Explanations of and directions for my site:

Phase 1: Navigation
In the testing phases of building my website this semester, I experimented with several ways to create motion for later implementation in my navigational structure. I began with GIF tests, in an attempt to create text that allows moving imagery to play within the letter characters, activated by a rollover. This experiment can be seen under the “Nav Test Page” link on my homepage. I am continuing to work on creating motion within the boundaries of the letter characters only, and conversations with Patrick have given me some idea on how to make this happen. Currently, the image moves within the entire box, rather than inside the characters themselves.

Alternatively, I plan to experiment more with Flash as a way of making the text characters not only present motion imagery within themselves, but also move, rumble and change shape. The goal for each of my navigational buttons is to mimic the concept they display when they are rolled over. For instance, my “View” button was intended to imply visual action within its pages, thus it became the first place to experiment with the GIF image of a moving train. The “Listen” page, on the other hand, would be better served by a mix of audio, with the text characters moving in some way that corresponds to the audio. The “read” page might be served by moving text, or typing, as the motion within the letter characters. These are just examples.

As I’ll indicate in phase 3 (Flash), it may be possible for me to create a combination of movie and button interactions to create the effects I’ve described above. In any case, this is the direction my navigation is headed.
Also, as part of my navigation experiments, you’ll see that some subtle CSS implementations are made to create the box and shading around the navigation categories. This too will be expanded when my ideas for the category icons themselves are completed.

Phase 2: Audio Editing and Streaming
I did not create a specific page for the testing of audio streaming. Instead, it can be found on my “Listen” page. Here you’ll find our in class audio experiment (Henry Miller) in both streaming and .wav form. I currently have the .wav file stored on my own site, while the Henry Miller (streaming version) is fed through VCU’s video server. As we heard in class, the file is edited in several different ways, from basic cuts to channel changing and distortion.

Phase 3: Flash
I found this phase to be the most rewarding, as I was able to create a series of buttons that react differently to different interactions. This test can be found on the “Flash Test Page” on the homepage, and is also accessible through my “View” page by clicking the image link.
In this test, you’ll see that I incorporated a movie file to create the water, while the sailboat and cloud are both buttons. All three use tweens to create motion. The experiment works as follows:

In reviewing my code, I see that the script for this page refers to an incorrect location in my site directory:

<script src="MATX Pages/Bumper Stickers/Scripts/swfobject_modified.js" type="text/javascript"></script>

I’m not sure of how I made this happen, but it most likely occurred when I rearranged my site to allow for multiple flash players. It appears to have no effect on the button test described here, but please let me know if this page does not work correctly.

MATX 690 Project
As you’ll see in visiting my homepage, I have been working with a free flash script called “Simple Viewer” to organize and present photos for my ongoing photography project in that course. I have been working on a player of my own, using Simple Viewer as a model. My goal is to add a level of interactivity that allows users to click on image thumbs, as they are shown, to activate sound, video, or other media that accompanies the image given.

Also in this section, you will find portions of an audio interview (on page 2, “A Visit to Thomas Road Baptist Church”) that are also streamed by VCU’s video server. These were sliced and diced in Adobe Premiere Pro CS4 so that I could add transitions at the beginnings and ends as well as output to MP3.
In visiting this section of my site, you will also see my proposal for this project, which you are welcome to read to gain a better understanding of how it is meant to work.

While my site is in its early stages, I anticipate a great deal of progress before our course continues in the spring. Ideally, I will have solved the navigational challenges I’ve set, and will have built a custom Flash player that allows full interactivity with multi-media objects within its gallery.

To begin browsing my site, click “Home” at the bottom, or close this tab.


Click here for a screenshot of my organizational structure in DreamWeaver.

 

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