Thesis project
Can biosignals be used as input to control a multimedia interface?
This was the main question I had when commencing with my thesis research. In my thesis, research is done to see if certain (electrical) biosignals can be used to control a multimedia interface. The final goal of my research was to develop and design a biofeedback interface to control a character inside a computer game.
After several months of research, co-design sessions and user tests, an electronic device was designed that can measure eye movement, muscle tension and heart rate. Alongside this a host-application to analyze these biosignals was developed. Lastly, a game environment was designed and developed in Unity3D.
More in-depth information about my thesis, including a digital version of my thesis dissertation (dutch only) can be found in the thesis tab.
BitBusters
BitBusters is a non-profit organization that organizes anual LAN events. The goal of BitBusters is to offer people an alternative to large-scale LAN parties that aim solely for competitive play. BitBusters wants to create an environment for gamers to enjoy their playing time together while still being competitive, but fun being the most important factor.
As the head chairman, I take part in the management of the organization to optimize the experience for our attendants. To ensure the best quality as possible, we thrive on feedback from the attendants, to improve and strengthen our organization for every next event.
To provide an online platform for the organization, a website was designed and developed to keep visitors and attendants up-to-date with recent changes and enables them to sign up for upcoming LAN events.
An intranet website was created to optimize workflow throughout the LAN event. It enables participants to sign up for competitions and crew to manage administration.
For marketing purposes, a brand identity was created for both web and print media.
Performed tasks- Brand Identity
- Design (intranet, internet, print)
- HTML/CSS (internet, intranet)
- PHP front- & back-end (internet, intranet)
Color Tracking drawing Kit
The goal of this project was to research the possibilities of selective color/blob tracking through a live webcam stream and to what extent this technique can be used to handle certain common tasks on the computer.
This drawing kit is an application that can be controlled through the use of color tracking. When the application is opened up, the user has to pick two colors from live webcam feed (using colored paper or colored LEDs can be used). After the colors are picked, the application will track these colors as long as they are visible on the webcam.
By placing these two colors in specific areas in the webcam view, specific actions can be triggered. Combined with the provided GUI, this application enables the user to draw, fill and erase shapes and lines on the canvas.
Aside from the color picking process, no physical interaction through keyboard/mouse input is needed to operate the application. A webcam is required to make use of this application, however.
Ooh ce course!
Ooh ce course (derived from the french expression ¨au secours¨) is the result of a research project that was conducted with teenagers ranging from the ages of 12 to 15. The objective of this project was to develop an educational game to help pupils study a specific part of the study material they learned during French classes.
To become familiarized with the project, preliminary interviews were held with the pupils to get a better insight in how they experience classic lectures, their personal interests and gaming habbits. This was followed up by a participatory design session in which interviews were conducted and a low-fi paper prototype (only basic gameplay elements, an introduction to a possible storyline and some hi-fi graphics) was provided to them to test plausible scenarios of the game.
From the information that was received through this session, a first digital version of a technical prototype was created, which featured hi-fi graphics, all the basic interactions and most of the storyline. Again, this prototype was tested with the same group of participants as in the earlier participatory design session.
A last version of the prototype was developed after having gathered all the important feedback from the user tests. Changes were made to some gameplay elements to smoothen the in-game interaction and to create an optimal immersive experience for these pupils.
At the end of this project, a high fidelity beta version of a serious game was delivered that can be used for educational purposes to aid students in their studying process.
Podologieweb
Podologieweb is the online portal of the Federdation of Belgian Podiatrists (FBP). The portal serves as a common meeting ground between experts and clients. While clients and prospects can familiarize themselves with the podiatry profession and get learn about treatment procedures and reimbursement plans, professionals can request membership to the federation to then gain administrative privileges on the website to add their practice to the FBP database.
In this project, I was in charge of converting a design template to a functional HTML template and integrating a customized Google Maps layer into the website. The custom Google Maps layer was created according to database specific address rules from registered podiatry practices in Belgium. Alongside this, functionality was implemented to calculate the nearest podiatry practice according to address information from form input. Finally, a GPS feature was implemented through the Google Maps API to show the fastest route for the client.
Performed tasks- Design slicing
- HTML/CSS
- Google Maps API Layer creation & integration
Natureact
Natureact is a concept based on Rob van Kranenburg's The internet of things, which introduces (fairly) unrelated topics to each other and creates a connection in-between. This project was mostly designed on a conceptual level, but leaves a lot of room for future implementation.
In natureact, we wanted to introduce nature to the city center. By integrating technology in a public space, an interaction between people passing by and the public space can come to life based on the feedback from electronic systems.
The goal was to improve the ambient athmosphere of certain public spaces (also called "non places", as they are places people move through without having interest in the place itself, just for its functionality). By using electronic sensory equipment, data can be gathered from these passers-by. This data can then be used to project/react with technology.
Experiments were done with Augmented Reality techniques, as well as electronic circuit integration in public spaces. In the end, we opted to design an interactive cushion that can be placed on benches and seats. The cushion is connected to a computer system which handles real-time video playback whenever a person sits on the cushion. When a person goes to sit on the cushion, video playback will start. Whenever the person stands up, the video will rewind to the start of the video. When combined with other sensory techniques such as camera tracking, the behavior of the playback can be modified (according to the person's movement and position on the camera stream).
Lastly, the playback is projected onto the environment (walls, nearby objects). The video itself consists of virtual nature growth around the person (or multiple people in the area), to give the ambient impression that nature is growing rapidly in the city center.
As stated, this project was mostly developed in the conceptual stage and only a basic, low-fi prototype was delivered. There, however, is a lot of room for further implementation by using other sensory techniques to expand on this concept. Other techniques such as augmented reality can be applied to make the experience more complex and immersive.
OHL2010
Oud Heverlee-Leuven (OHL) is a football club located in Leuven, Belgium. During my time as an intern at contentcowboys.com I was tasked with the development of a website for their 2010 campaign, called OHL2010. The aim of the website was to reach 2010 subscribers for the upcoming season. If this number was reached, every subscriber would recieve a secret surprise.
The website features a live counter of the amount of subscribers and allows visitors to register for a subrscription or recommend it to friends. The development of the website was done with the CakePHP framework.
Performed tasks- Design slicing
- HTML/CSS
- Development (CakePHP)
Invivo
One of my first projects as a freelance web designer was Invivo. Invivo is a veterinary practice that specializes in analysis, treatment and surgery of pet animals. In 2009, Ann Coomans, a young and talented veterinary opened her practice to the public. As her practice was new, There was a need of a website for web presence.
A website was developed to inform visitors about the offered services, vision, contact and route information. Furthermore, I assited in the creation of the corporate identity for print and interior design.
Performed tasks- Web & print design
- Corporate Identity
- HTML/CSS
In my thesis entitled "The Human Controller" I did research on the viability of biosignals as a source of input for a multimedia interface. A biosignal is a signal that can be measured from certain parts of the human body to get information about the physiological state of a person. Through desk research I gained theoretical knowledge about certain biosignals, more specifically I researched what biosignals are, how they can be measured and how (and what for) they are used. While biosignals can both be electrical and non-electrical, I opted to limit my research to bio-electrical signals.
During the desk research process I noticed that biosignals can be split up into two groups: voluntary and spontaneous biosignals. While voluntary biosignals can be controlled fairly easy (muscle tension f.e.), and therefore offering control for implementation in an interface, this is the exact opposite for spontaneous biosignals (heart rate f.e.).
I selected a few biosignals for further use and implementation, according to their specific functionality: Heart rate (ECG), muscle tension (EMG) and eye movement (EOG). By choosing both spontaneous and voluntary biosignals, I attempted to achieve a good balance between emotion and control as input for the interface.
To gain knowledge about the technology needed to measure and analyze these biosignals, I first consulted and interviewed experts. In the end I opted to create both my hard- and software to measure and analyze biosignals myself.
The final step of my thesis project was to create a working prototype of a functional game environment controlled by biosignal input. Through several co-design sessions and user tests, a fully functional prototype was designed in Unity3D, in which every biosignal was integrated into a game mechanism.
Being born as an Echo boomer (1988), I grew up with all sorts of media and technology surrounding me. At a young age I discovered the wonderous world called the world wide (wild?) web. Soon after, I began designing my own digital creations with Photoshop. Not much later I taught myself how to code websites using HTML and CSS.
With high school coming to an end, and my evergrowing passion for the digital world, the logical step for me was to go and study Communication & Multimedia Design (C-MD) at the Media & Design Academy campus of Limburg Catholic University College. During my years as a student, I developed a multimedia-related skillset that stretched beyond web and print related media. Through several projects during the last two years of my education, I gained interest in interaction design by creating all sorts of prototypes for specific purposes and audiences, each with specific wishes, needs and demands.
Aside from my academic curriculum, I am the head chairman of BitBusters, a non-profit organization that organizes anual LAN events for local youth. This is an on-going project that requires regular updates and staff meetings to run smoothly and well organized, therefore demanding some of my time.
In my free time I enjoy spending time with my girlfriend and friends, playing table tennis and reading up on new technologies. I also enjoy listening to music and watching movies and series whenever I can.
Quick info
- Mail: simon@fabriczero.be
- Mobile: +32(0)485/37 42 69
- Phone: +32(0)13/53 14 21
- Skype: simonverboven