Re: VRML Dream?
At 06:07 PM 4/27/98 -0700, Jed Hartman wrote: I was unfortunately unable to watch yesterday's premiere of VRML-Dream, ... ... one thing I've wondered about (in describing the project to others) is how interactive a live broadcast feels to the audience. I hope to find out for myself at some point, but in the mean time, how did those who saw it feel about this? I will second all the comments made by both Sandy and Dennis. It was extremely difficult to know what was supposed to be happening without the sound, and most of us had a tough time even getting the movement happening. I would have been totally out of it and frustrated if I hadn't tuned in to the chat line (which I did after waiting a full half hour with nothing occuring on my screen). I'm the one who suggested that someone try to provide text narration to at least let those of us who were following the action know what was going on. I mistakenly identified Titania as Puck at one point, confusing everyone, I'm sure ;) SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT ITEMS WHICH MIGHT ENRICH THE EXPERIENCE: 1. A Programme or Playbill (HTML text on the same page as the embedded VRML? No, it should probably be in a frame or a second browser window, so you wouldn't have to scroll away from the view.) This could include the introduction to the characters mentioned by Dennis. 2. The Chat line is really helpful - but was hurt by being a public space with random interlopers showing up. 3. A small note on the page saying what to do if you don't see/hear anything. 4. Some sort of indication that the play is in progress, and how far along it is, especially if the start has been delayed. Maybe a tiny Java applet that displays the progress? That's just off the top of my head. - Paul *** Paul S. Hoffman VP/Creative Director, Cognetics Corporation [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] Company URL - http://www.cognetics.com Personal URL - http://pluto.njcc.com/~paulsam 609-799-5005 ext.237 - FAX 609-799-8555
Re: VRML Dream?
Paul Hoffman writes: I'm the one who suggested that someone try to provide text narration to at least let those of us who were following the action know what was going on. Excellent idea. The narration can add a lot. *slight shudder at the thought of Mystery Science Theatre 3000 type narration* 1. A Programme or Playbill (HTML text on the same page as the embedded VRML? No, it should probably be in a frame or a second browser window, so you wouldn't have to scroll away from the view.) This could include the introduction to the characters mentioned by Dennis. Yes, that was also part of the original design. 2. The Chat line is really helpful - but was hurt by being a public space with random interlopers showing up. Not sure what to do about the interlopers. 3. A small note on the page saying what to do if you don't see/hear anything. Yes. That can be combined with: 4. Some sort of indication that the play is in progress, and how far along it is, especially if the start has been delayed. Maybe a tiny Java applet that displays the progress? Great idea! In a early version of my software, I used the Netscape status bar (which you can write to from a Java applet) to let people know "Scene 14" or whatever, but it wasn't reliable or noticeable enough so I took it out. A separate output window for the applet would be the way to go. -- Bernie Roehl University of Waterloo Dept of Electrical and Computer Engineering Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]Voice: (519) 888-4567 x 2607 [work] URL: http://ece.uwaterloo.ca/~broehl/bernie.html
Re: VRML Dream?
Len Bullard writes: The announcement that Cosmo will support RealMedia is good. Yes, agreed. Provided it becomes widely available, and is supported in WorldView as well. The good news is that we have IrishSpace and VRMLDream "in the can". That means as the functionality becomes available, we have something ready to deploy, and the teams are in place to do more. Exactly! -- Bernie Roehl University of Waterloo Dept of Electrical and Computer Engineering Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]Voice: (519) 888-4567 x 2607 [work] URL: http://ece.uwaterloo.ca/~broehl/bernie.html
RE: VRML Dream?
I sat last night with the snippet of audio that Stephen posted and ran the MIDI behind it just for fun. Interesting. It made me think that for any future production, the script should be recorded at a table rehearsal (regardless of who does the speaking) so we can plan the music better. I posted that suggestion to Stephen. IOW, record, make an RA file (.ram), then post that where we can fetch it to our own machine and work from there. I think that would help with *appropriateness*. Did the MIDI ever run? If so, what happened? Len Bullard Intergraph Public Safety [EMAIL PROTECTED] Ekam sat.h, Vipraah bahudhaa vadanti. Daamyata. Datta. Dayadhvam.h
Re: VRML Dream?
Jed Hartman writes: Could (in some distant future production) have multiple chat channels -- one for actual script, several for people doing simultranslation into other languages, one for brief summaries of action ("Hermia rampages across the stage, destroying everything in her path"), one for MST3King, one for miscellaneous backchat and heckling... I like that idea! Shouldn't be hard to do, either -- just more IRC channels. And yes, I agree -- we shouldn't need *too* much background on the web page, but something along the lines of what you get at Stratford would be about right, methinks. -- Bernie Roehl University of Waterloo Dept of Electrical and Computer Engineering Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]Voice: (519) 888-4567 x 2607 [work] URL: http://ece.uwaterloo.ca/~broehl/bernie.html