After the playtesting and in-group meeting, we figured out the pain points and some possible solutions for this project. We bring these to the client and we did the simulation with Lorelei which helped us be clearer about how the process goes.
Painpoints >
- The portability (replace the actor)
- 9-12 simulations (3-4 mild, 3-4 mediate, 3-4 severe)
- usability for researchers: intuitive, simple and clear
Ideas: “360 Videos”
We did the competitive product research for more inspiration and need finding.
Four Options:
All Virtual Setting
All virtual environment with voice-actor recordings and pre-recorded animations
Pro:
- Easier to have flexibility of character appearance
- Finer control over character motion
- Virtual body of character straightforward addition
Con:
- Takes time to build different virtual environments
- Uncanny valley effect from virtual characters
360 Video
Footage of live actors in different environments. Facilitator activates different clips sentence-by-sentence.
Pro:
- Realistic
- Fast iteration: easier to create environments
- We will likely not have assets from SMU
- Easy to add scenarios in future
- John is experienced
Con:
- No fine-grained, puppet-like control over avatar actions
- Need multiple takes for character variations like ethnicity
- Hard to change any single component of footage, like remove tree from background, etc.
360 Video Filtered
360 Video with VFX filter to give more cartoonish or otherwise stylized experience
Pro:
- Realistic but not scary
- Portability
Fast iteration(meet the 9-12 simulations need)
Con:
- Variety
360 Video + Virtual Model
360 video environment with virtual model that uses voice-actor recordings and pre-recorded animations
Pro:
- More flexibility in modifying character (animating, styling, etc)
- Realism of character can be adjusted with different shader applied to the model
Con:
- Need to combine model and environment
After the meeting, we came up with the following metric for our project:
Below is a video for simulation session:
Problem:
How do we help a facilitator provide effective training to college-age girls to help them resist sexual harassment?
Design pillars:
- Realistic and immersive for guest
- Believable script/dialogue
- Believable acting
- Immersive environment
- Maintained if facilitator or context changes (portability)
- User-friendly
- Easy for facilitators to use
- Portable
- Replace the live actor
Technology
- VR
On the tech side, we are trying to apply 360 video to Unity. Below is a filtered video we tested in Unity.
On the art side, we finished the poster and the logo.
