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Assignment 3: INTERACTIVE CUBE
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This is our third assignment for the CTS module. We are required to make an interactive cube of 20x20x20cm based on our superhuman character and our power from the previous assignment, the superhuman.
Stated in the brief, the cube should be manually operated and it should cotain at least one ping pong ball in the cube. Then we have to choose from either three concept of cubes -- story telling cube, game cube or puzzle cube.
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As the name suggests, our interactive cube has to include three interactive mechanisms in it, while any extension or expansion cannot be over 3cm from the surface of the original cube.
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For me, I chose to make a story telling cube, as it suits my superhuman character more. So I decided to add in three interactive mechanisms in my cube, which are:
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- A lock (ping pong ball) that when its pulled upwards, the cube will open itself up and reveal its contents, which is the story of my superhuman character.
- A pop-up demonstration of my superhuman character's power.
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- A DIY magic paint brush.
Starting with the first mechanism, the pop out story of my superhuman character. So apparently I got my superpower from a dragon, by accepting its dragon ball. Then I gained a special power, to grant life to my sketches and paintings by will.
The picture on the left is my second interactive mechanism, the pop up card that stands. There is a brush, mask and water-like substances inside, which the brush represents my magic brush, the water-like substance is magic, and the mask in the middle is the identity of my superhuman character.
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Below is the magic paint brush. The stick of the brush hides on the top corner inside the cube, and its brush head is in the middle of the four dragon pillars. Together, they will combine and make up a magic paintbrush.
This is my cube. It is plain black on the outside to represent the ordinary girl I once was before I got my superhuman power. The hole above is where the lock (ping pong ball) sits.
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Below is the picture of my opened cube. The colourful content revealed inside represents the magical power I got from the dragon and my joy to use them on paintings.
Idea Journal
I had included my initial ideas (failed ideas), my final idea, and the proccess to make my cube, as well as other random ideas that never went to realization.
Reflection
This assignment is quite hard as we did not knew our choice of superhhuman character will affect us in another assignment. Most people's superhuman characters are very hard to get transferred into their interactive cubes. I am luck that my superhuman power is not really hard, but it was not easy too. To demonstrate the power of turning artworks into real lifeforms are impossible, so I would need to think of other ways to present it. I guess this is the challenging part of this module, or especially this assignment.
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For my cube, the lock mechanism is the hardest to do. The materials I chose is not suitable, as the wires are too thin and they bent very easily, so they can't hold my strings firmly, and my cube walls keep dropping down whenever wind blows or whenI accidentally touched it. Making the cube is quite fun at the beginning, but when the mechanisms keep failing and my walls keep falling down over and over, it started to get real annoying. I have no other idea than to slightly alter with the lock mechanism, to change the way it works, and then it got better, but it will still fall down sometimes. But luckily in the end I still managed to complete it and I feel so relieved.
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Nonetheless in this assignment, I brougt home with me the TGC 3.2, to define and analyse problems to arrive at effective solutions. I had to think a lot and use up whole lot of my brain juices to think of solutions to my failure, though annoyed and irritated, it is essential to remain a calm mind to effectively analyse problems and come out with effective solutions.
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I had also learnt the TGC 6.1, to manage ourself and be self-reliant. I have to manage my emotions and prevent them from interfering with my work. We can only think properly with a calm mind, and only do things efficiently when we are in a good mood, or at least in a calm state. Problems and mistakes would not occur often in these states. We should also be more self-reliant and take on challenges bravely, solving problems with our own abilities brings more satisfication and sense of participation.
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