Sir Peter Cook's Lecture

Reading my tutor's blog about Sir Peter Cook's lecture helped me understand more of what was being presented by him, as i barely understood anything throughout the whole talk. But despite so, it was a great experience to be able to listen first hand of how a great mind works. In a way, he reminds me of a friendly grandfather telling stories to his little grandchild as he gave so much enthusiasm and excitement as he spoke.

Looking at the contents of his works, at first I just found most of his designs awkward and eccentric, and I kept trying to understand what he was trying to convey but failed miserably. But then I remembered that he is a visionary after all, and visionaries pretty much have a mind of their own, much like a philosopher. It is a wonder as to how are they able to view the world in an entirely different way from all others. They see things that most of us do not. It reminds me of  the modernist during the modernism period when they tried to revolutionize design back then and found it hard to convince the society to accept their ideas. All the while I've only known all these from books and sites, but sitting through the lecture gave me a greater insight to that. It was as if I was the society and he was the modernist trying to convince me with his ideas.

We are now more opened to views and thus more acceptable of his thoughts, but imagine years back when the society wasn't exposed to so much technology and possibilities as we have, so much so that many of us take them for granted without truly understanding its importance.

Many say that technology is the unmaking of mankind. How many times have you heard people saying 'people nowadays don't socialize anymore' or 'kids these days are always engrossed with their iPads instead of playing out'? But are these really merely the result of technology? It has always been basic human nature defend ourselves and blame others instead for anything unpleasant. Think about it, if we were to make an effort to call up our friends instead of writing on their facebook walls or if parents do not spoil their child by giving them an Ipad when they are young, will technology still be the unmaking of us? Things only happen because we want or allow them to, if we stand our ground and not allow technology to take over our lives and blame it for our undoings but rather harvest its potential and use it to our benefits, we would be opened up to much more possibilities than we could imagine. Sir Peter Cook is a good example of how he embraced technology without being overwhelmed by it. He demonstrated using technology in his buildings but at the same time staying true with nature. Below are some pictures of his slides on the day, do pardon the poor image quality:

That's Sir Peter Cook himself in that last picture! A little far though...

Introduction: An Overlook to Virtual Reality

The first thing that comes to the mind when one speaks the word virtual reality tend to conjure up images of a digital world such as those seen in a science fiction movie, or having to put on head gears or using machines to enter a different world like that portrayed in the movie The Matrix. However, there is no actual definition of what virtual reality really is as everyone has different perceptions and understandings. But in actual, virtual reality really just begins with the mind. What your mind imagines, a world or place that takes shape in the mind, is a form of virtual reality. For example, when one reads their mind would form a picture of the place or person described by an author, or say when one dreams, our dreams sometimes seems so real that we would experience deja vu or might even mix up our dreams with reality. These can also considered as virtual reality as it is a made believe world, and we immerse ourselves into it through our mind. The term merely means a world that exist beyond ours, an imagined or made up world. The word 'Virtual' merely means 'almost or very nearly the thing described, so that any slight difference is not important' (Oxford Dictionary).

One of the reasons why it has been closely linked to digital or computer generated environments is because computers help realise the world for the users to view has made it easier to picture a world outside our own, and as present day, even allows the users to be fully immersed in it.

Having computer aid helps put those thoughts to shape to let others see our point of view. The exact year that computers started being used is unknown, but it is believed to be sometime in the 1960s. Ivan Sutherland invented the sketchpad which is a program that he wrote in 1963 for his PhD thesis (thesis could be read here). It allows one to draw directly onto the computer screen with a pen and it revolutionized how one would interact with the computer. He also published an essay titled 'The Ultimate Display', published in 1965 (essay could be read here), whereby he wrote his thought about the future and possibilities of virtual reality which mostly became true.


(To be continued)

Types of Virtual Reality

These are the definition of  the types of virtual reality that I found online:

• Adventure games, MUD/MOO

Textually described virtual worlds where the user perceives the virtual environment through mental images based on the words read (like reading a novel).

• Desktop

3D virtual environment graphically displayed on a desktop computer monitor.

• Projected

3D environment projected onto a screen. Enables a single user to demonstrate concepts to a group of people. A CAVE(tm), where several sreens are used to surround the user with images, is the most advanced form of projected VR in use today.

• Semi-immersive

Most advanced flight, ship and vehicle simulators are semi-immersive. The cockpit, bridge, or driving seat is a physical model, whereas the view of the world outside is computer-generated (typically projected).

• Immersive

3D environment seen through a head-mounted display (HMD). In a completely immersive system the user feels part of the environment (experiences a feeling of 'presence'). The user has no visual contact with the physical world.

• Distributed Virtual Environments

Any of the above, where there are multiple users present in the world. Sometimes called 'shared worlds'.

• Telepresence

Control remote devices by mimicking actual events in the physical world as they happen. Useful for performing operations in hazardous environments or where it is otherwise inconvenient to be present in person.

• Augmented reality

Combining the physical and virtual worlds, typically to annotate the physical world or to provide missing information. For example, to recreate the view that an operator of an aircraft would have seen if it had not been foggy. 

(Credits to Micheal Louka:
http://www.ia.hiof.no/~michaell/home/vr/vrhiof98/whatisvr/What8.html)

Dissertation Hypothesis

The hypothesis to my dissertation:

• One of the most effective platform for designers to reach out to the public as almost anyone could have access to VR at minimal cost

• Designers are able to communicate more effectively with the general mass through visuals and interaction

• Designers and clients are able to communicate through VR despite the distance

• Architecture will not only be limited to architects as the public are also able to design their own buildings virtually

• Designers would learn to pay more attention to details especially through designing architecture in games as gamers will want a stronger sense of reality

• Attract new architects and designers with its fantasy and conceptual designs as these are the type of designs human find interesting at early stages

• Inspires new technology to realize conceptual designs

• Sparks interest to the public towards the architectural field as anyone can practice designing buildings virtually

• More people are able to appreciate architecture as they could interact with buildings virtually

• People could travel around the world and experience different things virtually without having to leave home

• Provides more flexibility when designing and is especially suitable for new comers as it has no boundaries and limitation

A Virtual Experience Through Pictures

I remembered a friend of mine sent me a link to a site awhile ago that featured 360° photographic view of The Church of Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem which i found pretty interesting. It features several areas from the church and allows you to turn the camera around and zoom in and out to have a 360° view of the church, which kind of makes you feel like you're standing in the church personally. Here's the link to the site:

http://www.360tr.com/kudus/kiyamet_eng/index.html

Do check it out!

What Exactly is Virtual Reality?

Mentioning the term virtual reality to others would normally result in a similar perception, that is wearing gears to stimulate our senses and immerse ourselves in a 4 dimensional world. This is most likely because it was made popular by films such as Matrix and Avatar, whereby the main character is 'sent' to another world by devices and machines.

But virtual reality need not only refer to the simulator. Virtual reality is basically a generic term for a world that exist in a computer generated environment where one could interact with at a certain degree. One of the most common virtual reality that most people have experienced is gaming. Game developers nowadays are coming up with more realistic gaming environment to give gamers a sense of reality. The surroundings are much more interactive than before and there are cities and towns to explore much like how one would when visiting a foreign country.

However, the virtual world isn't only limited to games. Designers are using it to their own benefit to assist them it whatever ways that are limited with pen and paper. There are millions of possibilities when it comes to virtual architecture as there are no limit to its boundaries. Walkthroughs, 3D, and possibly one day the technology to use a VR simulator to walk the client through a CG building would come through.

Having discovered so many aspects to look at in the field of virtual reality, it is only possible for me to look at specific ones. Perhaps I should investigate on the relationship between the designers and users through VR? This leaves me much to think about...

Moving to a Virtual World

The virtual world is beginning to take over our lives especially with the addition of social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and many, many more. One cannot deny that it is one of the reason why people nowadays do not socialize face to face anymore, but is it really that bad?

We are now living in a fast paced world. A minute or maybe even a second of information delay can make a difference to people, stock brokers require immediate information if not they might lose millions. A patient might need a donor in the next hour and it's up to all the modern technology to help transfer the information.

There are pros and cons to everything, even the things that seem bad at first glace. Virtual reality has opened up much possibilities not only in the architectural or design world, but also in the scientific, archeological, businesses and much more. It has provided us with a virtual platform to keep in touch with one another despite the distance and made a lot of things much convenient as we could access most of it at home.

I would further explore the potential and possibilities of virtual reality especially towards architecture and design in the coming weeks in hopes that it would provoke people's thoughts and make them aware of the benefits virtual reality would bring us.

The Future Malaysia: a Personal Thought

Have you ever wondered how our country would end up in 10, 20 or maybe 100 years down the road? I, for one, have never really thought about it until now.

Thinking about it now, it seems that I do have an ideal malaysia in my head all the while, but it remained a subconscious thought until today. It is not any highly advanced or super high tech country if that's what you're expecting me to say. Simplicity is the key, and the image that has occurred constantly in my head is a peaceful and clean environment that we could all live comfortably.

Buildings would be properly constructed and well kept so anyone would feel welcomed wherever they go. We would be able to sit outside on the terrace and enjoy the wonderful greenery without the pollution and unwelcoming, dirty environment. I'm not asking for a major 360° change, all I'm hoping for is that the country could improve its current state by being a more comfortable and safe country for us, but this could never be achieve without first changing our 3rd class mentality.