Physical Models

CS237 Assignment #7

1. Dates

Out	Tues, 10/1
Due	Thurs, 10/3

2. Goals

1. Explore non-digital mediums as prototyping tools for VR visualizations.
2. Explore 3D perception issues that exist in the “real” world.

3.Readings 

Benjamin Martinez and Jacaueline Block, Perception Design And Practice

Chapter 6: Space And Flatness

Chapter 7: Three Dimensions in Two

Hagen. Margaret, Varities of Realism N7430.5.H33 1986

Styles emphasizing three-dimensional composition. pp. 225-239

Station Point Options, pp. 116-156

4. Assignment

Using physical material(s) of your choice, make a sculptural visualization of arterial flow. Let the character of the fluid dynamics as suggested by your readings and the class slide lectures determine you choice of medium, and let the character of the medium determine the nature of the forms you produce and their interaction. Your model need not take a “realistic” approach, but it should be sensorially analogous or metaphorical to the properties of fluid flow you are showing. That is, it should be legible intuitively with a minimum of learned coding. It may be necessary to experiment with a few media before you find one that will be appropriate for your project, or for one part of your project. You are not limited to "art materials", although this may be a good place to start. Any industrial, natural or everyday household item may be brought into play.

Clay

Paint

Wire

Screening

Fabric

Rubber

Balloons

Sand

Insulating foam

Saran Wrap

Acetate

Plexiglas

Pipe Cleaners

Ribbon

Epoxy Resin

Acrylic gel

Acrylic modeling paste

Glitter

Twigs

Rope

Plaster

Kneaded Eraser

As in the past, there is a high priority for legibility and visibility of all variables and parts of the model. In this case, we are also looking for a certain sense of life: an evocation of the flow of blood in the artery and the connection of this phenomenon with rivers, plant growth, and other fluid forces in nature.

When you have completed your model, execute three drawings of it in different modes of spatial projection. These may be simply particularly telling viewpoints, or they might involve isometric compression of the space, panoramic extension, or other “distortion”. They should be done directly from the model, but may then be scanned and enhanced digitally. These depictions should convey the character of the model as vividly as possible.

5. Resources

6. Questions

1. Why did you choose the medium(s) that you did?
2. What types of flow effects or characteristics does your medium lend itself to conveying?
3. Did you succeed in conveying a particular quality of the flow? Which one? Were there flow characteristics which were more resistant to description in this way?
4. How does the reading of the model change from looking at it directly, to looking at it through each of your 3 drawings? Are there advantages to differing spatial modes in conveying the information contained in the model to a viewer?
5. Does the technique that you examined with your physical medium have a counterpart in the digital world of VR? Do you think it would be more or less successful at conveying scientific information than your physical model?

6. Checklist

o Readings

o Selected and obtained physical media appropriate to illustrating various aspects of fluid flow.

o Created a model that conveys some character of the fluid dynamics that we have been studying.

o Created 3 drawings in different modes of spatial projection, working directly from your model and potentially enhancing them digitally.

o Answered assignment questions.