Class 8: Scratch Animated Greeting Card

In Scratch, I created a image of a christmas plant using the vector graphics.

Here, I drew a candy cane using the vector graphics.

Here, I drew a snowman using the vector graphics.

Here, I drew a star and a christmas tree using the vector graphics.

Here, I drew a sock and a rain deer using the bitmap graphics.

Here, I inserted codes so that some of the images were animated.

This is my final product of an animated greeting card that I shared on scratch. When you press the space bar, the snowman and the rain deer says "Hello" or "Merry Christmas" for two seconds. When you push the flag button, the star and the christmas flower rotates around. 

Here is the link to the animated greeting card: http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/32050154/

This is a final exercise from the Immersive Education course that I am taking at Boston College. The course is called Discovering Computer Graphics. For details, visit the immersive BC portal at http://ImmersiveEducation.org/@/bc 

Final 5c: My Customized Java Game

This is a screenshot of a customized Java 2D Game made through Greenfoot. I replaced the snake with a rocket, the turtle with a sheep, and a lettuce with a grass. 

Here is a link to my customized 2D game: http://www.greenfoot.org/scenarios/12869  

 This is a final exercise from the Immersive Education course that I am taking at Boston College. The course is called Discovering Computer Graphics. For details, visit the immersive BC portal at http://ImmersiveEducation.org/@/bc 

Final 5b: Greenfoot Lettuce and Snake

This is a screenshot of a Java 2D Game made through Greenfoot. Here, the turtles are designed to eat the lettuce, while the snakes are designed to eat the turtles. Left is a screenshot of the game, while right is a screenshot of the codes.

Here is a link to the game: http://www.greenfoot.org/scenarios/12867 

This is a final exercise from the Immersive Education course that I am taking at Boston College. The course is called Discovering Computer Graphics. For details, visit the immersive BC portal at http://ImmersiveEducation.org/@/bc 

FINAL 5a: Greenfoot JoC #4 Finally some code!

This is a screenshot of a Java Game made by using code. The turtles are designed to move in circles. In in assignment, I used Greenfoot to create a 2D game. This is a final exercise from the Immersive Education course that I am taking at Boston College. The course is called Discovering Computer Graphics. For details, visit the immersive BC portal at http://ImmersiveEducation.org/@/bc   

Class 13: Identity in the Context of Virtual Worlds

Throughout the course, I ended up learning lots of things about identity. At first I didn't have any knowledge towards an avatar or a virtual world, and also didn't know that people interact with each other in such worlds. However, as I created my own avatar and completed various assignments as the class went on, I learned and realized how important a role that identity takes place in the virtual world.

In the virtual world, there are no limitations or guidelines to what the avatar should look like. Therefore,  people are given various opportunities to express one's identity freely. I thought this was interesting, but also learned that this aspect of the virtual world can be used negatively. Since the avatars don't have to reflect the actual appearances of the individual, people often use them to cover up their true identities and create false identities through their avatars. Thus, some were very disturbing, as they showed inappropriate behaviors. I think there should be some limitations to how individual's true identity should be reflected in avatars.

Meshmoon, one of the programs that we used, brought us to different virtual worlds to explore and meet different people. The most interesting part of this program was that it allowed us to build our own world. I completed different assignments building a world in Meshmoon, but realized that the expression of identities in avatars were very limited.

Secondlife, also one of the programs that we used, allowed us to express our identities more freely using the avatar. There were more options. Also, the virtual worlds were larger with a wider range of people. Therefore, it was a lot easier to meet different people and socialize with them, revealing our identities to themselves. However, it was very easy to be judged based only on the appearances of the avatars, including its race, outfits, and style. Thus, individuals were likely to be judged based on their false identities rather than their true identities.

Exploring various virtual worlds, and socializing with different avatars was a novel, interesting experience. It allowed a better understanding of identities, both false and true. Compared to my ignorance on virtual worlds and avatars, I leave with a bigger knowledge. Here are some of my favorite screenshots from the semester:

Here, I explored the immersive museum in second life.

Here, I built a house in a virtual world of Meshmoon.
 
Here, I built a rocket in a virtual world of Meshmoon.

Here, I customized my own high-resolution avatar using the MakeHuman program.

This is a final exercise from the Immersive Education course that I am taking at Boston College. The course is called Discovering Computer Graphics. For details, visit the immersive BC portal at http://ImmersiveEducation.org/@/bc 

Examining Gender, Race, and Body Image in a Virtual World

Here, I was a hispanic female, and tried talking to a girl. 

Here I am trying to talk to a man, when I was a hispanic female.

Here, I am trying to talk to a male goblin, when I was a black male. 

Here, I am trying to talk to a man, when I was a black male.

Here, I am trying to talk to a woman, when I was a blonde white female.

Here, I am trying to talk to a male rock musician, when I was a blond white female. 

For this assignment, I had to socialize with random people in different Second Life virtual worlds. For the first 30 minutes, I used my original avatar, a hispanic female with black hair and black clothes, to socialize with people. When I tried talking to the people that I encountered, most of them ignored or walked away. Some replied, but was generally very unfriendly. Then, I changed my avatar to a black male wearing hip-hop style outfits. When I tried to socialize with people using this avatar, it was better. Although no one walked up to say hi first, but they gave me a nicer reply than the people in the first world. Some also proceeded with simple conversations, such as "I smoke haha. you?" When I changed my avatar to a blonde, white female, socialization was easier. Some walked up first to say hi, and gave friendly replies. This is a final exercise from the Immersive Education course that I am taking at Boston College. The course is called Discovering Computer Graphics. For details, visit the immersive BC portal at http://ImmersiveEducation.org/@/bc 

Final Project: Adding 10 New Content Elements To My Immersive Library

Here, I am adding the first pdf file from the research library.

Here, I am creating the second pdf file from the research library. 

Here, I am in process of adding 5 new pdf files from my research library. 

Here, I am in process of adding my eight and ninth pdf files from my research library. 

Here I am adding my last pdf file from my research library. 

This is the overall view of my 10 pdf files added to my immersive library in the virtual world. Some of them pops up as blank, but when seen individually, the file will appear. This is a final exercise from the Immersive Education course that I am taking at Boston College. The course is called Discovering Computer Graphics. For details, visit the immersive BC portal at http://ImmersiveEducation.org/@/bc