The Development of Interactive 3D Animal Non-Player Characters: A Study of Research framework and Implementation of Framework at Actual Research Site
Aloysius Yapp1*, Lim Chai Kim1, Lo Ting-Yun2, Chen Ching-Yun2
1 Centre for Immersive Technology and Creativity. Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman.
2 National Yunlin University of Science and Technology. Graduate School of Design, Master & Doctoral Program.
*Corresponding Author: [email protected]
Received: 18 March 2023 | Accepted: 1 May 2023 | Published: 1 June 2023
DOI:https://doi.org/10.55057/ijarti.2023.5.2.3
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Abstract: This is a study about the research framework and the implementation of the framework toward fieldwork, most importantly data collection and visual literature preparation for VR Longhouse: The walkthrough. The research team getting ready in the pre- research stage with the sharing and discussion of the research framework. From the very beginning stage until the finalized version. As the process of understanding the framework took place for 3 months, the research team also tried to study the references which be able to support the field work after the pre-research stage. After getting the framework the team went for the preliminary trial stage to test the usability of the framework at 2 dummy sites before embarking to Sarawak for the real fieldwork at the research site in Saribas. Testing and follow-up with modification. The process can confirm a final framework for the fieldwork in Sarawak. The team implemented the framework on the research site. The team managed to collect the visual data to support the VR longhouse: The walkthrough project. The entire process is to determine the usability of the research frame on the actual research project.
Keywords: Non-Player Characters, Research Framework. Fieldwork. VR Longhouse. Visual data. The walk through
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1. Introduction
Researchers have long recognized the importance of visual methods (Collier 1967; C. Mitchell 2011; Tinkler 2013; Wagner 2006), which largely emerged from anthropology, beginning in the early 1900s (Pink 2006). Visual methods did not explode until a more dramatic turn to reflexive research, one that highlighted subjectivities (Pink 2006). Visual Anthropology has become a classic in its field, invaluable not only for anthropologists but for anyone using photography, film, and video to understand human behaviour and culture. (Collier 1967) Visuals can add a layer of depth to our analysis, can offer patterns for analysis, if we attend to them. For example, when I looked at the photographs from my field site and read through the transcripts of my interviews and field notes, it often felt as if I had happened upon different stories. Researchers are innovating within the method of ethnography, attending to the visual in sometimes old and sometimes new ways. (Lisa-Jo K. van den Scott .2018) The term “visual methods” encompasses a wide range of approaches, which include photo elicitation (Dodman 2003), photo voice (Mizen 2005; Wang 1999) go-along interviews with video or photography (Kusenbach 2003; Carpiano 2009).
This study examines the research framework and implementation of the framework toward field work, including data collection and visual literature preparation for VR Longhouse. The team also conducted a preliminary trial stage to test the usability of the framework at 2 dummy sites before embarking to Sarawak for real field work. The process confirmed a final framework for the field work and collected visual data to support the VR longhouse. This is the research which started from introduction of a framework, sharing, discussions and modification carries the entire process before the execution stage at the real research site.
2. Methodology
Figure 1: The flow Research projects
• Workflow
• Pipeline, practices and approaches
• Research and projects sharing
• Getting into the practice
The research starts from introduction of workflow. The team consists of specialists from difference research background. The lead of the team briefed the team the flow from pipeline until several approaches which included projects sharing. The projects which completed and published. Using the flow to guide and showcase the process. After getting into the understanding of the workflow, the team needs to practice using simulation. Referring to previous projects to simulate the process.
Figure 1: Flow 2
The stated flow 2 is the process showing the process started from Conceptualization, Ideation, Projects Reviews, Simulation / References, Framework building. Lastly Familiarize, testing, modification. Conceptualization and ideation consists of 5 W 1 H. Basic ideation process to get the idea from concept which been form from a thought. Following with projects review, the team has to get into the zone which reviewing the previous projects as reference also visual review. From this process the team be able to bring some ideas on how is the output supposedly
showed. The construction from very beginning of the process. The previous setting a milestone and documented on online platform and social media. After that frame building took place.
This is a most tedious and interesting stage which the team has to refer to some frameworks which be able to assist the team to build one for their research project. After building, testing, rejecting, rebuilding keeping this process until successfully getting the potential framework the team has to be familiarize with the framework then do the test, then modified and prepared for the real site field work.
3. The Implementation
Figure 2: Dummy site 1
Figure 3: Dummy site 2
The research team used the framework to implement the process of data collection. The team went to the selected dummy side to do the fieldwork. The process from an understanding of the framework, the usage of a framework on fieldwork. Walking- Viewing- Feeling- Collecting the data. Visual references are needed to collect and get back to the studio to study and analyses.
The same process had been implemented on the second dummy fieldwork side.
3.1 The Implementation Part 2: Real Research Site Field Work
Figure 4: Real Research Site Field Work
After months of preparation, the team conducted their fieldwork at Saribas, Sarawak. The team reached Sarawak with a soft introduction before traveling by wheel from Kuching International Airport to the research site which took around 5 to 6 hours. The team only had a few hours before the real implementation of the framework in full gear scale on the real or actual site.
The team travelled on the wheel from one site to another within Saribas. Every process took place in the last patch so the team had to adapt fast before the second process took place. After soft-briefing, the team moved around the longhouse, the actual and real longhouse in and out to capture as much as visual data they were able to capture.
Figure 5: the Team
Figure 6: The Social Media site handling the project
4. The outcome
Using the data collected during fieldwork to develop VR longhouse and showcase the research findings and make the experience more engaging and interactive for users. Incorporating non- player characters with AI features can add an extra layer of depth and realism to the virtual environment. It can also provide users with a unique perspective on the culture being studied and allow them to learn in a more immersive and hands-on way. The digital archiving system can be an invaluable resource for creating the assets needed for the VR longhouse, as well as for future research and educational projects. Having a centralized database of all the data collected and analysed can make it easier to access and utilize the information in various ways.
Overall, incorporating the research findings into a VR experience is an innovative and effective way to communicate and share knowledge with a wider audience.
5. Discussion and Conclusion
Overall, the whole process from the introduction of framework until the implementation is successful delivered. The preparation took 5 months before the real execution on the real or actual research site. Based on the milestones planned for the team to expose to the framework until the practice, all milestones achieved from research knowledge transferring and sharing session. Through the 6 months sharing the knowledge from working on articles together and showing the research framework to the team, the observation process had been carry out during the preparation stage for field work until they managed to visit and contribute in the research data collections process at the actual side. Seriously bringing the research knowledge transferring and sharing process from framework to actual works. Hopefully through this workflow using the stated framework directly or indirectly can help on real site research work in future.
References
Collier John. 1967. Visual Anthropology: Photography as a Research Method. New York.:
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Mitchell Claudia. 2011. Doing Visual Research. Los Angelesm CA: Sage.
Tinkler Penny. 2013. Using Photographs in Social and Historical Research. Los Angeles, CA:
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Wagner Jon. 2006. “Visible Materials, Visualized Theory and Images of Social Research.”
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Pink Sarah. 2006. The Future of Visual Anthropology: Engaging the Senses. London:
Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group.
Lisa-Jo K. Van Den Scott. 2018. Visual Methods in Ethnography. Sage Journal.
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Kusenbach Margarethe. 2003. “Street Phenomenology: The Go-Along as Ethnographic Research Tool.” Ethnography 4 (3): 455–85.
Carpiano Richard M. 2009. “Come Take a Walk with Me: The Go-Along Interview as a Novel Method for Studying the Implications of Place for Health and Well-Being.” Health and Place 15 (1): 263–72.