing ourselves as filmmakers, actors, artists, and composers is just a matter of money, time, and creativity. The right advertising design can tell the story with visual and audio appeal. Once that is created then it just needs to be posted online in a way that can reach people who want to see it.

Creativity mixed with skills can overcome any challenge and I proved that with my video work this quarter. Given the right amount of time and resources, I could do even better.

Reflection Essay

For this Digital Storytelling class, I had 2 required textbooks “Watchmen” and “100 Things Every Graphic Designer Should Know About People”. These books helped to shape my understanding of how to best tell a story. These books were of great benefit to my Superhero’s Journey Project by expanding both my understanding of design and my inspiration for what is possible.

The book “100 Things Every Graphic Designer Should Know About People” was a great insight into how design is seen. This book helped to shape my own design work through exploring several aspects of design. The insight into psychology, emotional influence, social and cultural considerations, cognitive load and information processing, and the power of storytelling was helpful in learning how to create a bigger impact with my work. Understanding these topics is truly a weapon to be wielded by the superhero in content creation.

The book “Watchmen” broke away from the traditional norm of superhero storytelling. This graphic novel not only used a unique color pallet and cinematic storyboard style graphics but also changed how the story was told. The deconstructed superhero stories within the book provided more depth to the overall story and a more interesting plot. I found this inspiring for my own work.

Another Graphic novel that I can draw inspiration from is “The Dark Knight Returns”. This graphic novel also has many conflicts and resolutions. I find that it also further proves the power of character stories within the story.

Virtual Cultures in Pandemic Times

In 2020 life changed all over the world. People were forced to wear masks, stay 6 feet apart, not socially gather, and hand sanitizers were everywhere. Worse yet, some people lost their jobs and others were quarantined. Media on every channel was talking about the dangers of social interaction and yet talking about how it was ok to eat out at restaurants but “beware of your dirty landscaper because they might contaminate the gas pump handle”.

In all this chaos there was confrontation on both sides. In many cases people who refused to wear masks were violently attacked both verbally and physically. People were frustrated and needed an escape. Many people chose to self-quarantine out of fear and had little hope of escape from this nightmare.

Many people found refuge online using social media as an outlet where they could post videos, play games, communicate with others, and have a sense of social interaction. Others used this time to watch videos on “how to” subjects so that they could do arts and crafts, do home repairs, or learn an instrument. Online content became the place for commerce.

Among online commerce, people also flocked to Second Life. Here they found refuge with social interaction that felt more personable with the use of avatars in a 3D world. They could shop, learn, play games, and most importantly they could create. Second Life filled the gap of social interactions and became an ecommerce outlet for people to make money from home.

Here at Peninsula College in the Multimedia program we work in Second Life to build a world that people can explore. While exploring our island they also learn more about our program and the possibilities of what we can create. Our Self Care island is full of amazing 3D objects that students have created to help inspire others to begin their Hero’s Journey.

Filming Solutions

When it comes to filming real world events in a live time there are numerous variables that must be considered. For this essay, I will talk about my experience filming the Pirate Zombie Mud Run. This event is a 2-mile course full of obstacles and zombie ambushes. That is a lot of ground to cover for just one guy with a camera. Still, I made it work through following some simple steps.

Communication is key to beginning this task. Talking with the event coordinators allowed me to get a good understanding of plan. I was able to schedule filming times and have an inside look at where the obstacles would be. Once I had all the information, it was up to me to plan out how to film this event. Having a good plan in place allowed me to get some great shots. Unfortunately, with only myself and limited equipment to rely on, I had to choose which obstacles I wanted to film. This was not an easy choice with all the great options. I was also limited to quick shots that required reflex fast critical thinking.

Having this experience, I learned valuable lessons. The next time I film an event will be greatly improved for it. What I have learned is that it is more valuable to work with a team that can cover a large area for more film to work with in editing. I also learned that a team can be replaced with more cameras. Honestly both a team and more cameras would be even better, if I could only choose one option I would go with more cameras. Teams are not easy to come by. People have varied interests, scheduling conflicts, or other barriers that need to be crossed.

The best answer for filming an event this size is ultimately more cameras. Having 3 cameras strategically places at each obstacle, start, and finish would have allowed me to get every shot. I could have had the cameras placed before the event and preset the focus and white balance. In post-production editing this would have allowed me to document the entire event with a dynamic feel for a more entertaining video filled with much more information.

A Side Quest

The side quest that I chose to do is a video animation in Adobe Photoshop. This was not a quick and easy side quest to complete, but in many ways, it was completely worth doing. The video animation is a map of Peninsula College that shows the trail for the Pirate Zombie Mud Run. I used a dot to follow the path showing the direction runners would travel and where to expect the zombie zones and obstacles. I used lighting, zoom, and audio to enhance interest and keep with the theme of this event.

I also took this opportunity to connect this fun event with educational purpose. Every aspect of this event was easily connected to STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, math). I felt it was important for the connection to be made as it gives more depth and reason for this fun-filled adventure. My hope is that this map will help runners become familiar with the path and keep in mind what all goes into creating these experiences.

My Goal is for the ASC and Peninsula College to be able to use this in future events to help gain interest in the event. The fun audio and graphics create a modern look and appeal that really brings the course to life before it even begins. Over all I expect this style of video animation map to help people feel more comfortable about navigating a 2 mile fun filled course, and to be more excited about it.

Experience of Immersion

Immersion is an experience of being completely absorbed in your current activity. This is often called the “Flow State”. This can happen with playing games, working on a project, creating art, or even reading great graphic novels such as “Watchmen”.  I often find myself experiencing immersion when I am really interested in something that I am working on and have a clear view of how I plan to accomplish the project. When this happens, I can be in a state of flow for hours or even weeks with forced breaks for sleep.

Graphic novels are great for immersive storytelling as they provide both visual and text to draw in the reader to what the author is trying to portray. In many ways graphic novels are a mixture of movies and books as the images relate to the text adding depth to the experience. The images are also cinematic with different color schemes and compositions while providing a variety of shot angles such as close ups and wide-angle views. These images help narrate the story as much as the text.

My solution for creating immersion is to be aware of the target audience and the subject so that I can create responsive elements and environmental storytelling. In my videos I can also use audio to lead the viewer’s interest. I can also use this in the metaverse with the spaces that I create in the future. The metaverse is a virtual reality space such as Second Life where users can experience virtual worlds, create their own avatars, build their own spaces, and develop their own experiences.

Marketing my Social Good Documentary and Film Festival

I posted on 3 different social media platforms to promote my videos on the Port Angeles Food Bank volunteering, Pirate Zombie Mud Run, and the Promotional video for the Pirate Zombie Mud Run. My posts also highlight the Film Festival so that people know when and where it is.

Here are the social media links to my posts:

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BmuLKFkWz

LinkIn

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/thomas-buscher-2a7297317_pencolmedia-activity-7332565634402226178-uvKj?utm_source=social_share_send&utm_medium=member_desktop_web&rcm=ACoAAFBPUd8BsEj7CBSxJWFlEKIBKTbWE-97Y-E

Instagram

Tom Buscher (@8576.tom) • Instagram photos and videos

My posts read:

https://lnkd.in/d32Av5Jv

 Here is my latest video. I created this documentary on volunteering at the Port Angeles Food Bank to show the importance of this resource, and the work the volunteers do. I am very grateful for the opportunity to shine a light on these amazing people.
I am also working on a video of the Pirate Zombie Mud Run that happened on May 17th. This event was sponsored by the ASC. The Skilled Trades students built some amazing obstacles. Many students participated in organizing, setting up the event, and participating as zombies. The event was an amazing opportunity to practice my live event filming skills, and I got many great shots. I am editing the video now and will hopefully be submitting this film as well. I did create this promotion video a day prior to the event: https://lnkd.in/d2CzqetM

I will also be entering these videos in the Film Festival at Peninsula College in Port Angeles Thursday June 5th at 12:30 PM on campus in the Little Theater and online via Zoom hashtag#PenColMedia

Impact that “Watchmen” had on Storytelling

The “Watchmen” revolutionized how superheroes were seen by deconstructing them and introducing the grim and gritty. Superheroes were no longer infallible but became humanized. “Watchmen” introduced a dark side to the superhero story by introducing ulterior motives for fighting crime while blurring the lines between good and evil. Furthermore, some of the superheroes even had a dark side.

Immediately after the release of “Watchmen” similar stories started appearing such as “The Dark Night Rises” as this storyline fit the mood of the times. Even today we have similar storytelling such as the series “The Boys” where superheroes are just in it for public image and money, while possessing a truly dark side. In this series I can see likeness between Billy Butcher and Rorschach as they are both dangerous sociopaths fond of violence.

The “Watchmen” not only changed the way we see superheroes but also changed the comic color pallet. Breaking away from the “normal” way of coloring superheroes, “Watchmen” were colored in secondary colors that were seldomly used before. This concept allowed colors to help set the mood and tell the story.

This new way of seeing superheroes can be related to by many people on their own journeys. This is because it shows people working toward goals on paths far from straight lines. We all have a sense of the direction we want to journey, but seldom is it a straight line. We all fall short sometimes. We all make wrong choices now and again. We all get knocked down at least once in our lifetime. The important thing is how we deal with it to stay on our path to reach our goal.

Educate with Awe

Although dialogue is a great way to tell a story, it will only entertain for so long before visual and audio aides are needed to keep the story interesting. The elements in the video speak louder than words. Both visual aides, and audio can tell a story without the need for words to ever be spoken. Visual elements are especially important. What is seen by the actions of the characters and the background elements can tell a story by keeping everything in a relatable context.

Music has a history of evoking emotion. There are certain sounds that key us into the context of a scene such as Richard Wagner – Ride of The Valkyries which clues us into an impending battle, or on a darker side the Sequential: Dies Irae tells of death and despair, and on a brighter note Beethoven – Symphony No. 9 in D minor: Ode to Joy tells of happiness. These are just a few of the songs that have been used for many years to sway emotion in storytelling

Knowing how to tell a story without words is the basics of storytelling. When this skill is mastered, true storytelling begins. The best movies use these elements to boost interest, convey a message, a allow the audience to learn about the characters, setting and scenes without need for dialogue.

Reference example at How to Produce a Compelling Video Without Dialogue | SproutVideo

Virtual Goods and Services

The future is here and it’s getting more advanced every day. The new gold rush is in the digital world and people are making money hand over fist. More and more people are on the internet doing everything. People flock to the internet to game, research, work, shop, and so much more. With ease of access getting faster and easier every year, it’s no wonder why people love spending time online.

With so many people online there has become a great need for digital entrepreneurs to satisfy the demands of the masses. This truly is the future of jobs, and they can be done from anywhere in the world so that you can get an internet signal and a power source. With all this opportunity, it really does pay to learn digital skills.

Personally, I am all for working in the digital world. It all starts with creating a website and deciding what product you want to sell. I am leaning towards photography, video, and audio such as music. I am also considering 3D mesh models, seamless textures, and graphic designs. Really, it’s just a matter of creating digital goods and setting up a storefront that can automate the process. It does sound easy, but this will take time to build and more skills to acquire. I do look forward to making this a reality soon.

Immersive Experiences

Immersive experiences can be customized to fit 4 basic personality types according to Bartle’s Taxonomy. These are: Achievers, who want to accomplish goals and gain recognition for them. Explorers, who find satisfaction in discovering new places and items. Socializers, who are there for the community and find joy in meeting new people. Killers, who are just looking for a way to best other people and find entertainment in showing their dominance.

Though this was largely used for video game creation, it can also be applied to multimedia marketing with video creation. I think about the big fan clubs spawning from Star Wars, Star Trek, Marvel, and DC. There are numerous movies that have such great fan bases that clubs and fan pages were spawned and satisfy the socializers. These movies also have the elements of exploration of new places, killing the bad guys, and the hero achieving the goals. These movies were done so well and contained the right mix of the 4 elements that they later became video games.

When we create digital media and videos it is important to consider these personality types and to create marketing to attract them. In today’s world we have many social media platforms where we can create groups and new webpages with extra content to explore, create incentives for joining the groups, and we can create contests. These elements can help build groups fast.

Immersive Engagement Connections

The greatest areas in Second Life have not been created by one person alone, but through team efforts. This is why I love the idea of a bike path connecting all areas into a journey. I have read some great immersive engagement proposals from my classmates who suggested amazing items to add into Second Life. Among these items were a reflection bench, kindness flower pot, common grounds, message boards, connection board, and resource library. The importance of how the users interact with these items in their own areas is critical to the Hero’s Journey and helps people learn while continuing to strive for success.

Alone these are all amazing concepts, and I am excited to see these visions come to life. Although each place has its own unique importance, they are all equally important. The bicycle path will allow everyone in Second Life to journey through each of these areas and experience them. This effectively brings everything together for inclusion and creates a story where each area is highlighted for importance in the Hero’s Journey. This also brings each story into one big story width many lessons learned along the way creating a very unique experience of each individual as they journey through our community.

Advertising Impact

The positive power of advertising during an event with large number of viewers, such as the Super Bowl, is the effect your commercial has on the audience and its ability to ripple effect out into the world through them. When a commercial is made great, it will live on forever in our minds and be talked about for years to come. In today’s world we also share our opinions about commercials on social media platforms such as Facebook which makes it even more critical that the commercial represents the message we want to convey. We see a lot of commercials every year and they have shaped our views on each brand.

Branding is not just about the products we are selling, but also about the companies views and policies. When a company such as Nike advertises commercials about the impact of sports and how it can shape our futures, we listen and make a judgement based on what we see and hear. Shining a light on the power of sports instead of the products leads us to believe that Nike believes in us and so we believe in Nike.

Commercials like this accomplish their goal of brand recognition and gain credibility while also spreading a powerful and positive message.

Motivating people with Information, Education, and Mastery

Gamification For Learning: Strategies And Examples

Mastery in creating interactive design is when the design allows users to have a sense of purpose that motivates them to accomplish tasks or complete levels in games. This works better than a points system as studies have shown. One way to accomplish this is to use badges or trophies to encourage development of skills. When people have this sense of purpose, they are motivated to learn more and eliminates the feeling of it being a chore. This is sense of entertainment that allows users to more easily take in and retain information.

 Virtual Reality in Education: Benefits, Uses & Examples | Built In

Games designed in this way would be a great way to educate people and could be used in virtual reality learning environments. The biggest benefit of designing virtual reality learning environments in the form of games is that they can be tailored to fit different personalities. In this way they can create storyline that give the players an objective that means something to them which provides that sense of purpose to motivate them. As they master the game, they will also be retaining the information leading to more meaningful education.  This can be a real game changer in education and further advance our society.

Respect and Personal Responsibility

Respect is defined as to consider with high regard or to simply refrain from interfering with something or someone.

Responsibility is defined as a moral obligation to behave correctly.

These are simple words that have a huge impact on life. In a professional world people consider who they want to work with by asking the question “Is this person responsible, trustworthy, and respectful?”. This is why it is important to understand and live by these words in any industry you choose to work in. In the film industry it is most important to respect the rights of others, especially regarding copyright. We have a responsibility to ensure that our work is original or that we have permission to use others’ work.

A good way to present factual information to people is using video. When making films to inspire, motivate or inform the audience, it is best to be innovative and create a storyline with interesting scenes to captivate and entertain the audience. When the audience is enjoying the film, they retain more information. This is an art form that when done right, the audience will remember the message forever. My favorite example of this is the docudrama movie “Erin Brockovich” which serves as a reminder for people to always be vigilant and not afraid to stand up for what is right even when the task seems impossible.

Information within a story

When we receive a message such as one through a picture the message is registered through the senses and processed in short term memory before going to the long-term memory. We are always taking in information even if we don’t realize it. Sometimes the information that we take in is subtle through visual or auditory background elements. We all easily recognize the main subject information as it holds our primary focus. Knowing that we take in information from multiple levels we can design our multimedia work in such a way that we convey the most information possible without having to add text or audio. My personal favorite ways to do this are through video and image editing by simply framing the scene in the lens to make it visually appealing while also telling a story. The featured image is a great example of this. Other ways of doing this is placing appropriate audio cues in the video such as music or sound effects. This can also be done through creating text with certain size, color or style. Every little detail adds up.

When it comes to Transmedia Marketing, I don’t know if they ever inspired me to make something happen, other than to watch another movie or research a reference. It is however a concept which I do plan to use within my own branding. For example, when I move to my professional branding, I will always make reference to Good Design #8 and my educational journey.

Ordinary to Extraordinary

Without videos such as “LOGIN2LIFE” and “My Avatar is ME”, it is hard to imagine that 3D worlds such as Second Life can be so much more than just a virtual experience. When I was younger, I was a CNA and an RLA with some medical training. I have always known that loneliness is the biggest killer of elderly people and that holds true for every age really. The fact is that we are a sociable species and not all of us can get out and socialize. Apps such as Second Life really open that door for everyone to be able to socialize with other people from all over the world. In this way Second Life can improve the quality of life for many people.

Second Life also opens the door for creativity and problem solving by allowing users to build their own worlds including avatars. This is essential to happiness. We are just entering into cutting edge technology and I look forward to the future when these virtual experiences will really be immersive, such as described in the book “Ready Player One”. Apps like this not only have the potential to improve quality of life, but they also have the potential to educate everyone in a more productive way while also providing jobs to those who otherwise could not work. So many possibilities.

Community Empowered

2^nd Edition

In today’s world of rising prices and low wages people more than ever are looking for answers and when they don’t know where to turn for help, those problems become nightmares. Clallam County in Washington state has not been above this crisis. It seems impossible to simply go to a grocery store without seeing some unfortunate souls standing on the corner asking for help, people sleeping in alleyways, or even tents set up on sidewalks or in front of “Out of Business” signs.

“An estimated 11.2 percent of residents and 23.2 percent of children under the age of 18 in the county live in poverty (the national federal poverty level for a family of four is $26,500).” Quote from Clallam-County-Homeless-System-Needs-and-Gaps-Report-2021. Since then, more businesses have shut down creating an ever-growing unemployed population while rent, and food prices have increased. These statistics are even more real for those who live around here.

This essay isn’t all dark, in fact there is light to shine in this story. Here in Clallam county, there are some amazing resources for those who know where to look. Places like 4PA(4PA ) help clean up and help support homeless people. Sarge’s Place (Sarge’s Place Veteran Housing in Forks and Port Angeles, Wa – Sarge’s Veteran Support) provides veteran support with food, housing and medical. The Sequim Food Bank (Sequim Food Bank) is a great resource for anyone in need of food which helps fight food insecurity in the Sequim area.

Another great resource is the Port Angeles Food Bank (Port Angeles Food Bank) This nonprofit has a location in Port Angeles that allows food access to anyone in need, but also has a mobile market van that brings food to people in different areas in town including a weekly stop at the Peninsula college. This organization does so much more than just food. PA Food Bank also has an Outreach program that helps people who are experiencing homelessness.

Importance of Fonts and Colors to Maximize Retention and Engagement

When considering fonts and colors for your website it is important to choose ones that are inviting to the user. Fonts should be easy to read, and colors should be pleasant and contrasting. With so many colors to choose from using a color wheel can help with finding complimentary colors that go best together. Some goof examples of this would be red text and a green background or a red background with green text while a bad example of this would be orange text on a red background or red text on an orange background.

Moving onto fonts could be a whole essay on its own. There is so much to learn about fonts. The general rule of thumb is to use Sans Serif Fonts as they are generally more legible and easier to read. Helvetica being the main font that all Sans Serif Fonts descend from can be found everywhere and is the easiest text to read. When fonts are hard to read, they will often go unread, or the message will be quickly forgotten. The biggest lesson with fonts and colors is to choose ones that complement each other and make reading easy so that the reader can retain the information.

Documentaries that Inspire me

Number 1 has got to be the film “Super-Size Me” part 1 and part two “Holy Chicken”. Wow this guy puts our food into perspective. He really does an amazing job at highlighting how misleading the food industry is in every way. Due to these films and others like them I have become aware of the importance of reading ingredients on the packaging and encouraging others to do so as well. In part 1 he really went the extra mile to show the effects of food on him personally and backed it with evidence. In part 2 he showed us how easily the industry can manipulate labels on “organic” “Free range” food.

Number 2 is more of a series of documentaries called “Man vs Wild”. This show really intrigued my wild side and left me aching for adventure. Bear Grylls travels the world attempting to survive in every climate and how to reach rescue. During his adventures he creates shelters and eats some interesting things. Whether or not he was ever actually in a survival situation is irrelevant to me as he showed the world what people can do to survive while on some amazing adventures.

Number 3 is most definitely “Salvador Dali: Master of Surrealism”. This film truly gives insight into the madness and creativity of the great Salvador Dali and how he became so successful. The biggest take always from this great artist are to be bold and creative but never underestimate the importance of business.

Cartoon Avatar Creation

I chose to make my cartoon avatar on the http://southpark.cc.com/avatar website. This link took me directly to the avatar creation page where I was only able to use Butter’s body type, but I was able to customize the skin color somewhat. Overall, there were a good variety of customization options. Some customizations had more options than others. I did enjoy the meme phrases they provide as they brought back the laughs from when I watched this series years ago. The process of customization was made easy with simple navigation and clicks that were easy to understand with a good layout and design.

I would like to see more features added to this site for users to have more creative freedom in their avatar choices.  For example, if we had the ability to make a fat Cartman avatar with the meme “Respect my authority” fans could have more fun with the creation of their own cartoon characters. I do believe that more options could be added without taking away from the South Park theme.

Fan sites such as this are a great way to promote engagement by allowing fans to join in on the fun of creating their own avatar cartoon character. I think this cartoon would have been successful even without this feature, but it does keep South Park more relevant than it would have been otherwise.

Proust Questionnaire Reflection Essay

What is your motto or words to live by?

“It ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done!”. – Rocky Balboa. This quote is a description of my life. I have been up, and I have been down, but no matter what happens I keep working to move forward.

 Who are your heroes in real life?

My father is my hero because he is the greatest example of a man who puts his family first while still maintaining an entrepreneurial spirit running his own business.

What would you consider your greatest achievement?

My greatest achievement is the help I provided people when they needed it most.

What do you most value in your friends?

Respect, honesty and trust are the foundation of all relationships. Without it there is no relationship.

What type of documentary would be about me? Expository, Participatory, Observational, Reflexive, Performative, or Poetic? And, why?

Participatory because the greatest story there is to tell about me is my hard headed stubborn will to survive and how I got into cycling after my gull bladder was removed. I lost a lot of weight and got into great shape. I have since gained a ton of weight and lost my fitness after losing my job at the mill. I am now on a mission to get back into shape and restore my health through bicycling and photography.

The Hero’s Shape

At the beginning of this quarter, I wrote an essay on the shape that I identified as part of my introduction, and I chose the rectangle. I chose this shape due to my desire to embrace what the shape stands for: Calm, Security, and Order. I still very much desire these things. To exit the stressful mindset and enter serenity sounds wonderful. Ultimately, this shape never really defined me, it is just what I desire. In my younger years I could really be defined as the creative splotches shape. I was once very spontaneous and unpredictable. I was never afraid to try new things or travel to new places. I was fearless back then.  Through this quarter I have learned to embrace the Hexagon shape as I have learned to trust the process more, improve my communication skills and balance the work loads between my classes and home life priorities.

I don’t believe that I can be defined by one shape alone. I have been defined by many different shapes over the years. Constantly changing and evolving as I have grown. Although my process through life has not been traditional by any means, I do believe that my experiences are my greatest inspirations that will help me to truly make the most out of this college education and will be the reason that I succeed. Maybe one day I will be able to know what it’s like to be the Rhombus shape as my efforts pay off and I can enjoy luxury, sophistication, and an abstract lifestyle.

Shape meanings acquired from Psychology of Shapes in Design: A Guide for Visual Storytelling

My 3D Key to Success

I chose the “Curiosity” key to success because I am a very curious person, and that curiosity has led me to seek answers. I have learned so much over the years being a curious person. Upon choosing this key I was tasked with creating it in 3D. I was intimidated greatly by this as I had no idea what I was doing. 3D seemed so complicated and well, it’s kind of is at first. There are so many apps to choose from in which you want to create 3D work and none of them work the same while also not all of them work to be able to import work into Second life. Without an industry standard app to work in, I settled on using a mix of Adobe Illustrator and Blender. WOW, it was easier than I thought to create this key. I scaled it to size and even gave it color and texture. The key looked amazing, and I was so proud of it that I couldn’t wait to show it off. I turned in my key eagerly awaiting feedback. I was astounded to learn that my key was way too big to be in the Second Life app as it had the record largest land impact. Although my key was not a complete success, it was created well and despite the size I still like it. The creation process has shown me what is possible and more importantly, things to consider when constructing 3D objects. I believe the keys in Second Life are important as they continue to inspire new generations who dive into the world of 3D showing them what they can create.

Perspective

I think most people get comfortable with their perception of reality and easily get stuck inside of that box. Once upon a time I was a kid who would sit in front of this magical wood box that showed black and white pictures with static distortion, and I thought it was the greatest thing in the world. The magic of that black and white TV had more of an impact than I thought as it also helped to shape my view of the world. I think the word that describes it might be nostalgic. It characterizes a “simpler time”.

Fast forward to today after spending time working with 3D applications and WOW “That’s one giant step for man, one giant leap for mankind” (quote from Niel Armstrong) kind of difference. Before this class, I never realized how much that I thought in a 2D mindset. Now that my eyes are open, I can’t unsee what I have seen. My thought process is different and for the better. For one, my image editing is improved through taking 3D into consideration with object placement and lighting in photographs to create more of a window effect. 3D is also something I am taking into consideration with video in the same way as photography. I will continue using and improving on 3D use as I am sure that I have only begun to scratch the surface of possibilities.

The Future of Film

The future of films truly is an exciting topic. With the rise of AI quickly taking hold and becoming widely available to the public, we now must ask ourselves “are multimedia jobs at risk?”. When we look at AI generated videos on social media and we see people loving them with comments, likes and shares it is easy to see how people can be entertained through AI with very few people being able to spot the AI use. This new technology also has the benefit of being more affordable to create as you now just need a good computer with an internet connection and a subscription to AI software. No more paying actors and all the headaches involved with that. No more buying expensive cameras, lenses and microphones. No more spending countless hours editing video and audio or doing retakes. Now you can simply type a text prompt and create stunning advertisements, commercials, YouTube content, full length films and cartoons. That being the current ability of AI, what will the future of AI be like as technology further advances? Now with all of this said, I wonder what my role in this new future will be. Obviously giving up is not an option. I believe that my best course of action is to invest in a good computer and learn how to utilize AI, not just to create AI videos. I now see myself utilizing AI to enhance my creations using a mix of both my photography videos with the AI generations. I believe this will be the best way to incorporate real life with AI which will be beneficial for where AI does lack ability.

Movie that was used as Propaganda

Propaganda is defined as information that can be biased or misleading and used to promote a point of view. My favorite movie that fits this has got to be Mike Judge’s film “Idiocracy”. Of course, I could just write about movies such as “Reefer Madness” which was a film created to scare people with mis information about cannabis so that new laws could be passed outlawing its possession and use. I could also go in depth about the reasons for it, but I’m not trying to beat a dead horse on an overplayed subject. Instead let’s talk about “Idiocracy” and why the film is not only relevant in today’s world, but also why the message sticks so well and will probably always hold true. This movie utilizes big name actors and a 2+ million-dollar budget to create an epic comedy to convey a point of view on how society is and where it is headed. This combination of use does an amazing job at captivating the audience with a political subject that offends people without any backlash. Because of this the message of inflation and lack of priority on education really takes hold and makes people think, at least subconsciously. While propaganda is usually misleading information, I must wonder if this really qualifies as propaganda given the events of inflation since this movie’s creation in 2006 when a cup of coffee was still under buck. Certainly, this movie may qualify to be a warning of the future.

Extended Reality Engagement and Education

Extended reality engagement and education are quickly becoming the new reality of education. Extended Reality In Learning: Revolutionizing Education – eLearning Industry  talks about a new dimension of learning with extended reality but not limited to just that. Through a mix of virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, and extended reality, future education can be taken to a higher level providing 3Delements to truly engage the students with more available information. This leads to a 90% retention rate of the information. This is possible because of what extended reality can do. A class like this can take a boring old history class and transport you into the past where you can experience history firsthand. You can learn to perform open heart surgery from your bedroom with the visuals and motion as if you are in the operating room. You can also rearrange the periodic table of elements as if they are building blocks bringing more of a hands-on approach to learning chemistry. All of this and more can be done with cost savings in mind. This also solves the problem of “everyone has a different learning style” as learning paths can be personalized for each type of person. Imagine a world where everyone can learn based on their specific needs and you just may see a world where we are all advanced in education and society leaps into the future because of it. With more people having access to education tailed for them we may also see new technology coming into the world like the cartoon “The Jetsons” which was the first time I ever seen “face time”, now maybe the flying cars will become the next reality.

Special Effects

example 1

When special effects are used correctly in films, they will draw an audience into the scene and for a moment they will believe what they are seeing is real which enhances the message being sent. It truly takes some creativity and ingenuity to pull off special effects correctly. In the early days of film people had to truly innovate to create special effects and even. In today’s world we have a lot of shortcuts with the rise of computer technology, but these shortcuts do not and never will replace the creativity needed to perfect them.  When special effects are done poorly it is easy to spot and then the message of the film is distorted as the viewer exits the belief in what is being shown. Kind of like putting up an invisible wall.

My all-time favorite special effects ever created comes from the 1993 film “Jurassic Park”. The special effects were so well done that they were very believable and drew me in through the entire movie. They used robotic and animatronic dinosaurs with custom made skins mixed with computer technology, CGI. They also use 3D storyboards which I found interesting, especially compared to my chicken scratch storyboards. Since the making of this movie, special effects have even further advanced and with the progression of technology I am excited to see what films will look like in the next 20 years.

example 2

Virtual Collaboration

In today’s world there are many ways to work on projects with a team virtually such as these ones featured on this blog site 6 Best Collaboration Tools for Remote Teams [Tested in 2025] or even the ones listed on this blog site 15 Best Remote Collaboration Tools in 2025 (Free & Paid). Of course, there are also apps such as Adobe that allow virtual teamwork on projects. With all the technology in today’s world it is so easy to be productive from anywhere in the world as long as you have an internet signal. It has become so easy to stay connected which can lead to spending an unhealthy amount of time working online, something that I struggle with. Spending too much time on the computer can lead to health conditions such as weight gain, muscle loss, vision loss, and more. The list goes on, but in short if we don’t get out and live our lives we have no mental break and without exercise we lose our health. That is why it is so important to learn how to create a balance between living life and working from home such as outlined in these books listed on 15 Work-Life Balance Books to Help You Take Control of Life – LifeHack. When we have a healthy balance of work and life, we can maintain optimal health both mentally and physically. We can do this through creating a schedule or a pie chart to dedicate time to each task throughout the day. In the Book Ready Player One some people spend so much time in the virtual environment that they literally become obsessed. Find time to enjoy life and work will not only be more pleasant, it will be easier to complete.

Metropolis

The movie Metropolis continues to influence generations after its release back in 1927. The movie is a silent film that tells a story of a rich kid with a big heart who is lured by love to go explore the lower working class in search of the beautiful woman he seen. While he is exploring the workers’ city, he witnesses an explosion and becomes empathetic to the workers. He pleads with his father (The boss), but his words are dismissed and so is he. He then leaves behind his comforts to join the working class. Events quickly spiral out of control as sabotage is played out by the boss, even risking his own son. Chaos spreads until the mad scientist is defeated and the robot is seen. The boss has a change of heart, and the working class and boss make a deal with the son being the mediator.

Though my summary of this film was over simplified, the impact on the film industry was huge. Movies such as Frankenstein, Star Wars, The Matrix, Batman, and the Fifth Element, were all influenced by the film Metropolis. In the movie Batman, the city of Gotham got its look from Metropolis. Deeper than appearance is the class war between rich and working. This narrative is seen in many popular movies. I think that’s where the movie Metropolis really stands out. The theme of class war. A problem that is still relevant today as it ever was and that is why movies that portray it are popular. We all can relate to this.

Uncanny Valley

The “Uncanny Valley” phenomenon is a psychological sense of uneasy, empathetic or repulsive, feeling a person has when seeing an object that resembles a human appearance and motion. The effect is determined by how realistic the movement and appearance are. This phenomenon can be felt when viewing man made lifelike animations, robots, dolls, or mannequins. The feeling is not always negative, in fact, people can have positive feelings when seeing a human lifelike creation. The easier it is to see the difference between artificial and human, the more positive the feeling is. The more realistic it is can bring more of a negative feeling. Some negative examples of this are found in realistic imagery of video games and human life like robots which appear so real that they create an uneasy feeling in people. The only positive example to me would be that we know this exists and as creators we can use this to our advantage by pushing the boundaries of realism without crossing the threshold. By using noticeable differences between real and artificial we can create a pleasant experience for the game players or robot users.

Another aspect of this can be related to trust as imagined in the book “Ready Player One”. In the virtual world we can create any avatar that we like. In the virtual world other players only see what we want them to see, and we accept the appearance of the avatar. So, when meeting someone in the real world that we met in online gaming and the appearance is off, it can be shocking and uneasy. This is similar to the “Uncanny Valley” phenomenon.

More examples found in this video:

Sax and Violins Audio for Media

Why audio is half of the production in creating videos 

Would the movie “Guardians of the Galaxy” have the same vibe if they used different music? No. For me the music in the movie truly gave personality to Peter Quill and overall life to the movie. Watching the guardians rock, especially baby Groot, out as they take on their enemies really engages the audience. Music was carefully selected in this trilogy to have a similar feeling which tied all 3 movies together, 4 if you include the Christmas Special.

 The music has become part of the brand just as much as the characters themselves. Example, when you hear the song “hooked on a feeling” by Bjorn Skifs and Blue Swede do you think of the band, the radio station or do you think of the movie “Guardians of the Galaxy”? Another example where music has been a big part of the movie is my video posted on YouTube “Paper Guns” without adding my song to this video it would have made absolutely no sense at all. The song added depth to video by giving it attitude and justifying actions portrayed.

Of course, audio is not just about the music. Have you ever tried watching a video where the vocals were distorted and covered by a windy hiss? Most videos that have poor audio quality are quickly dismissed even if they have a great image. Another aspect to think about is sound effects. The right sound effects can really draw in an audience or amplify emotion in a scene.

Project Storytelling Pre-Vis and Prototyping Essay

Premise and Purpose – Show. Don’t tell.

Audience and Market – Develop critical inquiry that will benefit the participant.

The audience this will be marketed to is anyone interested in virtual reality. Particularly those who wish to embark on a journey of education to increase their skills.

Medium, Platform, and Genre – Create conflict and challenges to overcome because that is where the deep learning happens.

This will be virtual reality based mainly in a program called “Second Life” which is a 3D virtual reality world where people form communities and are able to explore the world they collectively create. The Genre is educational, with a mix of fiction and nonfiction to be any genre the builder chooses.

Join a journey – Create a clear story with a beginning, middle, and conclusion.

The story built here is one of a man who lost his career and instead of giving up he decided to go to college for an opportunity to better his life and in the end was able to land a job much better than the one he lost.

Narrative Elements – Build in customization and personalization so the participant will be engaged.

His classes teach him new skills which he uses to create works of art and showcases them to the world.

User’s Role and Point of View – Make it personal. Develop individual perspectives and missions.

The transition from working 80-hour weeks to being in school is the basic viewpoint. The more detailed point of view goes from a regular paycheck and health insurance that could be used to plan the future and gage what is possible in life has now been replaced with a gamble, no health insurance and uncertainty with financial struggles and living resources falling apart all around him. Through all of this hope remains and 110% effort is applied in his studies with the belief that his hard work will pay off and be rewarded with a better future that will not only better his life but also the ones who count on him.

Characters – Connection through emotional content.

Main character Wondrous Pixels, an owl, a mentor.

Structure, Interface, and Rhythm – Movement elaborates memories.

Through digital media in Multimedia communication persistence remains with constant effort made each and every day.

Story world and Settings – Don’t overwhelm and consider the economy of story content.

“Second Life” 3D virtual reality world.

Overall Appearance, Movement, and Sounds – Immerse your audience in the story.

“Second Life” is created to look and feel similar real life with a cartoon appearance. Ocean waves, trees, buildings, birds, campfires, and more.

User Engagement and Opportunity to Share Experiences – Providing a message with a means to convey this storytelling experience.

In “Second Life” the participants and create their own world to share with others. From their avatar to their home base. The experience is what we make it.

End with a positive takeaway and Call to Action.

The call to action is to come to Peninsula Collage to start your own heroes journey by gaining an education and shaping your new future.

Color Storytelling

After doing some research on color storytelling in films, I am in awe of the complexity of understanding in the simple use of colors. The use of color to evoke different emotions, draw attention, and signify change is completely mind blowing. What is more earth shattering to me is the fact that I have never noticed the significance of color use in movies before. This is because film makers use color so well that it blends into the film without being obvious while also having its effect on the viewers. Of course, there are some exceptions to this such as “Sin City” where the film makers create scenes with obvious use of color.

From hand tinting films to digitally altering the pixels the use of color in videos has come a long way since it was first used in 1895 for the film “Anabella’s Serpent Dance” or the first natural color film in 1909 “A Visit to the Seaside”.

As a student learning to create digital videos I am now thinking more deeply about my use of color and how it will affect my videos. Will I keep my same color pallet creating a brand that lets the audience know that I created the video? Or will my color pallet change with each film to highlight what I want the audience to notice or feel? Knowing now how much of an impact color has on the video, I will be giving it more thought when creating characters or backgrounds in scenes throughout each video and I will be more carefully editing my videos to use color to my advantage.

Influence of “The Way Things Go” and How my Favorite Film Influenced me

The film “The way Things Go” is visual art that keeps the audience in suspense wondering what will happen next. The artist did a great job at this by choosing slow reacting action items that had an interesting reaction to the action. Hopefully that made sense.  This film went on to influence other film creators in commercials, films, and music videos. This interesting film about chain reactions was fun to watch.

A film that heavily influenced me would be hard to choose just one. The films that influenced me have the same theme “entrepreneurship”. Movies such as “The Wolf of Wallstreet”, “Tucker”, “American Gangster”, and “Lord of War”. These movies all have the same theme “a man with an idea and the courage to chase his dream goes through conflict until he reaches his goal”. Each person started with nothing and through hard work and dedication they rose up through the social classes to achieve the American dream. The exception here is Tucker who was destroyed by competitors who had more resources. Tucker was also the only one of these movies who tried making it 100% legit.  The lesson I learned from these movies is that anyone can achieve the American dream if they are not only willing to work for it but also be wise enough to know where to place their energy. I also learned that the product you market matters. This is why I believe in marketing with graphic design. Video, and photography is a great idea because we can sell our work to the big companies with resources to spend big bucks as well as to the little guys who dare to adventure towards the American dream.

My Favorite example of digital 3D design and how it would fit in the OASIS college

My favorite example of digital 3D design is 3D product previews. 3D product previews allow users to interact with the products that they are considering purchasing. Lenovo has done a great job with this utilizing 3D presentations and animations. Lenovo allows users to zoom in on specific areas of the products and rotate them any way they wish. This allows users to get a feel for the product and shop online in a way that was not possible before. 3D product previews make online shopping better than shopping in the store as users get the same view of the product with the bonus of product knowledge which helps lead to a more informed purchase.

I can imagine Wade Watts using 3D product preview in an OASIS classroom for more in depth learning about biology, chemistry, history, and even math. Imagine a classroom with this technology where what you are learning pops out of the book into a 3D design that you can interact with. I believe this could be a revolutionary way to learn that would engage more students in a way that books never could. We see some of this technology presented in movies, but I wonder how long it will be until it becomes the new educational standard.

Image System Importance

Image system in films creates visually engaging content by setting the mood and shaping story without the viewer being aware. The image system can include images or distinctive patterns and is repeated throughout the entire film. Often directors will use a similar image system in all their films creating a theme or branding. When directors stick to a certain image system their movies can be recognized by the content alone.

One famous film maker who uses a reoccurring image system theme is Wes Anderson whose films are known for distinctive patterns, colors, compositions and character personalities. His films can be quickly recognized for this, and it has helped to create a fan base of people who enjoy his style of film making. His movies “Asteroid City”, and “Life Aquatic” are two of his movies that I have watched which have a very similar style to them. His image system style sets him apart from other film makers.

Being a comic book fan, Zack Snyder has created some of my favorite movies. He utilizes slow and fast motion with shallow depth of field to enhance the scenes portrayed. His films can also be recognized by desaturated high contrast colors with a dark theme.

Dress for Success

For this essay I am choosing to write about “Zelda Ocarina of Time” because the game world dress code is not only unique, but it is also the first 3-dimensional media to really draw me into the world through the player experience on Nintendo 64. The world Link lives in is one that reminds me of the renaissance mixed with fictional creatures such as elves. Although there are similar game worlds such as Skyrim, Zelda is unique with its image system for the colors and simplicity of the costumes that the characters wear.

 The main character Link is dressed in a green shirt and kilt with a long green stocking hat. He has a brown leather belt and strap to carry his iconic sword and shield. Complete with his blonde hair Link is distinguishable in any setting. Although the princess has different colored clothing and lacks weapons, the costume is similar in shape and the facial features are created in the same style. This similarity in appearance shows a connection between them.

In the game Link travels to different parts of the world and although each place is unique within the world, they are all created with similar features that show a connection to everything in the world of Zelda. This image system that connects everything within the game is critical to the gameplay as it creates a certain flow that the player can become emersed into. The appearance of the game makes Zelda Ocarina of Time identifiable. This game was created so well that it will live on forever in the minds of all who played it.

Transitions

The word transition is defined as a process of changing from one state to another. The best example of a transition is that of a caterpillar transitioning into a butterfly. In this transition an interesting creature becomes a beautiful specimen after a period of suspenseful wonder inside the cocoon. Just like the caterpillar goes through a transition in life so does everything and everyone else. Though, not everything goes through the same transitions. Some transitions can be dark such as a beautiful plant withering away to feed the soil. This dark transition has a bright side as it fuels the soil transition to become nutritious and allows more beautiful plants to thrive.

When we enter college, with hard work, we transition from ignorant to knowledgeable and skilled. This is evidence of the effort transition requires. The transition we desire will only be as good as the energy we put into the process. When thinking about scene transitions in films the above statements hold very true. As video creators and editors, we have the power to use the tools available to create a visual representation of our minds eye. While the tools we have may limit our potential in quality, the energy and effort we combine with our creativity will overcome limitations. We can utilize the camera and editing software to create mood transitions through the visuals and when done right the video will have a seamless flow.

Healthcare, Wellness, and Access in Virtual Environments Essay

Watch How Virtual Reality Is About to Revolutionize Healthcare – Bloomberg Has a great video presentation on this subject. In this essay I am looking at the application of virtual reality used in psychology, pain management and medical training applications. VR has been developed and tested since its inception in 1956 when Morton L. Heilig the “father of virtual reality” created the first VR system. Over the Last 20 years there have been major advancements in virtual reality in the use as an aide in healthcare and education. One way VR is being used is to treat PTSD in war veterans. PTSD patients can enter a virtual reality controlled by a psychologist. The psychologist will add visuals to the simulation and release scents to enhance the visuals to make the environment as realistic as possible. This is to allow the patient to learn how to confront the problems and overcome the trauma while in a safe environment. Over 78% of patients prefer to use VR treatment over other conventional methods and the results back the success.

Although we are still a long way from a fully realistic VR environment, the current use of this technology has been successful and shows promise to becoming a standard in treatment. This may benefit people who have had no benefit from traditional therapy as it would be more of a “hands on” approach.  This would also allow treatment for people around the world without need to travel for it.

My Favorite example of digital 3D design and how it would fit in the OASIS college

My favorite example of digital 3D design is 3D product previews. 3D product previews allow users to interact with the products that they are considering buying. Lenovo has done a great job with this utilizing 3D presentations and animations. Lenovo allows users to zoom in on specific areas of the products and rotate them any way they wish. This gives users a feel for the product. It allows them to shop online in a way that was not possible before. 3D product previews make online shopping better than shopping in the store. Users get the same view of the product with the bonus of product knowledge. This helps lead to a more informed buying.

I can imagine Wade Watts using 3D product preview in an OASIS classroom. This would allow for more in depth learning about biology, chemistry, history, and even math. Imagine a classroom with this technology. The content you are learning pops out of the book. It turns into a 3D design that you can interact with. I believe this is a revolutionary way to learn. It would engage more students. This engagement goes beyond what books ever achieve. We see some of this technology presented in movies. Still, I wonder how long it will be until it becomes the new educational standard.

“Hyperland” and the Future Past

I found the video “Hyperland” to be fascinating and informative. The video structure itself is a great example of what can be done with limited technology. My eyes were opened to both possibility and the history behind it. This video outlined how the technology of the internet came to be and where it was heading. We see much of that technology being used today. Yet, AI has yet to take form of a personal butler or similar.

I do believe technology will continue to develop. Soon, we will see personalized AI guides to the galaxy we call internet. Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy does a great job at describing the wild world of the internet. It also predicts technology like eBooks. Now, we do have AI helping to guide us through the internet like the butler. Every day I and many other people use search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo.

We can buy eBooks off of Amazon. AI, just like the butler, uses the predictive software to help find search results quickly. It even throws in suggestions related to our search. In conclusion, both “Hyperland” and Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy did an amazing job. They accurately predicted the world of technology.

Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Impact H2G2

Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy inspired people to create. The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy is referenced in many inventions. It also appears in entertainment and countless blog posts. It is credited with inspiring the idea. The book has a way of unlocking imagination and sparking ideas through its mix of wonder, amazement, comedy and suspense. For over 40 years, people have not only kept this book alive. They have expanded on it with extra books, games, and websites. This makes the book a timeless classic that will continue to live on. Douglas Adams used his own life experiences. He mixed them with his imagination and talent with words. This combination created a fun adventure story. The story is filled with ideas that did not exist at the time the book was written.

Douglas Adams book Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy is full of predictions like Babel.com translation, eBooks, touch screen devices, voice command devices, Wikipedia.com and the British based collaborative h2g2.com. The book Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy even inspired one of my favorite cartoon series Rick and Morty. This book entertains a fascination with space, time, and deep thought. That is why it is also one of my favorite movies. This book will continue to live on and inspire people to use their imagination creating deep though and innovation.

Knowing Where Your Towel Is

In the book “Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy” by Douglas Adams, the towel is crucial. It is the most important item they have in their adventure. In this book, the towel is used for hygiene, comfort and even as a weapon. The towel has both practical value and psychological value. You can use it to make a sail, build beach forts, and protect you from the sun. It can keep you warm and shield you from the sun. The towel can be wetted for use in hand-to-hand combat and can keep you dry.

Quote from the book: “Any man can hitch the length and breadth of the galaxy. He can rough it, slum it, and struggle against terrible odds. He can win through and still know where his towel is. Such a man is clearly a man to be reckoned with.” Psychologically, the towel convinced the strag that the hitchhiker had other items. This encouraged the strag to lend the hitchhiker other items he lost. The towel became part of the book Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy because of Douglas Adams’ personal experiences. He hitchhiked and traveled through Europe during which he kept losing his own towel. His travels are ultimately the inspiration for his book. The towel gives control in life to the hitchhiker. Due to its importance in this book, May 25th is recognized as Towel Day officially since 2001.

Babel Fish and Moore’s Law Essay

Moore’s Law is based on economic trend. It states that every 2 years, computer chips will have twice as many transistors. This increases computing ability per square inch, leading to home computers. Since 1965 this theory has been continually proven to be correct. https://www.wired.com/story/wired-explains-moores-law/. Babel Fish from the book “Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy” are yellow fish. They are placed into the ear to translate any language. We see this in the book when Ford and Arthur hitch a ride on the Vogon spaceship. https://www.technologyreview.com/technology/babel_fish_earbuds/ Today that technology actually exists. It is not an actual alien fish. Instead, Pixel smartphones and Pixel Buds use an app to translate language. Before that the was a free website Yahoo! Babel Fish which was then replaced by Bing Translator https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babel_Fish_(website). Although https://www.babelfish.com/ still translates language, today we have many options for language translation services as well as for learning new languages. Today, there are countless options to communicate with people globally. This has opened up the doors to influence and marketing for everyone. As content creators we must be honest and transparent. What we publish online is heard around the world and can influence how people think and act. We have a responsibility. We must consider the consequences of our content before publishing. We should use our skills for the common good.

Color Use

The world is full of colors that we see all around us and they are universally recognized. Colors can influence emotions. Greys, blues, greens, and purples can be very calming. Reds, yellows, and oranges can be very exciting. I wonder if Marvin the robot from Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy was programmed to see in blues and greys. Or was its depression just programmed in with its genuine people personalities (GPP) technology? 

Colors also are universally recognized to convey messages. We all recognize green to go and red to stop. From traffic lights to traffic signs, you will see the same colors used no matter what country you travel to. They direct you on what to do, even if you can’t read the written language. Colors are also used to Convey information universally in the workplace like hazardous materials identification system and warning signs.

When creating a universal design website, it is important to realize the value of these recognizable colors. They can help users navigate. They also impact the users’ overall experience. The colors we choose to use can support the content we create and help us to effectively convey our message.

Photoshop and the influence effect

8 Times Flat-Earthers Tried to Challenge Science (and Failed) in 2017 | Live Science is a great example. To 11 million Brazilians, the Earth is flat is another great example. These examples showcase photoshopped images and their impact. Thankfully, only 2% of American adults firmly believe that the earth is flat. Meanwhile, 7% are not sure. Surfing the web and social media, it is easy to find plenty of images of photoshopped flat earth. Thankfully, many of these images are aimed at disproving the flat-earth theory. Still, some websites and social media groups focus on proving the world is flat. This goes to show how powerful the images and content that we create are. The world wide web unites us. It brings civilization closer together than ever before. We should use it to share knowledge. It helps each of us grow for the benefit of all. This is especially true for future generations. Imagine if we used Photoshop for the advantage of knowledge. Instead of creating photoshopped planets, animals, products, and even people, we should focus on reality. Then, we wouldn’t have to try to convince everyone that they are real. The division created by tricking gullible people is a wall holding humanity back from achieving our full potential.

Star Wars and Photoshop Innovation Connection

Star Wars captured the imagination of the world with their innovative techniques that gave way to spectacular visual effects. George Lucas and his team created these special effects. They had high expectations. They found innovative ways to achieve them. This led to the creation of Photoshop and other editing software to give the films their desired effects. These movies inspired many technologies. Examples include prosthetic limbs, Artificial Intelligence, and Holographic displays. They also include GPS, cellphones, and Elon Musk’s robots. These inventions were inspired by art which reminds me of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics). These fields work together to create truly amazing inventions that help humanity.

meanings intended or assumed about the Apple Logo. Eve, Adam, Isaac, Alan…

The famous apple with a bite taken out of it. Is the logo a reference to the story of Adam and Eve? Or Sir Isaac Newton for the law of gravity after an apple dropped on his head? If so, then the reason would be simple. The apple in the story is the forbidden fruit. It holds the power of knowledge and understanding. This story would fit the Apple company well. It represents the pursuit of knowledge. The company constantly pushes the boundaries to achieve new goals.

Another possibility for the logo creation is darker. Alan Turing is credited with laying the foundations for the modern-day computer pioneering AI research and unlocking Nazi war codes. 10 years after the war he laced an apple with cyanide and took a bite. Apple has drawn up this logo as a tribute to him.

The truth is that those are just theories that Apple fans have come up with.  The logo design is meant to be simple. The bite taken out of the apple is there for scale. It helps differentiate the fruit from a cherry.  Overall, the design has worked out well for the company. It fits well with many historical stories of fiction and nonfiction.

Copyright, Intellectual Property (IP), and Reproduction Rights

To allow a better understanding of the topic matter Its best to define these before talking about them.

Copyright is an exclusive legal right. It is given to the original creator or an assignee. This right allows them to use or change the original created content. It is a form of property law that focuses on protecting art.

Intellectual Property refers to creations of the mind which includes copyrights, trademarks, and patents. IP protects art and inventions.

Reproduction Rights guarantee that no one else can make copies of original work without permission from the copyright holder.

These terms and definitions are valuable for content creators to know. They help us protect our property. We make sure it is used as we intend. They also give us a way to profit from our work, which is rightly deserved. After all, you wouldn’t expect someone to give you a free camera. Why would you give your work away unless it is for a charitable cause that you believe in? We wish for our creative work to be protected. It is our responsibility to follow all copyright laws. We must research to verify that we have the right to use material.

The best way we can protect ourselves as content creators is to register our best work with the U.S. Copyright Office and keep digital records to prove authorship. Signing our work helps us to recognize it. We can use apps like Adobe to embed a digital footprint of copyright code in our work. Although, once our work is in tangible form, it is automatically protected by copyright.

H2G2, Chapter 8, and Wikipedia can be compared when we see the world wide web as a galaxy. Wikipedia is our guide to the galaxy and is created by the joint efforts of many people.

Moving Pictures Essay

“When I meet God, I am Going to ask him two questions: Why relativity? And why turbulence? I really believe he will have an answer for the first.” –    German physicist Werner Heisenberg.

This quote is fitting for this essay. Turbulent flow is not easy to understand mathematically. Still, it can be seen in art. Van Goghs painting of Starry Night is a great depiction of this.

This is a concept that when utilized it will help captivate and intrigue the audience. Turbulence can enhance moving pictures by incorporating animation. It visually entertains the viewer while providing audio and visual information. This helps the information be easily retained with a higher attention span.

When we experience well designed moving pictures that contain information, we become interested. It inspires us to learn more. We are motivated to create our own projects. On the other hand, when film is monotone with little to no movement, the viewers can quickly lose interest. They become distracted by more turbulent outside sources. These sources ultimately do not inspire or educate.

In conclusion, you must capture the viewers’ attention. This is essential if you are trying to gain an audience. It is also important to make a point or inspire people. Understanding the concept of turbulence is the best way to achieve that.

Animation Enhancement Essay

When I was young, I watched this animation that completely changed how I perceived things around me. It was a bird surrounded by grass. The grass was as tall as can be. As the bird flew higher, the grass gave way to tall trees in a thick forest with a full canopy. The bird kept flying higher and above the canopy gave way to the open sky. As the bird kept flying higher the once very detailed forest became a background blur.

For me this was a powerful animation that opened my eyes to the world around me and all its possibilities. I always remember this animated video when I am on a plane or on top of mountains. For over 25 years, I have always recognized that the world holds much more. There is more than what we see.

Knowing how animation has affected me also brings the realization of how animation can affect other people as well. Animation can be a powerful tool. It is used for entertainment. It also influences the minds of the viewers. When done well, animation can leave the viewers in deep thought and awe. Animation is one of the most powerful tools in a media creator’s tool kit.

World Citizen Embracing Universal Good Essay

We are all born into this world. We depend on learning what we need to survive. We rely on the information provided to us. We learn from the environment that we spend time in. We develop bonds with family. We forge new friendships. This creates a sense of community.  The knowledge we learn in our community shapes our feelings of pride and shame. This is why we all must embrace universal good. In a world with internet access for everyone, we can reach out to grow our community. This expansion goes from our local hometowns to worlds far away without any unbreakable barriers.

 Just like the space crew in the book “Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy”, we can dive into new worlds. We can explore communities in the world wide web. We can learn how to use computers. Learning new languages can take us to new places. We can forge new friendships and learn new ways. As we grow our online community, we must use hypertext. This will show unity within the community by connecting our pages together with links to extra content.

My country of choice is Brazil. I am building website pages for it. Brazil shows a rich sense of regional pride. I am fortunate to have been lucky to experience Brazil’s amazing culture, beautiful cities and landscape. I hope to visit this country again one day.

“Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy” and how it Relates to Multimedia Interactive and Web Design

Douglas Adams truly had a way with words. His gifted imagination created an amazing book. It captivated the minds of millions of people around the world. His inventive and imaginative style took the reader on a true adventure. The journey spanned from the demolition of Earth to a trip through the cosmos. Along the way, Arthur encounters many different species in different worlds. He is forced to quickly adapt and use new technology.

This is easily related to the internet. It is like a new universe full of different websites. These websites are like the planets and other spaceships Arthur encountered. Each one has its own unique community that required learning and adapting. I relate this book to our journey. It mirrors our lessons in the class Multimedia Communications Interactive and Web Design. On day one, most of us came to class not knowing what to expect. We were fortunate to have an amazing teacher. The teacher guided us along our journey. Arthur had Ford Prefect to guide him just like we had our teacher. As we learned new technology and explored the world wide web while creating our own spaceship web page. We quickly adapted and became comfortable with linking our webpages to other webpages and posting content created on other websites.