week 17

09/2

I was unable print out the filename on the menu but passing the filepath to the patch could not be done. Therefore, I need to create another javascript that filter the unwated file and shorten the path as the loader will need only the folder and filename. 

10/2

Did benchmark testing for loading 2 3D models. Tried different format such as .obj, .3ds and .fbx. Found out that .obj takes the longest time while .fbx takes the shortest time. As Kevin bought the Kineme 3D patch so I change the obj loader patch to Kineme 3D patch. I was able to filter the file path and able to display the models correctly.

11/2

Prepare the project write up for Lightdraw and let Wilson did some editing. Integrate 3d App together with Ryan's part which will display the menu and load the model in the screen. 

12/2

Mr Yeak was coming today so we did some preparation and a run through for the afternoon's visit. Mr. Yeak came around 3+ and visited our workplace and had a little understanding on what we have done so far. After Mr. Yeak left. We were told that we need to prepare for PSRP which is the Poly Student Research Programme award. We had a discussion and plan tasks for PSRP. 

13/2

As we planned to make a video on whiteboard application so we went to the meeting room to make the video. However, we faced some problems when we tried to run the program in the room. The whiteboard app could not function properly because the pen could not draw anything out and the line keeps breaking halfway. Therefore, alot of time was spent on debugging the error. Finally, the bug was solved and we continue with the shooting of the video.

Week 16

02/2

Kevin suggested that we could load the 3D models instead of thumbnails for the main menu. However, I could not load it because it load the same models. Another problem was the time taken to load, if we were to use 3d models instead of images it would take a long time to load the menu. After some discussion, we decided to use filenames instead. I found out some problem when we use filename because in Mac, a system preference file will automatically be created but we cannot see the file. The file name is .DS_Store.

03/2

After I have found the problem , I tried to remove .DS_Store permanently but it could only solve the problem for one computer. If we were to use the program on other computers we will need to filter out the .DS_Store. I went find out on the ways to remove the file using javascript. What I did was to traverse the files and pass the wanted files to the patches. Therefore, .DS_Store is filtered from the list. 

04/2

Design the icons for the 3d Loader applications. 

05/2

Continue with the design of the icons. I place the icons and check the coordinates location for the icons. Tried several places.

06/2

Did a little bit of research on GLSL shader as there is a patch on GLSL shader. Did  the menu page for the 3d model. 

Tried to let the icons highlight when mouse is click on it. It work successfully. 

Reflection: Discover the system preference settings file in Mac computers which will automatically be created in every folder.

Week 15

26/1

Lunar New Year Day 1

27/1

Lunar New Year Day 2

28/1

Updated Kevin on our findings on Podcast. However, he was not very pleased with our findings and gave us one more day. Tasks were allocated base on our teams. 

As we had submitted our draft for the article, Kevin printed out and gave us back the draft. We were told to read aloud to everyone on the draft we wrote. After reading, we received comments from Kevin and Cheng Teng on our draft. Kevin set a rule which was to speak only english.

29/1

Updated Kevin on the different podcasts that we subscribe to and how can the podcast benefits us. Me and Ryan continue to research on the Kineme 3D patch. We create a simple application that could load the 3d objects, rotate, scale, translate and etc.

30/1

Had little discussion on 3D loader application with Kevin and Ryan. 

Went on to create a simple application that could display image thumbnails in quartz composer.

Reflection: Learn more about podcast and how it can benefit us in our daily life. Had more understanding on the 3D patches and the various patches works. 

Week 14

19/1

We started the day by discussing the way we should write our article. We were unsure on the format and how the language should be for article. In the end, we decided to write the article in a question and answer style. After that Wilson and Hock went for a photoshoot for Kevin's lightdraw paper. 

I continue the research and explore on the Kineme 3D quartz patches. Looked at the examples and tried to understand how each patches works.

20/1

I tried to create a simple application which makes use of the 3D patches but it could not work properly. The application could not load the model and look through the examples for some clues. I found out that what I had missed out was the 3D Transformation patch  which allow the 3D to be on the screen. Tested some of the 3D effects and see how each effects affect the models.

21/1

Ryan and I found out that we could do 3D modeling with Adobe Flex. However, there are criteria which is to have a 3d loader and a network protocol that could send and receive. As we were unsure whether it can work the way we want it to be so we did research on the tools and find the different 3d Loader and network protocol that could support Adobe Flex.

22/1

Continue to research on 3d Loader and network protocol for Adobe Flex.

Found out that there are several 3d loader engine for Flex which are Sandy3D and PaperVision. Did some research on the various engine and see how they can be integrate into Flex.

23/1

Wilson went medical check up.

Hock and I started to do some "Spring Cleaning" as the lunar new year is coming soon and the lab is messy and dirty. 

We got bad feeedback from Kevin on the article draft we did. Kevin told us to redo and we need to do one each.  We were split in to 2 teams which ryan and me will work on the 3d application while Wilson and Hock worked on the whiteboard application.  Kevin gave us a quick lesson on podcast and how we can search for different podcast from sources available in the net. 

Reflection : Learn about the Kineme 3D patches and how each patches worked. I would say the 3D patch would be good if you are doing effects to the 3d model but if you were to create an 3d application it would not be an ideal choice. Learnt about podcast and how we can learn something from podcast. 

week 13

12/01

Showed everybody a little trick on Mac that could invert the colour of the screen. Daryl approached us and ask us to write an article about our learning experiences in IHPC. Had a discussion with hock on different way to have more than 1 brush image on the canvas. Tried to do dragging image out from the palette but failed.

13/01

Continued with dragging image out of palette but the laser position does not match with the image coord. Kevin evaluated the application. He suggested that we should change the UI of the whiteboard as it seems to take up too much space.  Did some re-planning for the design.

14/01

Design a new palette and brush. The design focus more on simple and easy.

15/01

Make some changes to the brush design as the edges seems pixelated and jagged. Worked on multi-user function with you hock while Ryan and Wilson worked on sliding out of the palette. 

Did  the dragging image out from the palette when there are no pen but failed.

16/01

Helped Kevin to create some images for his papers. As we are required to write an article for IHPC's newsletter, Wilson and I did some discussion on the format of article and what are we going to write.

Continue with the dragging and creating new images when there are no pen on screen and this time round I was able to do it. 

Reflection:

Did alot of design works this week and it had enhance my understandings on the various tools available in Photoshop. Understand that User Interface in an application can be very important because user looks at how things look like before they decide to try or use the application. If an application has a lousy interface, user will tend to have a mindset that the application is lousy. However, if the application has a nice interface, user will then try the application before giving any comments.

Week 12

05/1

You Hock and I integrated the application with OSC and also Ryan and Wilson part. Manage to integrate together.  After testing and ensuring that everything running well, we showed kevin our updated application. After that, Ming Hong came in and said that he had found a way to allow isight to work with lightdraw using a little "hack". 

Plan for the app.

- Drag and draw within the pen

- Transparency of images

- Getting Quartz Composer to work in cocoa

- Dragging pen out of palate. 

06/1

Change all the pictures to .gif because .jpg cannot support transparency. Created several brushes for the application. Each are size at 50x200. Did a little discussion with you hock on how we can change the thickness of the brushes. 

After lunch, Ming Hong and us went to Sim Lim to purchase computers to assemble Wilson's new PC. We spent the rest of the day assembling the PC. 

07/1

I added all the palette and brushes pictures in to the application and position them correctly. 

Implement the changing of brush size for the application. Modify the application by changing of images when mouse is over a certain area. Tried to integrate the application in to cocoa but had some problems with the screen size. You hock manage to solve it by editing some values.

Went over to the pantry for Terence's birthday celebration. After the celebration, went down to level 15 seminar room to look at the video shooting for lightdraw. 

08/1

Integrated the application together after each individual updates. Find coordinates of the palette for the brush but they are not accurate.

Ming Hong gave us a short lesson on matrices and vectors which was a total alien to me. 

09/1

Update the coordinates again and it work successfully. Headed down to Temasek Poly's open house since there is a power shutdown throughout the day. 

Week 11

Week 11

29/12

Create a drawing application using the GL tools but the result was not what I had expected. So I Google for other drawing application and see what kind of patches they used to create lines or shapes. I found the WiiDraw using quartz composer and explore on the program. I found a painting patch in the program and I make use of the patch for our whiteboard application. Modify the program slightly to make us of the painting patch.

30/12

Ming Hong help with the with the painting patch, he changed the output image to GL line and GL point. Even though the painting patch is working properly but it could not change color yet. After that, I tried to integrate with OSC but did not work because I am not familiar with the OSC patch.

31/12

Explore on the OSC patch and look at wilson and ryan pong game to see how OSC work in Quartz Composer. Half day off, public holiday eve.

1/1 (2009)

Public Holiday

2/1

Modify the program by adding 4 different color on the bottom of the screen so that the output color will change whenever the mouse is over the color. Added erasing as well, so the drawing part for the whiteboard application is completed but it only worked for the mouse. Therefore, tried to integrate with OSC but it did not work. 

Weekly Reflection :

Learn new things on GL tools. In order to draw a line we need to create a rectangle with 2 circles on each end to make it look natural when we draw a lot. Learned on how the OSC worked in Quartz Composer even though the integration had failed.