VBL layer control, Gates Foundation, GG at TBGC

Just tried out the programmable dance tool at http://www.cs.rpi.edu/~yildih2/testpcsdt/pcsdt.html but could not get the basic method (applied to right hip) to work right: X did nothing, Y was X variation, Z was Y. I think Hilmi is right about the preview function: its just as easy to press "run" and see what you have so far. Only problem is getting users to do that. They will be intimidated not seeing a figure there.

This week worked mostly on VBL layer control for Kera's class. Finally got it paired down to a small number of controls. Using an "edit layers"/hide layer control toggle we can further reduce the "busy" look, so that it ends up as simple as it does now.

Also made a presentation of CSDTs to the Gates Foundation here at RPI. Nice folks; who knows when it will actually turn into something but at least we are getting the word out.

Undergrad Garrett Smith is going to try graffiti grapher at Boys and Girl's Club in troy; went over a plan with him.

Also working on a paper reviewing the work so far with native american groups, co-authored with Jim Barta, focused on art. Also finished revision of another on Cartesian Coords in native am society.

John Britton had me try out the new server, lots of web errors however because not all files were UTF-8. He said he corrected them, on my second try I only found one more remaining.

3 speaking offers came in this week: Winston NC, Somerset NJ, Fairbanks Alaska.

wish lists 2-22-08

High Priority Wish list:
Direct assignments (for variables?)

Re-initialize variables (right now it carries values over from last run into the next run )

Ability to delete each panel (right now no ability to clear certain panels)

Delete variable (if you try to delete a variable while still using it in the code it should give you an error message “you can’t delete this variable until you delete the panel that uses it”Delete each panel (right now no ability to clear certain panels)

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Medium priority:
Save code

Include the name of the music file in the saved code

Move "object creation" button to top, between "select mode" and "select object," so that the user can see a horizontal sequence corresponding to the sequence of actions they need to take.

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Low priority wish list:
Preview – need to ask Tiffany’s group what to display when you “step though” the program. Might be useful to look at Scratch and see how it resolves that issue.

Show frame number under animation (should be option that user can switch on or off)

Show dancer names under animation (should be option that user can switch on or off)

Additional integer math functions (rand, mod, ceiling, floor, etc.)

Float math functions: float var, sine, cos, exponent, log, etc.

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Future priority wish list:
Interaction features: (you can code for a button, slider, fill-in, etc. to appear on animation screen, so that rather than just watch a movie the user can interact with the animation).

3D “props” – dance around a mayan pyramid or bonfire, juggle swords, etc.

Build-your-own 3D props—design your own 3D props. We probably want to have a specialized tool—perhaps appearing as an “editing” tab—for creating these. Could also import from other CSDTs and pCSDTs.

Non-humanoid bodies

Build-your-own body

pCSDT Prototype is online

The prototype has been uploaded to http://www.cs.rpi.edu/~yildih2/testpcsdt/pcsdt.html
We used JNLPAppletLauncher to deploy the pCSDT applet to the web. Here is how it is described in its website.

" The JNLPAppletLauncher is a general purpose JNLP-based applet launcher class for deploying applets that use extension libraries containing native code. It allows applets to use extensions like Java 3D, JOGL, and JOAL very easily, with just a few additional parameters to the applet tag, on Java SE versions as far back as 1.4.2.

Like Java Web Start, the JNLPAppletLauncher uses an extension's .jnlp file to locate the native resources for a given extension. The applet developer only needs to specify the platform-independent .jar files containing the .class files for the extension. The platform-specific "nativelib" .jar files are downloaded automatically from the same server that hosts the extension's Java Web Start binaries.

Extensions that support JNLPAppletLauncher include Java 3D, JOGL, and JOAL."

It seems more convenient to use JNLPAppletLaunched instead of JoglAppletLauncher which was used in Breakdancer applet. So I created a copy of Breakdancer using JNLPAppletLauncher at this URL. That version of applet is a bit enlarged to display the whole body-parts tree.

Kera's class, online community

Skype meeting with Kera's class went OK, but considerable confusion on the basics. They are waiting to see Hilmi's prototype before they decide on what tasks to take on.

Last night I found out none of their passwords had been mailed out -- some glitch with our tech support. They got it today but apparently did not get my instructions how how to access the subversion server so I mailed that out as well.

We have a server for the online community (yea!!)--shared with Jim Zappen; its the system he uses for connected kids. Undergrad John Bonner is installing Drupal and will set us up for registration, login, uploads, and ratings system.

I tried out a media wiki (http://csdt.rpi.edu/index.php?title=Main_Page) but found it too hard to use. I hate to think of all those students emailing me to ask about it. Hopefully the Drupal-based system will be straight-forward.

Milestones for pCSDT

• January 25: Migration of the project to a URL.
• February 1: to be able to run dances using only a sequence of pre-defined method calls. This requires the integration of user interface and the dancer program.
• February 15: to be able to use other structures like loops, variables, expressions in coding...
• March 14: modification of the user interface to be able to create re-usable user defined methods.
  
• March 28: to be able to use user-defined methods in actual coding. Also creating methods by using the old BD program.
• April 15: completion of the project.
• May 15: completion of the documentation and bug fixes.

This week, I'll try to add the feature to play mp3 files from desktop for the old BD besides migrating pCSDT to a URL.

Meeting, Eval proposal, ACCS

Great meeting with Hilmi and Moorthy yesterday; will place my notes below.

NSF has asked us to send in a supplemental eval proposal--problem is RPI wanted us to classify teachers as consultants, which would greatly increase overhead costs. Finally got them to agree using following from NSF:

Chapter II – Section C.2.g(v), Participant Support Costs, has been revised to show that for some educational projects conducted at local school districts, the participants are being trained as employees. If that is the case, the costs should be classified as participant support if a stipend or training allowance method is used.

Got some great dances from Linda's students, posted Melissa's rhythm wheels materials in the websites at http://www.ccd.rpi.edu/Eglash/csdt/latino/rhythm/classroom/megna/overview.html
Jay is setting up a media wiki to allow students to upload their own dances, bead work etc. Trevor Gray is working on a php system for that as well. Will be working with undergrad Christina Weigers on merging design tools with the 3D printer (but will need to figure out access to sol files). Also looking at simulations for hexastrip baskets with a student. And here are the meeting notes:

Meeting with Moorthy and Hilmi 1/18/2008

A. Completion of breakdancer:
1. Description of current state is at http://bpc-rpi.blogspot.com/2007/11/state-of-pcsdt.html
2. Deadline we have set ourselves for completion is April 15 (after that will be time for documentation, revisions, training next programmer, etc.)
3. Can create new methods by saving a move with the old dancer.
4. Right now only one class: humanoid. Eventually we hope to have several body shapes to choose from. Other “modes” would also have multiple classes. For example the bead loom: might want to import some other shape rather than beads. One issue is determining the “anchor” for the new shape (eg when you apply a rotation it would rotate around the anchor). Perhaps the anchor location can be given in Cartesian coordinates as a parameter of the class.
5. “Setrighthip” method example: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg-X9_q-x7f-WEw1vnLHbCyS7ITJNe1dsmxZ6arfawkFiqFf80wtWrFd4F4LM6OCY0GgpA62JXHQkxjrjbbe1l05ZpOh8lv-bVxPS9vb0gQTPK5OnCNlFB6ZfX01HgwiOy8hp7Uercqs4k/s1600-h/snapshot3.png So here one of the parameters would be the frame number. This will solve the problem of distinguishing sequential from parallel moves.

B. Improvements to old (non-programmable) BD:
1. Load music files from desktop
2. Increase size of applet
3. Remove .ani option from save dance

C. Future meetings
1. meet every two weeks (thurs 2pm)
2. Blog every friday
3. Hilmi will come up with milestones

Rhythm Wheels website, more kvetching about BD

More complaints from Linda's studnets about not being able to get BD to work. Working with Elluminate for virtual presentation for Richmond VA MathScience Center. Working with Chance Lewis and Tiffany on supplemental grant for extended evaluation (at NSF's request).

Meanwhile took the syllabi and teaching materials from Melissa Megna's work with Rhythm Wheels at the ACCS last semester and created a website: http://www.ccd.rpi.edu/Eglash/csdt/latino/rhythm/classroom/megna/overview.html