Three Levels of Interfaces

Describing a Funfunctions game, creating roadways:

1. There would be 3 levels shown to users (Interfaces): top-down Maps, Drawing in 3D, and Virtual Reality walkthroughs. From my web page: http://www2.sis.pitt.edu/~smasters/SigmaQL/SigmaEx4.htm

2. There would be many variations.  One - for Drawing in 3D -  is in the banner at the top of this blog. There are more precise drawings but they are being saved for the game.

3. The same Landscape terrain could be used for multiple games. It could be pulled out and replaced by another one, like one drawer in a chest of drawers.

4. Treasures would often only be visible in the Walkthrough layer. Things like trees, smoke, and optical illusions would hide them, until found by following the math or street directions!

Appearance of One Game I'd Like to Create - Landmarks

This is a short game I began to create in VB that I'd like help finishing:

http://www2.sis.pitt.edu/~smasters/Game.htm

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Also, pick landmarks that can be optical illusions with other landmarks, such as roads that appear to go one way but go another, or are hidden until you follow the directions!   Any volunteers?

What's This About?

Hi!

So far, these little clippets are sort of like the first chapter in a novel - lots of little scenes but only hints about what it's about!
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Here's a PDF of my presentation from a 2007 ESRI Education Users conference that talks about using Spatial and Visual means to teach math.  GIS* attaches information to a spot on the globe, so that facts become visual - Global Information Systems.  Start on slide 4 of this http://downloads2.esri.com/campus/uploads/library/pdfs/57936.pdf


Please leave comments about whether this is understandable and any ideas it inspires!
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*Here's a good video for 
"What is GIS?" http://www.esri.com/what-is-gis/index.html

Coloring Contest!

On a recent post, this was colored.  I wondered if any of you would be interested in posting a better version?  How?  Either....

1. Print this out, Color it, Scan it, and Post it with your comment (use picture tool to the right of "link" on posting menu). OR

2. Color in a digital version of this and repost it. OR

3. Draw your own version freehand! 

Best to you!
Sara

Mary Poppins and 3D

I think the first time I thought about 3D in a different way was when my mother read Mary Poppins to me. Suddenly, I saw all the space in a room and that it could be turned in different directions.  For instance, when Mr. Wigg floated up to the ceiling and the children joined him, by laughing! Here's a section called "Laughing Gas" where  laughing sends her up from the floor: "Michael, to his astonishment, saw her go soaring up through the room. With a little bump, her head touched the ceiling and then she went bouncing along it till she reached Mr. Wigg."[1934, by P.L. Travers, illustrated by  Mary Shepard, 35.]

Panorama at top of Arched Ball Throw

Thanks to my son Chip McCormick for finding this!


Here's a new panoramic camera inside a soccer-type ball! It will be in SIGGRAPH Asia's Emerging Technologies.  When thrown, it takes a picture from hundreds of cameras simultaneously.  From this, it creates a panorama:

ChangingLevels - my project

Here are some sketches for my game design, regarding Changing Levels.  Click to enlarge. Use Backward Arrow (top left) when done.

Vertical Levels

Basic Landscape: Surface Terrain.

Changing Levels: By balloon, birds, airplane...

Nintendo-like Levels, includes different games.

Drawn by Sara Masters. Copyright 2011.