End of Semester Update: DLLE

Posted on December 13, 2023December 13, 2023 by Matthew Lowe

This semester, the David Letterman Learning Experience (DLLE) project team has embarked on a captivating journey to explore the art of storytelling through the innovative medium of projection mapping technology. With a focus on harnessing the power of personal narratives, they have collected a diverse array of stories from current Ball State students, each offering a unique glimpse into the experiences and perspectives that shape the university community.

Now, the DLLE team is working to transform a physical exhibition space into an immersive storytelling hub, where art, interviewing, and community converge. Inspired by David Letterman’s iconic interviewing style, the exhibition will delve into the transformative power of conversations, showcasing the ability of storytelling to connect individuals, foster empathy, and illuminate the rich tapestry of human experiences.

Stay tuned as the DLLE team continues to bring this exciting project to life next semester.

End of Semester Update: AMA

Posted on December 13, 2023December 13, 2023 by Matthew Lowe

The Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) team has been working diligently to immerse themselves into the world of flight. Our team has visited the National AMA Headquarters here in Muncie several times this semester—taking in the rich history of aviation and the hobby. We met with the historians, educators, and many other staff throughout the fall to generate a project to benefit the local and national community.

As a collegiate group, our team took advantage of the thousands of students around them at Ball State University to dive into the reasons we chose hobbies. In their research, they found just how important hobbies are with educational and degree paths. This information has helped the group understand who the members of AMA are, and who their future members could be.

Before they head off to their winter breaks, they are excited to launch their project developments in the spring. Our team has split into three main projects: social media management, local event planning, and gamification. With only a semester left, it’s a massive undertaking to pursue all three, but that won’t stop these incredible students. We look forward to showing you all the hard work that has gone into these projects in May—until then, sit back, relax, and enjoy our flight!

End of Semester Update: DWNTWN AR

Posted on December 13, 2023December 13, 2023 by Matthew Lowe

The Downtown AR stories team will be using augmented reality to tell the stories of historical buildings in Downtown Muncie that no longer exist. There are now parking lots in the places where these buildings once stood. The team narrowed in on four key locations, each with its own story to tell. After meeting with a representative from DWNTWN Muncie, and developing a user journey, the team took a trip Downtown. Seeing the locations in person helped them identify possible usability and even safety issues they needed to consider. They also explored the possibility of using projection mapping.

The team decided to focus on one story which would serve as the foundation for how the other stories would be developed. They started with the story on the Indiana Union Traction and developed a low-fidelity prototype for how the story would work on Figma. After a series of tests among their team, a mid-fidelity prototype of the story was developed. The team brought in external people this time to test the story flow on Figma using the Wizard of Oz method.

The team is working on the project in three distinct phases; content, development, and marketing. The content team has developed a script for the first story and has tested it. They worked with other departments like the Department of Theatre and Dance and have recruited actors for all the stories they will be developing. The actor who will be playing George Rolland (the main character in the first story) has been taken through a script reading and will be filmed on Friday, December 2^nd. The team will also be working with a costume shop director to provide costumes for our actors to make the story look more authentic since they all take place in the early 19^th and 20th centuries. The development team is working to move the story into an augmented reality software called 8^th wall. The marketing team is working on designing signages that users can read and scan to experience the stories.

After recording the actor, the team plans to create a 2D video to be placed on the 8^th wall. They will continue to work on the script and storyline for the other stories. They have already started drafting the script for the next story. They will also meet with a project partner, Cheryl, who is a representative from DWNTWN Muncie to update her on the progress of the project.