Jason Kempshall’s Weblog

As my final interactive mirror scene is a scaled down version, i needed a 

“user” for my prototype. So off i toddled to the pound shop and picked up

user #1 (aka the angry fireman). (see below for the results).

PLEASE NOTE: The filming in this version was largely done without the 

backdrop as it transpired to be vary difficult to position camera in such

a tight space.

i have had a lot of feedback on how people react to this graphical reaction

to movement combined with reflections . Most become mesmerized by the glowing

lights yet nearly all have noticed that the more they play with it, the less they notice their own

reflection. This is a concept that i find most strange as humans in general are

normally fixated with their own appearance, some have said the reason is because

the lights are so bright they drown out the reflections and others have said

that it is because the prospect is so alien that the mind thinks it is inplausable.

i’m not so sure!??

i have finally completed my interactive scene for the scaled down version

of my fully submersive mirror experience. It involves a very simple plot of which

the user can explore a small environment, meet a creature and and them scare

him silly by shouting into the mic.

The main reason why i decided to create a creature-user story application was

(in the final full size piece) to see how the end user would react to being directly

placed with a character. Would the user feel closer to the creature if placed within an

enviroment with it? if that creature was advertising a product, would the user be more

or less likely to buy? of course i can not fully test this at present as i’m working in

small scale, but i wish to test this in future developments.

The reason why i chose to keep the graphics cute friendly and semi-familiar, in

a real world environment was for initial testing purposes i wanted to keep the

graphics as less threatening as possible for the possible introduction to learning

experiences in the future for young children. i also kept the colours bright as

i needed to keep the foreground crisp in relation to the two-way mirror.

PLEASE NOTE this is not mirror ready version, its just an example for you to have

a play with. It still contains the motion tracking hotspot viewer, the user placement

indicator and the backdrop (all of which will be removed in the final piece).

See the final scene HERE (you will have to right click and download it as its very processor intensive).

After much deliberation and taking into account the practical issues of

trying to attach graphics directly to a users body. i have decided to use my

rear projected mirror technique for something more suitable in regards to

the vagueness of the motion tracking system. As the tracking itself can only

detect “lumps” of movement it is better suited to large scale tracking systems.

An interesting way in which to do this form of tracking would be to use the mirror

system to completely submerge the user in an environment. To achieve this, the mirror

would be scaled up to room size and then a foreground would be projected from behind it.

You then instantly achieve a field of depth, then behind the user on an adjacent wall you would

either project or statically paint/print a backdrop. This would therefor completely submerge

the user in graphical interface. (see diagram below)

The motion tracking itself can then be simplified to the position of the user in

the room and in regards to the mirror, as opposed to more specific movement.

this would be achived by simply positioning the camera to face down appon the user.

Of course due to funds my prototype will end up being a scaled down version of this

but the effects should be just as eye opening.

Another project by human locator that seems to be very simular to what 

i have developed.

“Interactive Rear-Projection system behind a mirror using

Human Locator technology to track people. Project done in

collaboration with Mass design in New York.”

This interactive wall would definatly be something i would be interested in.

imagin if all the whitespace was mirrored, then you could create interactive

graphics that could react around you, for example a cartoon story or educational

video of say how the planets where born, depending on where you stand different

effects could occur .