Our project at the Entertainment Technology Center is different from others in that we are continuation from last semester, while also maintaining a core group of team members. This means that we started the term with in depth understanding of our goal and challenges ahead.
This also means that as a team we have a shared vocabulary and insight into working with each other. We jumped right in where we left off in the spring while introducing our new member, Rajat, to the intricacies of our project. Rajat will take over the programming and UX aspects of our deliverable.
Specifically, these means integrating Niharika’s animation for Tom into the show controller while preventing any irregularities and unwanted access to our user interface. Rajat will also take feedback from playtesting to enhance the user experience, especially regarding ease of use for GKTW volunteers, to the touch screen interface.
We have been working with our client, vendors, faculty, mentors, and team to lock down dates for our installation. We are looking at the week from November 4th – 10th to install Tom at Give Kids The World Village. Our main hurdles right now include:
- finishing Tom’s Electrical engineering
- making small adjustments to Tom’s mechanical engineering / design
- slight modification / redesign of Tom’s 5th function – the scepter
- consideration of Tom’s soft good (foam body & clothes)
- comprehensive testing of all engineering, show elements & content
These tasks become larger in consideration of our timeline, but also not completely out of the realm of possibility. Our biggest hurdle is staying unblocked so that we can keep moving the project forward.
Our other big milestone will be a walkthrough of the space in early October so we can have a complete list of everything that needs to completed. This will also allow the team to verify what work has yet to be finished on site.