Individual Contribution and Assessment

Taks for the project

I've got two tasks for the project The Creation of Gothic Architecture, which are:

1. SketchUp model importing: week 3 - week 9;(Completed)

2. Search bar in Unity3D: week 10 - the end.(Uncompleted)

The first task was left to me after other group members have chosen their desired tasks. The second task was assigned to me when I totally finished the first task at week 10.

The importing process was finished by researching methods of importing model from SketchUp to Unity3D, test and compare the selected methods, fix bugs in the SketchUp model, import the model, wrote a tutorial on how to do this. This process is done step by step and week by week from week 3 to week 10.

Following video and links are the research step to find out the export&import methods.

How to - Import a Sketchup (.skp) Model into Unity (with Textures)

[Closed] Importing Sketchup (Collada/.dae) into Unity

Following images show the bug fixing step with the SketchUp model.

The following the Tutorial: How to import SketchUp model to Unity3D.

My OS: Win7 64bit

Softwares required:

SketchUp

PlayUp

Unity3D

1. Open the Cerseril model with Google SketchUp.

2. Install the PlayUp plug-in directly with the EXTENSION WAREHOUSE in SketchUp. Set up the PlayUp plug-in.

3. Align the faces of the model. (In the Monochrome mode, the bright side should be up/front. If a side you want to have visible is blue, then right click it, and scroll down till you see Reverse Faces.)

4. Export level with PlayUp and open it in Unity3D. Be sure to check up the Collider box to prevent characters walk through walls.

To this point, the task Importing is finished completely. Then I was assigned a new task which is creating a search bar in Unity3D by Benjamin Hur.

The second task is failed because of the shortage of time and bad time management. It is totally different from the first task which needs to work with codes and that is my weakness. The following posts shows the attempts to this task to prove that I've try to work on it.

Search Bar in Unity3D

Search Bar: the Structure of a Search Bar

Coding Language in Unity3D

All materials I've researched:

http://forum.unity3d.com/threads/search-bar.144093/

http://forum.unity3d.com/threads/copy-unitys-hierarchy-search-bar.184055/

http://answers.unity3d.com/questions/396333/how-can-i-make-a-search-engine-similar-to-scribble.html

http://answers.unity3d.com/questions/396333/how-can-i-make-a-search-engine-similar-to-scribble.html

http://3dgep.com/?p=5169#GUI.Button

http://www.w3schools.com/js/js_arrays.asp

http://3dgep.com/?p=3474

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAFqph_sm-c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rASdH_zTX4&index=10&list=PL7rVTwUzzPyL_0OsUWekc2IlIsyD_YhZ7

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPsK0EP95_Q&list=PL7rVTwUzzPyJs6bfjFYRSVzOs_nnWuUqy

As a result of my failure, we don't have a Search Bar in our project in Unity3D. Besides the factor of shortage of time, I should have been learning codes first and learn how to play with them in Unity3D.

Contribution to the group presentation: Communication

We were focused on the presentation about the assigned topic - communication. We meets up for ideas gathering the tasks allocating and we shot a video in which everyone has participated. After that I was focused on the communication with clients part of the presentation and I speak that part to the audience on that day.

Preparation for Group Presentation: Communication

Reflections on Group Presentations

1. Planning

2. Communication

3. Intellectual Property

4. Conflict

5. Remuneration

Coding Language in Unity3D

Known that the problem is that I don't know the coding language that I can't make a search bar so far. I decided to start learning the coding(scripting) language even though there is no time to do this.

-Choosing the default Script Editor

-Creating a new Script

-Editing a Script

-Variables

-Function Update{}

-Viewing and Editing Variables in-editor

-Attaching script to a Game Object in the Scene

-”Playing” the Game

GUI.TextField

static function TextField(position: Rect, text: string): string;

static function TextField(position: Rect, text: string, maxLength: int): string;

static function TextField(position: Rect, text: string, style: GUIStyle): string;

static function TextField(position: Rect, text: string, maxLength: int, style: GUIStyle): string;

GUI.Button

static function Button(position: Rect, text: string): bool;

static function Button(position: Rect, image: Texture): bool;

static function Button(position: Rect, content: GUIContent): bool;

static function Button(position: Rect, text: string, style: GUIStyle): bool;

static function Button(position: Rect, image: Texture, style: GUIStyle): bool;

static function Button(position: Rect, content: GUIContent, style: GUIStyle): bool;

Scripting in Unity

However, it still doesn't work for me.Knowing that it is impossible to learn and use scripting language to create a search bar in Unity3D I am sorry to admit that I cant finish the "Search Bar" task for our group in such short time.

Reflection: Group Presentation 5: Remuneration

Motorcycle Group: Joshua and Anders

The presentation was very dry although the content was very informative.explained and showed the comparison in pay by experience, working as a sole trader, working for a small company or working for a large company.The presentation was well put together and had a good structure, an inter-weaved mixture of both presentation slides and video footage.It's a good idea how they did comparisons through graphs but again i didn't understand it well.

Search Bar: the Structure of a Search Bar

A search bar can be built with PopUp + TextField + Button.

This week I'm trying to work out how to archive these components in Unity3D.

The following video is which I learned to get a "TextField" as a container of the search bar to type in keywords.

I've got these codes to achieve the search function. The problem is I don't know how to play with these codes and where to put them in and how to get them work. When I put them into Unity3D, however, they don't seem to work. Have no idea why.. Need to continue it later.

Tutorial: How to import SketchUp model to Unity3D.

My OS: Win7 64bit

Softwares required:

SketchUp

PlayUp

Unity3D

1. Open the Cerseril model with Google SketchUp.

2. Install the PlayUp plug-in directly with the EXTENSION WAREHOUSE in SketchUp. Set up the PlayUp plug-in.

3. Align the faces of the model. (In the Monochrome mode, the bright side should be up/front. If a side you want to have visible is blue, then right click it, and scroll down till you see Reverse Faces.)

4. Export level with PlayUp and open it in Unity3D. Be sure to check up the Collider box to prevent characters walk through walls.

Reflection: Group Presentation 4: Conflict

Airway Group:

Chew, Bao Wen
Taylor, Shaun Kelvin
Yolola, Jesharelah Alayan
Gonzales, Roschelle Anne
Corre, Eugelyn Lor Flores
Bautista, Reina Pineda

Informative presentation with a good defining of the types of conflicts. The slides were a bit to dense with information, however it was presented well. Good video, possibly could have been beneficial to have comments telling the issue, rather then having to verbally explain it.

Motorcycle Group:

Kalgovas, Benjamin
Yan, Daming
Wu, Hanbing

Very funny and compelling video that had a greater personal connection with the audience from the group members.

Both presentations illustrated the problems that conflict has on group projects and various ways to go about resolving such conflicts.Presentation points - slides were hard to read with text and images. More examples directly derived from what you have experienced. Problems followed by resolutions are a great idea to illustrate a point.

Search Bar in Unity3D

By this week, our whole project seems to be finished and some of us including me have done our task assigned. I've got a new task since the importing process is done successfully. However, this task seems hard to me since it needs be completed with codes like Java or C#. I haven't touch these codes since the very beginning of this project for this semester. It seems the time is too short for me to complete it.

A search bar in unity we want to have a list of words of churches and components and when search for a word a box of words would come up and you can pick from them. A search bar can locate objects by typing the keywords in Unity3D.

Search Bar

Copy Unity's Hierarchy Search bar

How can I make an in-game search engine similar to Scribblenauts

To be honest, I can't completely understand these posts and their questions and answers so far. I'm planning to learn about the working codes in Unity3D they have talked about in the next few days to go further with this task.

Individual Milestone

This is a summary of the first half of this studio. As it is a group work, we are working collaboratively.

At first we divide our group into two parts, ones doing UI programming and coding, and the other, we are doing texture, modelling and importing. I'm mainly in charge of importing. But I still did some researches about the user interface.

http://xiaodongfanarch1392-2014.blogspot.com.au/2014/03/the-creation-of-gothic-architecture.html
http://xiaodongfanarch1392-2014.blogspot.com.au/2014/03/individual-progress-way-finding-system.html

After the work allocation, we were focused on the presentation about the assigned topic - communication. We meets up for ideas gathering the tasks allocating and we shot a video in which everyone has participated. After that I was focused on the communication with clients part of the presentation and I speak that part to the audience on that day.

http://xiaodongfanarch1392-2014.blogspot.com.au/2014/04/group-presentation-communication.html

Before the holiday coming, we assigned each other specific tasks to do which mine is to make sure the faces of the model has not been reversed and prevent character walking through walls.

http://xiaodongfanarch1392-2014.blogspot.com.au/2014/04/progress-on-importing-model-correctly.html

Then we had another group meeting to get all of our stuff together for next actions.

http://xiaodongfanarch1392-2014.blogspot.com.au/2014/05/group-meeting-on-project-progress.html

Reflection: Group Presentation 3: Intellectual Property

Motorcycle Group: Alyssa and Vedran.

The video was a bit too quick to read they could have improved on making the video a bit slower to be readable. It would have been good to have more information on the different types of IP you can apply for and the methods you would need to go through to register your product/services.

Gothic Architecture Group: Dorothy, Ricky, Alan, David, Stephan and Maki.

The video was interesting which encouraged me to watch throughout the end of it, it was also informative explaining what we should do to protect our property/idea. The presentation explained well what kind of IP applies to the project they were doing.

Group Meeting on Project Progress

We had a group meeting in Red Center today to get all our stuff together.

I've finished the importing job by checking all the faces displayed correct and imported it from SketchUp to Unity. I've also come up with some ideas of contents in the setting menu for Benjamin such as Sounds On/Off, Text Size, and Hints On/Off.

Anthony had a good progress on coding and he had a pop-up window when clicking on the object to show the relative information.

Benjamin also made a nice start menu interface and the EXPLORE interface which allow users to click on one of the architectures' photo to have a deep explore.

This image is created by Benjamin Hur.

Lorrain has finished the 3D environment work.

We gathered all our stuff together in one Unity project. Next we'll send it to Lauren to edit the texture and then she will send it back to Anthony for connecting the database.

Communication with Clients

I was absent on yesterday studio. I've got some notes taken by Lorrain from John and Russel.

When the uses looking at the specific part of the church, it needs to show any other church having the same structures. Allow users search independently of the model. All the same structure could be highlighted in the whole building when clicking on one of them. Create transformation if the structure: differences, references, section diagrams, photos. Need to show the connection between two different structure: how to being put together.

We need to think about the presentation in July. John will tested it in person. He will randomly click on different things. Things can be searched by objects, time, area, and material to test with the system. It should have two graphic styles by campaign.

Progress on Importing Model Correctly

At the moment my task is to make sure the model is imported from SketchUp to Unity correctly. To do this, I first turn the face style to monochrome in the View menu and checked the all the faces in SkecuUp Model to make sure there is no reversed faces.

After this step is the importing. I've tried several methods including export to .dae file directly from SketchUp. But the Unity dosen't seem to support the dae file directly exported by SketchUp well. There some faces displayed incorrectly in Unity but the the origin texture and color code are correct. Failed to find out the reason and fix the problem I've tried to use the Pro version of SketchUp to export the model into .fbx file. This time it works well. It s said that export into dae file by use the Playup plug-in also works well. I didn't have a go on that.

Exported .dae file

Exported .fbx file

Then I got another problem that the character can walk through walls. After researching and advice by Anthony, the solution to this is to explode everything in SketchUp model and make all of them one component. The switch on the COLLIDER in Unity. It works.

Individual Tasks during Holiday

We are on two weeks holiday until April 27. At the last studio we have assigned each other individual tasks to do under the guidance of Stephen. Which are:

Anthony - Create a demo of walking in the environment and bumping into things.

Lauren - Change shaders and textures in Unity cartoony than SketchUp.

Theo(me) - Make sure the model imports correctly with no reverse faces and prevent the character walking through walls.

Benjamin - User Interface.

Bassel - Develop a list of results that pop up when clicking on the UI.

Lorrain - 3D environment in Unity.

Notes taken by Lauren Seif

Reflection: Group Presentation 2: Communication

Gothic Group (Our Group): Anthony Constantinidis, Bassel Wannous, Benjamin Hur, Xiaodong Fan, Yaoyu Xiao.

I think we did a good presentation. We had a good try on prezi and a interesting and highlighted video. The problem is the use of references, we could have make it clearly. And my part 'communication with clients' could be improved a little bit more. I'm not trying to listening is more important than talking. They could have the some weight, both are important in communications.

Motorcycle Group: Andrew Thantronng, Marina Hanna.

They have a good video which was said been made based on a software. They should have referenced it. I like their concept about Driver & Navigator. Where they are only two members in the group so the Driver will do the real things and the Navigator will support guidance, feedback, and recommendation. They are more focused on their project which I think it should the topic - communication. After all they still need to careful with the overall references.

Bus Stop Group: Anthony Chami, Daniel Olivera, Darren Weinmam, Kerre Skarparis, Martha Masli.

A good presentation also covered everything about the topic - communication. Video is good. The problem is still the references.

Video and Prezi File for Group Presentation

These works are participated and finished by all group members and final digital edited by Yaoyu Xiao.

Preparation for Group Presentation: Communication

We are assigned to do the Group Presentation 2: Communication.

The structure of the presentation will be:

• definition of communication 
• critical identification of communication 
• types of communication 
• spoken vs. written communication 
• synchronous vs. asynchronous communication 
• verbal vs. nonverbal communication 
• communication with clients 

Where I was assigned t finish the last part - communication with clients.

Communication with clients

Communication is essential in all aspects of life. Without effective communication there can be no mutual understanding between individuals, exchange of information, nor expression of true feelings thoughts or ideas.

We communicate with our clients to ensure services are delivered in effective and responsive ways to meet customer needs. If we have problems communicating with our clients, this could result to serve loss of clients. Of course, this will have a negative impact on our project. 

Communication failure is often cause by factors such as:

• Cultural barriers
• Communication anxiety on both ends
• Lack of feedback from the clients
• Poor quality of information
• Poor timing of messages being relayed
• Information overload
• Technological issues 

Ways to effectively communicate with clients 

Arrange regular meetings – our weekly studio. The personal contact is the best way to effectively communication with our clients. It helps us directly learn our clients’ demands and requirements. It is important to listen first then speak. Ask question to ensure that we know our clients completely but beware of interruption.

Make the communication count. Put questions in one email in a regular time rather than sending several different emails in several mornings with one question each. Our clients are busy and value their own time. It is effective if we can maximize the time we have in communication and if it requires them to respond less emails or take less phone calls. 

Feedback – Provide regular feedback to inform our clients of what’s going on with the project and require feedback from our clients to know how we are doing and take changes if needed.

Notes 

http://designm.ag/freelance/communication-with-clients/
http://www.imanageperformance.com/pdf/How05.pdf
http://www.wahm.com/articles/how-to-effectively-communicate-with-your-clients-and-employees.html

Above is my initial work on this part and below is the final edited version I'll speak tomorrow.

We communicate with our clients to ensure our services are delivered in effective and responsive ways to meet their needs. In our case John James has communicated with the team his goals for this project, they are:

* To integrate the model with Unity
* Provide intuitive controls to move inside and out (of the building)
* Link the database "campaign + course" to the model
* create a routine for importing other models into Unity

If we have problems communicating with our clients or meeting their goals, this could result to the trust of the client and the possible eventual loss of the client himself. To avoid the event here are actions we can take:

* Arrange regular meetings for Personal contact - face2face meet up best way of effectively communication
* Listen to the sender to ensure information is understandable
* Question the client if there is any misunderstanding
* Make communication count, busy, value own time, put Qs in 1 email rather than sending 4 different emails in one morning with one question each
* Show the progress to inform clients what’s going on
* Ask for feedback from the client to ensure we on right direction to the final destination

Due to the busy nature of John James, we have Russell and Steven as the 'middle men' and it is to them we communicate with as they provide direct feedback based on the understanding of John's vision of this project.

Reflection: Group Presentation 1: Planning

Aerial Rope-way Group: Bethany McMohon, Daisy Parto, Iqra Hoda, Maria Park, Matt Portokalli, Yen Ngyuen.

This presentation is easy to follow with such a clear structure. The  gantt chart is impressive  to show the individual roles. The video they show is really cool and interesting. While it seems they need to include references in their slides.

Bus Stop Group: George Alagah, Kangyi Tang, Jason Lo, Michael Naumovski, Ruoqi Gan.

They have a good understanding of planning and explained clearly. Compared to the first group, I think their Wiki page scrolling instead of a presentation slide file and text-reading in the video felt a little bit boring.

Individual Progress - Way-finding System

I think those way-finding apps are in some terms relative to the program we are creating. They also have a nice User Interface. So I looked into some of them to get some good ideas. I've got this pictures from abuzz for UI references.

I believe our program can have the similar features to indicate the users' location and a nice stuff menu for looking in different types of structures.

Group Organisations

Facebook Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/614401581972400/

Group Wiki
http://archgothic.wikia.com/wiki/Archgothic_Wiki?cb=3087#Welcome_to_the_Archgothic.C2.A0

Group Dropbox
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/jn87g162w58ly2v/5fzpnCSJiV

The Creation of Gothic Architecture

My assigned project towards this whole semester is the Creation of Gothic Architecture.

Chartres Cathedral, France.

I'm in the team with Yaoyu Xiao, Lauren Seif, Bassel Wannous, Anthony Constantinidis, and Benjamen Hur.

Our aim is to create a reliable visual database subjecting to gothic architecture, whilst design and efficient and simple user interface the general public can access and use with ease.

To achieve these goals, we will:

• Find a few (2) Gothic models in Google SketchUp (preferably models that have separate components).
• Import model into Unity;
• Have a User Interface;
• Walk through for users to click on specific parts such as columns, walls, doors etc and explore all sorts of information such as when, what, how, why, where else around the world.;
• Make the user interface and “blow-ups” tidy and immaculate. 

By doing these we are supposed to have:

• Mini-Map for navigation purposes;
• 1st person view to give a natural feel that you are in the environment.;
• 3rd person view to give a sense of scale for the size of the building.;
• A overall 3D point-of-view of the item.;
• Information on the building such as what, how, why, where, when; 
• Classify buildings (decade form).