3C :: SOUND :: non-linear story framework

by now you should have a solid collection of sounds that give an accurate, if personal, idea of our activity/hobby. we will now embark on phase two of the project -- constructing an interactive framework in which all previous story elements may be placed.

framing question:

how can you design an interactive, non-linear framework with your set of elements (sounds, images, movie clips) that allows participants to construct their own stories? 

the purpose of this for the participants is to P L A Y, to make their own decisions / discoveries as they create their own stories.

requirements / restrictions: 

• 1024 x 768 screen size in flash
• elements need to clearly be components of a story: individual actions, words, images or short scenes.
• new visual elements can be added as needed, but make good use of your existing library of visuals and footage. 
• because this is our first real interactive project, participants will only be able to engage in a few basic actions
  
  -- clicking an item to stop/start a sound
  
  -- clicking an item to enlarge and view an image or movie
  
  -- click that enlarged image or movie to remove it from the screen 

considerations: 

• how much control do you want participants to have in your narrative? 
• how small, large, long, short, etc, should each component be? 
• how can you build something that will make people want to actively particpate in your narrative? 
• think of your story elements metaphorically as words that can be recombined to make different sentences. 
• think about the structure/composition of the screen as an abstract space that allows multiple elements to interact. what kinds of visual structures can allow for that? 

for clarification, i view the sounds/images/movies you have made as narrative elements, because they have a pre-made form and point-of-view. participants will be actively building a story structure, narrated by you. they become the editors of your narrative. but of course, feel free to argue that.

due next class: 

• final aif or mp3 files of all individual sounds, including revisions to sound mark. 
• six sets of loose sketches of a screen structure that allows for your participants to play with your narrative elements. each set will consist of the original screen (before clicking) and two more screens revealing how the participant is building and interacting with the story. use annotations as needed to clarify visuals.