Separated data graphs

In order for our site data to be turned into a soundscape the data on the graphs needed to be separated into each of its area components. This allowed the information on the graphs to be read more easily and therefore converted into sound. This post is to show these separated graphs so that you, the reader, can also get a better idea of what the data is showing. Firstly, below is an image showing how the site has been split up into the separate areas which the data is based on:

By separating the site up in this way the data could be collected for each part allowing the frequency of people in the area over time to be studied more specifically. The graph in the previous post shows the data for all of these areas together. However to be able to model the data the information had to be separated back out into the individual squares as above. The graphs that were produced are shown below:

The aim now is to use these graphs to change the data into a soundscape. The peaks and troughs of these graphs will be used to define different elements of the sounds, for example the pitch may be high on a peak then drop to a low pitch in a trough. The general outline of these graphs will also make this easier as more generalised curves can be produced from these to highlight key areas of change. This can then be used to make the soundscape.

Starting the Model

Over the last week me and my site partner have been working on designing and creating a model of our site to represent some of the data that we have accumulated over the term about our site. We discussed a number of different solutions based on the types of data that we had available and decided our key focus was to do with the number of people moving through the site at particular times, as well as possible their flow through the area. We then used our workbooks to come up with some way of presenting this. We both agreed than an animation over time was the kind of model we wanted to produce and so began to design this using our workbooks as inspiration. We eventually came up with an idea inspired by the cubist representation of movement through the area that I drew in my workbook shown in a previous post. We used this to create a simpler outline of the site which was split into 5 rectangles.
We then discussed how we could animate this design and realised we could use our tallied data of the number of people in the site at a particular time to manipulate the rectangles. However we then realised that the data we had would have to be reformatted to match with our design. We therefore shared all the data we had and between us entered the data into a table that formatted the data accordingly. Once the data had been written we then produced a graph of it to give a better and more generalised view of the changes in the number of people over time. The graph is as follows:

However after showing and discussing this approach with our lecturer, we realised that the idea and the data did not really match up with each other very well. Therefore the next step is to reconsider how we could represent this data. We are currently looking for possible ways to change this data into sound which is one way which would be good to display it as well as considering other possibilities.

Movement Maps

After mentioning in my last post about how I had been mapping human movement through the site, it occurred to me that none of these maps have actually been included so far in this blog. This post is therefore to show a couple of the movement maps that I have created so far to demonstrate the paths that people take through the site. The first map I created was a path map that literally mapped the paths taken by people moving through the area. One of these maps looks like this:

This helps to show the more popular paths along which people travel. The image in the bottom right corner of this image is not particularly relevant to the image, as I added it to remind me of another event that occurred. I have been adding to this image every time I go to the site when people take more interesting and individual paths that I havent yet mapped. However most people follow those already shown. Another map I did to show this in a different way is the following map:

This map shows the same information but using block colour rather than lines. I chose to draw this as the site can easily be split up into rectangular and square sections as it is a relatively square area, and so I felt this was a suitable way of displaying the flow of people through the area. However this scanned image is not as easy to read as the original image as the different colours are harder to identify. The red areas are the areas used most, the orange covers areas used slightly less than this and the green areas cover areas where people socialise rather than walk through. There are also blue coloured areas which show areas used by transport and brown areas showing areas used even less than those already listed, but these are quite difficult to identify by this image.

These two maps show similar results and so it occurred to me that I could use Photoshop to overlay the images, which would merge the two ways of mapping the data enhancing the readings of both. The result of this is shown below:

By adding the paths to the coloured blocks this helps to show the different uses of the area and enables a better understanding overall of the flow of people through the area. I feel that the flow of people through the area is probably the main focus of this study and so the next step will be to continue investigating this in different circumstances and different ways. This will then eventually be collated to help make the model for this project.

More site work

This week me and my site buddy went to our site to continue collecting a much data as possible about the area. During the hour and a half we spent there I collected a variety of different pieces of information, in terms if objects within the site, peoples movements and also the layout of the site in general. In particular I did a drawing using a technique derived from a practicle that our group had with our lecturer. This technique was to draw what I saw, but without looking so that an abstracted image of what I was seeing was produced. I decided to use this technique on the levels that I was able to observe from the centre of our site. The image I produced is below:

The majority of this drawing has been done by drawing shapes without looking, but there are also areas which I chose to draw whilst looking to create a coherent image. I based my choice of this on the importance of the section of the view and also how regimented the shapes were. For example the cobbles at the bottom of the image are all the same shape so I drew them whilst looking, unlike the stones which build the walls of each level as these are all different shapes and so I drew them individually without looking. The circular rails I also drew whilst looking as getting the circles in the right places was important to the image, whereas the outline of the the levels and the jagged stones at the top of each wall were more abstract and so I chose to draw them without looking. Anyway the end result I acheived was as above.

The blue line shown on this image is, rather strangely, the path of a pigeon as it looked for food on the floor. I chose to sketch this down as I have been mapping the paths taken by humans in the site, but have not compared this to the use of the area by other animals. Humans are very calculated about how they find a path through an area, often resorting to the easiest or quickest route through the area. However animals such as pigeons are much more erratic in their choice of path and carry a completely different agenda for their being there. I thought this may be an interesting aspect to look at as it is not only humans who use the area, and I may be able to use this comparison later on.

Scanned Collage

This post is to show the image which I previously mentioned which tries to give a 360 degree impression of the site, and is documented in my workbook. The centre of the image has pictures of the centre of the site and the images around the edge are arranged in terms of their position in relation to the perspective I had when I was there.

Stuff that plan!

Well it seems the whole plan of trying to write every day has completely failed being that it is now over a week since my last post. Therefore the original plan is going in the bin and I'm going to start a new one: put posts on whenever appropriate. This sounds like a much more logical plan to me. It doesn't mean that I wont try to post on here often, but it does give me more freedom in terms of when to put up posts so that they are more relevant. Im getting a real sense of de ja vo right now but I havent written this before so... I will attempt to put up more posts about the development of my ideas and such throughout the course rather than just random babble, its not exactly any use to you. So to start off this amazing new plan, below are a few photos from the site that I am studying to give a better idea of what area I am investigating:

I have also done a collage of the images to attept to represent a 360 degree image of it. This will be scanned and added into the next post.

A one day post!

Wow look at this, a post that is only about a single day as I have not forgotten to do it. Let's hope it continues this way, although I doubt it seeing as this weekend I'm going home and so will probably be distracted from putting up any more posts! I've just been reading the first of the three texts by Ken Jordan on 'Defining Multimedia' for my IDAT108 seminar presentation but it feels like it has gone straight through my head. I think I'm going to have to read it a few times before it starts to make any sense, I'll figure it out in the end.

Any way today's been a relatively quiet day but I've managed to keep myself busy. This morning I had a practical with Gianni for IDAT107 and then I went and sorted out the site work for this module with Christian. The place we chose is pretty good, Christian came up with the idea as he knows Plymouth a bit better than me, and I think it incorporates all the aspects we need to make this thing work. There was certainly both groups of people and space so that kind of fits the original spec. No really, it is quite good I even managed to come up with something half decent in my workbook so it can't be all bad. Now all we've got to do is create a presentation for tomorrow which we're going to do in the morning before our lecture. We probably wont be asked to do it after all that, but hey I guess it helps get our head around some things. It certainly makes me feel a bit better about the whole thing knowing that we've got something done towards it! There wasn't any seriously philosophical stuff like I managed to come up with the other day but there are things to look at and investigate.

After that little adventure nothing much else has been going on. I came back here, cooked some lunch and then went on a cleaning frenzy because the flat looked a tip! Had my first experience with Henry the Hoover too so at least I know that works. It was worth it in the end, the place looks much tidier now. I kind of felt that if I didn't do it today then it wouldn't get done and I'm going home tomorrow so I'd come back on Monday and find that it still looked messy. And I didn't have much to do, I certainly seem to have a lot more time out of lectures than the rest of my flat mates.

That's about it really, not the most exciting day in the world, but quite a productive one I've found and I've even managed to do this blog on time so I guess it's been a pretty good day really and it's only 5:55pm. Don't know what I'll get up to this evening, not much I expect, just trying to get my head around more of Ken Jordan's texts. I may be going out to Revolutions but I haven't heard anything yet from the rest of my flat mates. Bet this post was easier to read huh! Then again I say that and look in the preview and it still seems huge, but its better than not being done at all!

Not again!

Ah look here we are again kind of three days since my last post! I know you don't have to do one every day but with me it just seems to make sense. Hopefully its not going to be quite as long as last time though. I've had a lot less revelations in the last three days than on the weekend. So then I guess I better start with Monday.

Monday I wrote Saturday and Sunday's blog as you probably already know, then went to my lectures. Found out I'm in group 1 for Miss Krysa's seminar presentation which means I've only got 2 weeks from Monday to sort out the whole thing, which is really freaking me out. I think it's kind of stupid that the other groups get a longer time to sort it, but if that's the way she wants I guess I haven't got much choice. And on top of that of course it is now Wednesday evening and I haven't yet started reading the texts because I wanted them in hard copy to read and I don't have a printer so I have to go to the library but haven't got round to it (Yes I know that's my fault). I've contacted the rest of my group by email but have only had one reply so far so I don't know how organised my group is going to be either. However one good thing that did come out of the day was that I finally stopped being pairless! YAY! I'm now working with Christian whose also in my 106 group for the picnic (see below) and so we're going to try and sort that out tomorrow after our lecture with Gianni. That was all a bit mucked up too though as I got home and found out that Mike had already found someone else - Scott so I had to email Scott to tell him I'd already found someone to do it with and it all got rather mixed up. Don't know what Scott's plans are now but I think he wanted to work in a three so he may be able to do that. Anyway the end of my Monday consisted of having a hectic evening trying to eat and sort everything before having to go back out to the trampolining social which I am intending to join. (I haven't joined yet because I've been slow in getting a Sports card from the SU!) I only had one drink though because I wanted to get back early because I was tired from Revolutions (see previous post) and had to get up for 9 in the morning. That's probably my academic streak coming out again, most students probably don't treat life that way! All this of course leads me on to Tuesday - yesterday.

Tuesday was quite a good day for me. Being the techy type as the DAT team like to call it (I'm doing a BSc) I quite enjoyed learning all the tags code and stuff for Visual Basic and XHTML. After our second lecture our group sorted out everything for the picnic which was great as I like to know that everything is organised most of the time (another of my key personal characteristics I guess). Other than that it was quite a quiet day to be honest, not really any recognition of uses of space or anything, just kind of laid back and educational, oh yeah and it was rather wet, which made me concerned for the picnic...

And finally there was today. Today was picnic day, which yes I've been going on about for ages. The weather turned out to be great apart from the bit of rain as we were walking to the ferry so that made it much easier. We found a good spot on Mount Edgcombe on the pebbles and carried out our task for the day - eat picnic and take pictures. We were advised to take about 400 pics but I don't think we quite managed it, it will be quite interesting to see how it all looks when we've put all the ones together the way we're supposed to I think. I found that it was quite hard to choose something to focus on, and the things I chose aren't exactly abstract but I'm a techy so I'm not quite used to that way of thinking. I'm pretty sure I managed to get something I can use though so it will probably turn out fine in the end, it's just getting my head around it! It took us some time to get enough, when we first counted we only had like 100 odd and that was never going to be enough! So we stayed for longer and didn't go to see the lecturers at the pub, I don't think we had to it was just a possibility. I also had a major revelation as Ryan, who I've been working with from day 1 has the same birthday as me!!!! He's two years older but what the heck, I've never known anyone with the same birthday as me before. Eventually we finished and trekked back to the ferry but had to wait and so had a drink outside the pub which was also great. Unfortunately no use of space observations but I was working on IDAT106 at the time though so I was a bit distracted and there weren't many people around in the park. In the end we got back on the ferry walked back to uni and all went home, so ultimately a pretty laid back and fun day I think, considering we were working at the same time!

So there you have it, the last three days events in the life of me! I know it ended up as a bit of an essay again but it is three days worth, if they were individual it would be a more normal length. Shame there's not much to say on the whole space-behaviour front thing but I guess you cant always go round looking for these things. I've got to find some pictures I can add to these, it'd make it look much more exciting. Anyway I think I should leave it there before you fall asleep! Come back for my next installment if you are really inclined that way!

All the Days I've Missed

Monday already, where did the time go? Actually the answer to that is probably at Revolutions, but hey whose to say we can't have a bit of fun. Anyway this post is about the last few days (Saturday and Sunday, seeing as this is only Monday morning) which I have neglected up till now to post even though I intended to.

On Saturday I did as suggested in my previous post and went to buy my workbook, in the pouring rain, without any lines. It took me ages to pick up the one book that didn't have lines on it but eventually I succeeded. However, as I was walking to my destination to buy said workbook I did observe the different uses of space by people as they also tried to reach their own destination. The layout of the walkways in the city centre allow for three lines of traffic, but with the obstacle of the pouring rain the centre line which I myself was travelling down was almost deserted. It was interesting to see the way in which people chose to cut across this centre path to get to their destination as quickly as possible, but did not choose to walk down it.
It occurs to me now there are a few behaviour patterns that may explain this. Firstly it was raining and so the two edge paths were more likely to shade people from the rain due to the surrounding buildings. Also it is difficult to define a right of way for a third path (the centre one), should people walk up it or down it? The edge paths however allow for the instinctive 'walk on the left' procedure so that the majority of those on the left would be walking down, while those on the right were going in the other direction. This instinctive use of space allows easier travel between A and B as there are less collisions or disputes over what space to walk in. For the centre path to allow this it would have to be split in two and, combined with the rain, choosing the middle path seemed less easy all round. So then I ask myself, why did I choose the middle path and not the left as I was walking down the street? I think the answer to this question may lie in the fact that:

1. I did not care too much about getting wet, I was already rather wet by the time I got there and;
2. Because there was no one in the centre path the ease of travel was actually better than that in the left path.

Therefore it seems that perhaps the weather has a stronger influence on people's use of space as if it were not raining surely people would choose to use an even quicker line of travel than the left one they were in. I may choose further on in the course to look at this idea further. After I'd bought my workbooks, got very wet and observed such behaviours I headed home.

On Sunday I decided that I had to go out and buy some food from the Sainsbury's out of town before I ran out. This also gave me the opportunity to buy some food for the picnic for IDAT106 on Wednesday, which I went overboard on, and so ended up spending too much. Then last night me and my flat mates went to Revolutions for a girls night out. Both of these visits gave me other opportunities to look at the way in which the world around people affects human behaviour. I wont go into too much detail about this one, you've probably spent enough time reading this already, but both supermarkets and nightclubs also have their own 'space-behaviour' patterns. In supermarkets there is always the influence of aisles in that there is the weaving pattern up and down to ensure that no items are missed and that everything has been observed. This can cause issues with the 'walk on the left procedure as I mentioned earlier, as do other obstacles often found in supermarket aisles such as stock carts and misplaced trolleys. The nightclub on the other hand has a completely different use of space to any regular environment. Dance floors in particular lead to a collective mass of people with no particular passage of travel defined through it. In this way, what with the relaxed nature of a club also, you find that people choose a path that suits their needs no matter how easy the path is to create. This leads to a weaving pattern in and around the collective mass of people often breaking through a space that has already been selected by an individualised group of dancers. In a regular environment this may cause friction between the group and the individual, but in this environment such use of space is seen as acceptable. This already demonstrates that there are many different uses of space without even studying in any acute detail the specific interactions that may occur. This again may be something to investigate further.

So there you have it, my last two days worth of observations and events, a mix of academic analysis and day-to-day lifestyle that part defines who I am. I think the academic nature is kind of noticeable as soon as you open this post, what with its length but I like the ideas I've developed in this and I hope you do to. I am however still currently pair less so all of this may end up being in some ways worthless to my site investigation, I'm still waiting on a reply about what to do. It's a shame I don't have a camera, this is all kind of irrelevant without any documentation of what I saw but it really did happen. Do you really think I could write this much if I hadn't had something to think back on. My next post for today's events will be up shortly and I hope you will still have the time and energy to read it after trying to keep up with this one!

My New Blog

Hello and welcome to my new blog for my Digital Art and Technology Module, IDAT101! You asked for one so here it is. This blog will be used to demonstrate the processes I have been through as the module progresses as well as allowing you, the reader, to get a glimpse of what has been going on in my day to day life as a Plymouthian Uni student! The best place to start tends to be at the beginning so I'll start this blog off with what I have been up to today.

Today was the first of very many IDAT101 lectures that I will participate over the next year. I was introduced to the basic ideas of 'Strategies for Art and Technology' and was then told to get into pairs in order to find a site in Plymouth where the behaviours and protocols of people could be studied. However as often happens, I was the one left over without a pair and so currently I am a one-person pair, a bit of an oxymoron don't you think? Anyway hopefully that will get sorted by next week just like the mucked up timetables. If not I've always got a group that I can join but that's not ideal. I personally prefer individual work to group work, but hey there's always an advantage in working as a group as long as everyone else plays along!

Then there's this blog which is also part of the module and a workbook which I have yet to buy, but I'm going to do that tomorrow when I go to the clubs and societies fair. It seems there's loads of things for me to think about all at once, what with the picnic next week and this and all the other stuff going on in my life, but isn't that what degrees are about? Anyway that'll probably do for now, I've probably bored you enough with this epic of a post! Hope you enjoyed the read, the next installment will be installed soon!