Building my model and users input

Construction

The construction of my exhibition piece took a lot of planning, however I saved a large amount of money using left over wood pieces in my garage.

Utilizing the power tools in my garage I slowly cut and pieced my blocks together, using nails and glue. After completing each pathway I checked to make sure each marble fitted its chosen pat as it went.

After piecing the model together I covered it using a can of $13 black spray paint, and then began to test it with users.

Users

I tested my model on both types of users, ones who understood the coding language and ones that had no background knowledge.

I found that the people who knew the coding language understood my model, and what metaphorical aspects it has, and were able pick out the if/else statement.

However the users that had no background knowledge took longer to fully understand the meaning behind my model as the found it harder to see where the if/else function came into play. To fix this issue I decided to paint the gaps to coincide with the terms, making it more obvious where the if/else functions where occurring.

Apart from this aspect all users found my exhibition piece to be enjoyable, and found this metaphor fun and relatable, thus making it easier for them to understand.

Bellow is some finishing images of my model.

My final metaphor :)

My final idea

A expansion on the snakes and ladders theme.

i made this idea simpler, and less like a copy of the snakes and ladders game. thus this chosen metaphor produces and interactive piece for the exhibition. Using marbles individuals can see, depending on the marbles size the marble will either fall into the gap and travel down the separate pathway or pass over the gap. This is the metaphor; here is a simplified version of the coding term;

Event: marble rolling down pathway with gaps;

If (marble < gap) {
    marble falls down and follows different track}

Else (marble > gap) {continues on down a different pathway;
        }

If (marble < gap) {
    marble falls down and follows different track}

Else (marble > gap) {continues on down a different pathway;
}

If (marble < gap) {
marble falls down and follows different track}

Else (marble > gap) {continues on down different pathway;
}

If marble < gap) {
marble falls down and follows different track}

Else (marble follows path and comes to a halt

}

Therefore the test in this metaphor is whether the marble will fit through the gap within the pathway. If this test is true the marble will then fall down though the gap and continue on a different path; this being the statement being executed. However if the marbles size is large than the gap it will continue to roll down the pathway. This test occurs with each gap the marble crosses. 

here is a sketch of the model;

My Third investigation into a metaphor

The third metaphor I chose was to do with ice. With ice being able to transform into water and water to steam (vies versa). During my investigation into this topic I found that this metaphor would be tricky to produce an interactive exhibit with, as ice usually takes a while to freeze, and it is rather difficult to get the steam to transform back into water. 

Therefore I decided to choose just the transformation of ice  <-->  water

Looking into this transformation, I looked through YouTube where there are several videos where the individuals are apparently turning water into ice instantly.

However most of these experiments can only be done once, which takes away from the interactive side of my exhibition/ would be too dangerous to have in the exhibition hall with spectators who may not be sure on what they’re doing.

Therefore this means that if I where to continue on this metaphor successfully I would most likely need to produce a video, linking and demonstrating this reaction to the term If/else. Unless i find a way to safely display this at the exhibition.

My video would demonstrate the simple If functions that would need to occur for the transformation to happen, If I choose to utilize this metaphor I will perhaps look further into different ways of producing this transformation for my video (like the ones I discovered on YouTube).  

Timetable

Day	Task	Equipment/cost
Friday 20th May	Begin the storyboard in order to create the video Then begin construction on model	Paper, pens, ruler -already have camera, water, freezer, containers - want to spend around $20
Sunday 22nd May	Working on video
Tuesday 24th May	Have the basis of my project finished
Friday 27th May	Have the 200 – 300 words description of my exhibition piece written and handed in on the 27th Then continue putting the finishing touches on my exhibition piece,
Tuesday 31st May	Have my exhibition piece finished and on display in the atrium by 1:30pm on the 31st

My second investigation into a metaphor

My second idea was a spin off from the classic childhood game of Snakes and ladders. This simple, memorable game would be easy for individuals to relate with, and therefore will make it easier for them to understand the term If/else.

Investigating into this metaphor I decided to simplify the game making it only snakes and ladders and no other squares for the contestants to land on.

While thinking about the possibilities of the interactional exhibits I could produce I decided on two main ideas. 

Firstly I would create a grid structure with marbles and a dice which the individual/individuals would roll. The grid structure would be a stair case leading up to the top (symbolising the ladder) and there is a slide structure next to it (symbolising the snake)

Individual will then roll the dice and move his/her marble up the structure if they get a ladder symbol , and will have to place their marble on the slide if the rolled a snake symbol.

The second idea will involve the same principle however the people just walk up and down the stairs themselves.

Day	Task	Equipment/cost
Friday 20th May	Begin the working drawings in order to create the marble structure  Then begin construction on model	Paper, pens, ruler -already have Wood, spray paint, marbles, transparent paper, paint, tools. - want to spend around $20
Sunday 22nd May	Working on model
Tuesday 24th May	Have the basis of my project finished
Friday 27th May	Have the 200 – 300 words description of my exhibition piece written and handed in on the 27th Then continue putting the finishing touches on my exhibition piece,
Tuesday 31st May	Have my exhibition piece finished and on display in the atrium by 1:30pm on the 31st