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Congratulations to the Wikitecture group on another job well done! Our deadline for contributions and voting has passed (thanks to Daruma for reminding everyone to cast their final votes!).
The design that ended up with the most votes is leaf #1228858370, which we will now refine and polish into the final build we will present to the University of Alabama next week. The original seed concept that led to this design describes the core idea best:
“The idea is to blend some of the best ideas contributed so far into an open air classroom structure (Veeyawn) at the ground level, which builds on the existing neo-classical tradition of the existing campus. Hovering above this more formal structure are 5 platforms that can be moved or added on over time, based on the University’s current needs. Faculty would have several pre-designed platform options to choose from, ranging from interactive classrooms (Azwaldo) to natural and landscaped platforms (Daruma) to structures representing the curriculum outline (Zage). Others might be placed totally empty, leaving it up to the students and faculty to customize based on their class content or curriculum. As new technology emerges, new pre-scripted platform modules can easily be added to the mix. They don’t necessarily have to hover over just this parcel, but could be deployed on any of the University’s islands and by any department, or several can be coupled together and be used for research projects, etc. These platforms can remain very flexible, active and dynamic – shifting and changing, visually representing the current status of the virtual campus as it changes over time – while leaving the ground plane as a more consistent, formal and familiar campus and commons area.”
Since contributing this leaf, several of the core ideas suggested in this design have already been carried forward. For example, the platform emitter technology has been built through Omei’s recent leaf #1229381709. Also, the options for platform designs have been carried forward nicely through Daruma’s leaf #1231429167
The remaining task is to polish and refine the architectural shell of the ground-level build, and to do any tweaking or polishing that needs to be done with Azwaldo’s interactive classroom concept. Remember, your effort in polishing and refining the final design will still factor into the final contribution assessment and subsequent payout based on that assessment. Since Keystone Bouchard and myself (Theory Shaw) are the organizers of this project, we will not be accepting any payout, and will instead re-distribute our assessed payout evenly based on the rest of the group’s participation percentage.
To help organize our collective effort in polishing the final design, we have started a new category in the Forum, that can be accessed here:
http://studiowikitecture.wikidot.com/forum/c-71102/tasks-for-polishing-the-final-design
This thread will be used to describe the various tasks that will need to be accomplished. Such tasks include the following:
- incorporating Daruma’s designs, and any other platform modules into Omei’s or Daruma’s emitter system, and finalizing the layout of a generic platform upon which these platform options will rez
- We could really use the help of a seasoned Second Life expert builder that can polish the design, minimize prim usage, and develop quality and professional textures for the build wherever appropriate
- finalizing and polishing Azwaldo’s interactive classroom system
- Develop any presentation graphics we might need to describe the concept to the University
- Any additional tasks can be added to the forum as the need arises
And since, we were a little late getting this email out, the final, final deadline will be Friday, January 23rd.
Please IM Keystone Bouchard or Theory Shaw if you have any questions! We look forward to wrapping up this project shortly!
Our presentation to the University of Alabama went very well! Many thanks to all who attended and provided feedback. I’ve posted the transcript here: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=ddqzdng9_431cnpzspfn
Now is an ideal time to jump into the ‘Re-Inventing the Virtual Classroom’ project, if you haven’t already! I’ve included a step by step guide to getting involved below.
After hearing the University’s feedback on the 16th, we will have a better understanding of what the University wants, and will begin folding everything together into a continuously evolving design idea. So, even if you haven’t participated yet, this is a perfect time to get involved! Again, we are distributing 250,000 Lindens, based on community-assessed contribution analysis, so your participation will be rewarded based on how much other contributors believe you’ve put into it. If you don’t want to contribute a design idea, you can still get contribution points by sharing ideas and commenting within the Wikitecture Forum for this project: http://studiowikitecture.wikidot.com/forum:start
To review, here are a few of the basic steps you’ll need to take in order to participate:
1.) Get a Second Life account, by visiting this site: http://secondlife.com/
2.) Download Second Life, http://secondlife.com/support/downloads.php
3.) Open the Second Life application, and enter the username and password you just created
4.) Do the basic tutorial to learn the basics of walking, flying, etc.
5.) When you’re ready, click this link – then click the ‘teleport’ this link will bring up: http://slurl.com/secondlife/UA+ESPRMC/186/87/26/
6.) Find the wiki-tree, and click the very base of that tree. It will give you a password.
7.) Use your full avatar name (first and last), and the password given to you by the tree to log into this site: http://www.studiowikitecture.com
8.) You can now review designs that have been submitted so far by either clicking the ‘leaf’ spheres on the Wiki-tree and watching them appear on the site – where you can walk through the ideas. Or, you can review them on the website, along with design descriptions, and discussion, etc.
9.) You can cast a total of 3 positive and 3 negative votes on the designs. Votes can be distributed to several designsn, or all given to 1 design. If you cast more than 3, it replaces the first votes you cast, and so on.
10.) To review more community discussion around the project, visit the forum, and register if you want to participate, using your avatar name. http://studiowikitecture.wikidot.com/forum:start
11.) Think of ways you can combine the best of the ideas you’ve shared so far, combined with your own ideas… when you’re reviewing designs at the wiki-tree, you can simply select the designs you like, and ‘Take a Copy’. Then, head to a sandbox to synthesize your contribution! There is a sandbox near the University of Alabama site, or you can visit one on Architecture sim here: (http://slurl.com/secondlife/Architecture/217/100/22/?title=Architecture%20Islands%20Sandbox)
12.) Remember this is not a competition! Wikitecture is all about collaboration, and sharing ideas. The last thing you should do is work out a final and polished design before submitting it to the tree for others to review. You’ll run the risk of spending too much time on an idea the community migh not adopt. The rule of thumb is to share ideas early, and often… this will give the community a chance to provide feedback, and maybe even include your idea in a new hybrid design contribution.
11.) When you’re ready to share your own 3D design idea using the Wiki-tree, just let Keystone Bouchard or Theory Shaw know, and we will walk you through the process. Otherwise, you can review the tutorial here: http://studiowikitecture.wikidot.com/how-to
12.) Once your design is submitted, it will automatically create a new place for it on the website. You can change the leaf description, and add any design descriptions or screenshots that will help others understand your design.
13.) Check the site often to see how your design does in the community! Remember to continuously cast your 3 positive and 3 negative votes regularly, so the community can get a sense of what are the best ideas to carry forward!
That’s about it! I know it seems like a lot – but once you get the hang of it, it becomes much easier to understand and participate. The best part is, once you understand this system, you’ll be able to jump into the next Wikitecture projects without hesitation, and maybe even begin earning some extra spending cash! At the very least, you’ll be able to witness the design evolution, knowing you played a roll in shaping and evolving it.
As always, contact Keystone Bouchard or Theory Shaw if you have any questions at all!
Good luck!
On Tuesday, December 16th from 8:30 am until 9:30 am SL-time (PDT), we will be giving several University of Alabama staff a tour of the Wikitecture designs that have been contributed so far. Everyone is welcome to attend, even if you haven’t submitted a design. We will rez each design, then walk around inside of it while reading the text description of each leaf in voice (we will also paste that text into chat). If you have any additional feedback or design description you would like to be included in the presentation, please add it to your leaf’s text as a comment, and we will be sure to include it.
This will be a great opportunity to ask any questions we may have, any concerns we want to express. So, if you have any questions you would like to ask, please post them in the forum, or send them via IM directly to Keystone Bouchard or Theory Shaw.
We will encourage them to provide their feedback through comments on the website, and by casting their votes, and will also encourage them to stay tuned in the final weeks of design development as we refine the design for our final January 19th presentation. Again, we want to achieve a near ‘final’ design by January 9th so we have time to refine and polish the final design before turning it over to to the University of Alabama.
So far, they have been very impressed with the ideas that have been shared so far! Thanks again to everyone who is participating
As the winter holiday approaches, the University of Alabama has requested that we extend the Wikitecture project until Monday, Jan.19th. This will allow more time for faculty and student involvement and feedback. As a result our ‘Design Development’ phase will last until Jan. 9th. After which we’ll have 3 days of voting to pick the final design. The last remaining 7 days will be dedicated to polishing the final. We apologize for the last minute notice, but I think we would all appreciate a little breathing room in finalizing a concept as we move into the final lap!
If anyone has questions or concerns, please feel free to message Keystone Bouchard or Theory Shaw!
Thank you for voting! The following top 3 schematic designs have been voted to move on to the next round of design development and refinement.
Although the following 3 schematic designs will provide the kernel of ideas for the final designs, you are not restricted, in any manner, to use and synergize any other ideas that have been presented to the group thus far; i.e. those ideas discussed either on the Studio Wikitecture all designs page or the wikidot.com forum. Everything is still far game. And also, just for clarification, the next two stages are open to ‘everyone’ who would like to still participate.
We have only put forth these voting rounds to garner the community’s feedback in order to give you some relative decisions on which to base further design refinement.
http://www.studiowikitecture.com/UA/open_up.php5?leaf_id=1227202423
http://www.studiowikitecture.com/UA/open_up.php5?leaf_id=1226768798
http://www.studiowikitecture.com/UA/open_up.php5?leaf_id=1227037400
The next round, which we are calling the Design Development (DD) round, will last from ‘now’ until December 3rd. After which, another voting round will take place between the 3rd and 6th of December.
After the 6th we then use the remaining 5 days before the Dec. 11th deadline to refine and polish the final design. Contributors can take the design we’ve chosen as ‘final’ and rebuild or retexture or otherwise polish the final design to make it the highest quality end-product we can collectively achieve.
Again, thanks for voting and have a relaxing Thanksgiving… well, that is, if you celebrate the Turkey Day.
Now is your chance to have your voice be heard – but, you have to act fast! We need EVERYONE in the group to cast their votes on this phase by today! (Monday, the 24th November). This will help us determine which of the preliminary designs submitted so far we should focus on folding into the next round of design and refinement.
In order to vote, you must be registered (get your password by clicking the base of the wiki-tree at the UA ESPRMC sim with the ‘Studio Wikitecture’ group active) then use your full avatar name and this password to log into this website: http://www.studiowikitecture.com/UA/ We each get a total of 3 positive and 3 negative votes to cast – and we encourage you to use them all up! You can always re-assign them later. After Monday, we let everyone know which 3 designs the community has chosen to act as the design seeds for the final round of refinement, and we can all roll up our virtual sleeves and get to work folding these best ideas into a final solution we will present to the University of Alabama! If you have feedback that can’t be conveyed in a vote or a comment on a particular design, use the Forum – found under the ‘Feedback and FAQ’ button on the website. As always, direct any questions to Keystone Bouchard or Theory Shaw. Thanks for voting.
Studio Wikitecture: Opening Architecture 
