Notes on Interactive Media from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interactive_media
Interactive media normally refers to products and services on digital computer-based systems which respond to the user’s actions by presenting content such as text, graphics, animation, video, audio, games, etc.
Interactive media is a method of communication in which the output from the media comes from the input of the users. The interactive media lets the user go back with the media. Interactive media works with the user’s participation. The media still has the same purpose but the user’s input adds the interaction and brings interesting features to the system for a better enjoyment.
Interactive media is related to the concepts interaction design, new media, interactivity, human computer interaction, cyberculture, digital culture, interactive design, and includes augmented reality.
An essential feature of interactivity is that it is mutual: user and machine each take an active role. Most interactive computing systems are for some human purpose and interact with humans in human contexts.
Any form of interface between the end user/audience and the medium may be considered interactive. Interactive media is not limited to electronic media or digital media.
Examples
A couple of basic examples of interactive media are video games and websites. Websites, especially social networking websites provide the interactive use of text and graphics to its users, who interact with each other in various ways such as chatting, playing online games, sharing posts that may include their thoughts and/or pictures and so forth.
Technology
Interactive media can be implemented in a wide variety of platforms and applications encompassing virtually all areas of technology. Some examples include mobile platforms such as touch screen smartphones and tablets, was well as other interactive mediums that are created exclusively to solve a unique problem or set of problems. Interactive media is not limited to a certain field of IT, it instead encompasses any technology that supplies for movie parts or feedback based on the users actions. This can include JavaScript and AJAX utilization in web pages, but can further be extended to any programming languages that share the same or similar functionality.
The future of web design: Leading creatives discuss what’s coming next
(http://www.digitalartsonline.co.uk/features/interactive-design/whats-future-of-web-design/)
Nine examples of interactive web content
(https://econsultancy.com/blog/65653-nine-examples-of-interactive-web-content/)
12 interactive examples of ecommerce product pages
(https://econsultancy.com/blog/66097-12-interactive-examples-of-ecommerce-product-pages)
New BBC interactive guides: responsive, dynamic and accessible web design
(https://econsultancy.com/blog/64215-new-bbc-interactive-guides-responsive-dynamic-and-accessible-web-design)
16 awe-inspiring immersive websites
(https://econsultancy.com/blog/66685-16-awe-inspiring-immersive-websites)
Best Web and Interactive Websites
(http://www.awwwards.com/websites/web-interactive/)
Examples Of Well Designed Web and Interactive Websites
30 Great Interactive Sites
(http://webdesignerwall.com/trends/30-great-interactive-sites)
HOW Interactive: Web Design and Interactive Web Design Tips
(http://www.howdesign.com/web-design-resources-technology/)
Museum Association – Museum Practice – Technology and Digital
(http://www.museumsassociation.org/museum-practice/technology-and-digital)
Post-web technology: what comes next for museums?
(http://www.theguardian.com/culture-professionals-network/culture-professionals-blog/2014/oct/03/post-web-technology-museums-virtual-reality)
Interactive digital museum design
Two of this year’s Loerie Awards were awarded to Formula D interactive and partners for their work on the recently opened Museum of Science and Technology of Islam in Saudi Arabia. Loerie gold was given in the Digital Craft category for the overall design excellence achieved. The outstanding timeline multitouch table was awarded silver. Commissioned by MTE Studios, an exhibition maker based in Cape Town and Dubai, Formula D interactive and partners developed 21 digital interactive media installations for a newly built science and technology museum in Saudi Arabia. The interactive AV productions display various aspects of the technical and scientific advances of the Muslim world from 700BC to 1700BC in the fields of maths, medicine, botany, chemistry, astronomy, art and architecture besides others. The interactive AV’s produced in the course of the project include touch tables, touch screens and other cutting edge interactive installations. During the 6 month design and production time, the design companies worked closely with MTE studios who were responsible for the supply and research of content material, to conceptualise each application and together making sure the overall design of each exhibit was appropriate for the target market and subject matter as well as taking into account cultural differences when displaying certain imagery such as the human body.
Multi-touch tables:
Timeline Multi-Touch Table
The flagship exhibit of the museum is a 5 metre long rear projected multi-touch table allowing multiple users to interact simultaneously with a timeline of Islamic contributions to science and technology. Spanning a period of 1000 years, the timeline multi-touch table includes more than 300 historic events relating to important discoveries and achievements of the time. When first approaching the installation, visitors of the museum get an immediate overview of key events, which are represented as markers and title text on the sequential timeline. In order to contain the massive amount of content information in a seamless presentation across the table, the interface lets users open and close 20 year time windows by selecting the periods from either the Arabic or Gregorian calendar displayed on both sides of the table.
By touching the table’s glass surface at the point of interest, one of the 20-year time windows opens. Next, visitors swipe their hand or finger up and down to revolve event icons around the central timeline bringing desired content to the fore. When a particular event has been selected, a window opens up showing images, animation and text related to the event. Language can be easily toggled between English and Arabic by swiping hand or finger across the content left to right or vice versa.
Events of major importance trigger “uber-animations” that span the entire table. This may mark the extra-ordinary travels of Ibn Battuta from Tangiers to China, or coins raining onto the table representing the first use of gold coins in the Arabic world.
To create a multi-touch table of this scale, the glass surface had to be divided into 3 sections, each producing an image of 167 x 125 cm with an overall resolution of 3072 x 768px. The graphical interface design creates the impression of a seamless surface across the 3 sections. Visitors explore the content of the timeline by walking around the table anti clock-wise. The GUI was developed in adobe flash using a live socket connection to synchronize the 3 platforms.
To achieve multi-user functionality, the development team made use of innovative camera tracking technology which identifies fingers and hands of visitors touching the surface. The interface works with intuitive gestures, such as dragging and swiping. The hardware was developed and built by the companies in Cape Town: all in all, the timeline touch table uses three quad core PC’s, six tracking cameras, and six data projectors mounted under the table surface.
Geometric Art Multi-Touch Table
The Geometric art multi-touch table invites users to design their own Arabesque patterns using predefined elements. The application offers the option to re-create patterns which are displayed in the background of the table. Alternatively, users can create their own pattern using a repository of pre-defined elements. The table measures 1 metre square and uses 2 data projectors.
Connecting – Trends in UI, Interaction, & Experience Design
The 18 minute “Connecting” documentary is an exploration of the future of Interaction Design and User Experience from some of the industry’s thought leaders. As the role of software is catapulting forward, Interaction Design is seen to be not only increasing in importance dramatically, but also expected to play a leading role in shaping the coming “Internet of things.” Ultimately, when the digital and physical worlds become one, humans along with technology are potentially on the path to becoming a “super organism” capable of influencing and enabling a broad spectrum of new behaviors in the world.