Zwager
DESIGNING A
FACE
FILTER
#MIXEDREALITIES
The completed face filter
Introduction to the experiment
For my first DESIGN 241 lecture, we had an insightful talk from a mixed reality expert Mark Billinghurst, outlining the basic concepts of AR/ VR/ MR, their key characteristics as well as examples of technologies that have utilised them. After this we were able to trial several VR technologies available at the university. This helped introduce us to our first technical experiment, in which we were tasked with making a face filter using the program Spark AR Studio. This experiment was designed to ease us into the expansive world of mixed reality.
Developing the face filter
These are just a few of the individual slides I made in Illustrator to create the animated background for the face filter.
Reasons for selection
I chose to design a face filter as it was an ideal introduction into the world of mixed realities. Spark AR Studio, is very user friendly, yet it still has the capability to create complex face filters, (equivalent to the ones used by Instagram and Facebook). I decided to design a face filter around raising awareness of the benefits of wearing masks during this global pandemic. I feel the practice of trying to prevent the spread of covid-19 by making mask wearing part of our daily routine should help prevent the need for a future lockdowns. Hopefully, through my face filter, people will be more aware that the pandemic is still a very present issue and they may take more precautionary measures, such as mask wearing, to protect themselves and others.
Discussion
As discussed in class, the face filter is an example of augmented reality, because, rather than replacing reality, the face filter enhances reality. Through this enhancement, the user gets to see themselves with an intangible face mask on, as well as the animation. The face mask can be interacted with as when the user moves around, the face mask moves with them, making the whole experience more realistic. This is possible through the use of viewpoint tracking technology. Lastly, to use the face filter a display technology is required; in this case it's the user’s phone which is an example of a handheld display.
References
Information used in the discussion section was retrieved from Mark Billinghurt's presentation:
Billinghurst, M. (2020), WHAT IS MIXED REALITY [PowerPoint slides].