Project Used in the IM Showcase
Updated Official Final
As seen above, I had to use a slightly modified code for the IM showcase, where I modified the placement of the trees, the size of the birds, and the speed of the birds. Some of the modifications were due to poor planning on my end, and the modification of the speed was to compensate for my code running much slower on the iMacs. I needed to modify the other elements because I forgot to make them dynamic to the window width and window height of the screen, so I needed to modify them so they would visually translate on the big iMacs correctly. This is something I will keep in mind next time I code.
For the updates on my final code (shown and linked above), I was able to make the birds interact with the tree by stopping on the tree when the slider was at it’s lowest point (0.5) and the tree is still, and flying off the tree when the slider is adjusted past its lowest point, as the “wind” picks up and the tree moves, making the birds “fly away”. I used many if statements and Boolean values to achieve this effect. I also created two fractal trees and overlapped them to make the tree look more full; this way, the birds looked more convincing when they “landed” on the tree. Lastly, I made slight adjustments to the bird’s flocking algorithm. I wanted to have slight cohesion among the birds so that when new birds are introduced, all of the birds naturally gravitate towards a flock and form a “V” formation.
User Testing and Interactions
The user testing was very informative both times I did it. The first time, my project was in its very early stages, and I received feedback that my project was too simple and needed more interaction. From there, I added more ways for the user to interact. When I watched users navigate my project at the IM showcase, I realized that one interactive element that I added was not clearly defined, but the users were able to figure it out eventually. This element was the trigger that makes the birds “fly away” from the tree. The users were quick to notice the condition for the birds to land on the tree, but much slower to figure out how the birds leave the tree. Some users tried clicking the screen or the tree, and some users wondered out loud what the slider is representing. To make this more clear, I’m considering adding text that says “wind” above the slider. All the other elements were navigated easily, and I was told the project looked aesthetic and peaceful, emulating the experience of bird watching.
Reflections
I am proud of the work I did, as well as being able to incorporate so many of the new things I learned from class. With more time, I would add more elements to the sketch, such as more trees, other types of birds, and different weather conditions. I would also add nature sounds, and an end button for the user to stop the simulation. I greatly enjoyed this class and its teachings!