For MAT200A, Arts & Technology we are making websites for our final projects. The projects are based on the intersection of arts and technology and we are paired with a partner to collectively develop and present a concept.

Our concept is ‘Vivari: Representative Avatar for Online Shopping & Gaming’. We propose placing ‘measurement sites’ in retailers that measure a user’s body shape and creates a virtual avatar in their image. In addition to simply representing them online it can be used to shop for clothing.

By measuring the user’s body the goal is to create a model that can ‘try on’ clothing and have a realistic depiction of how those clothes fit. This will make online shopping a more enjoyable and accurate process.

In addition to online shopping, we propose creating ‘Virtual Shopping Kiosks’ that allow the user to shop for clothes from any number of participating retailers and have their choices be projected on their avatar in front of them. It can be located in a mall or other public space and allows for shopping at stores that may not have a physical location nearby.

In preparation for our website I have been creating 3D models of the various assets involved, starting with the measurement and shopping kiosks. I used Google Sketchup which is a very simple program for basic 3D modeling.

Avatar Creation Station

Virtual Shopping Kiosk

The first project for MAT200A Arts & Technology with Professor George Legrady.

“We create meaning through classification. Create a set consisting of elements that have similarities and differences.”

I chose to examine clothing and how we classify it. I chose three separate classifications to look at: Shape, Size and Appearance.

At clothing stores a stack of shirts may include many different sizes of the same shirt design. Alternatively there may be a section of a rack that only contains items of the same size but different designs. Whole sections of a store may be dedicated to a grouping of the same type (shape) garment such as pants.

I photographed several articles of clothing for use as source imagery and used inkscape to manipulate and lay out the images.

The sketch was presented as a series of images.

General overview of my approach

Clothing with the same shape/style but diverse physical appearance

Clothing with the same size but diverse appearance

Clothing with the same physical appearance but different sizes

Links:

MAT200A Class Website Fall 2008