I was looking out old pictures of the typeface I made for Subtle Subtitles, and realised that I should have decided on it far earlier than I did! In my initial pitch I used this image -
…And it took me months of research and user testing to come up with my handwritten, ‘chalk inspired’ font! I came to the chalk board metaphor as a way of communicating the written word but in a way that wouldn’t be taken as a definite thing. Basically embracing the potential of the system not always getting it perfect!
Funny coincidence really. Annoying how inspiration was RIGHT in my face so early on! Ahh the creative process…!
Subtle Subtitles clarifies conversation with people with dysarthric speech by presenting subtitles in our peripheral vision in an intuitively crafted wearable. Those familiar with the impediment understand the slurred speech however, as with other variances in expression, strangers struggle to ‘tune in’ to the conversation. Current solutions for this communication difficulty use synthesised speech to replace the person’s own; Subtle Subtitles ensures that the wearer’s own speech and eye contact continue to be of greatest importance, preserving the intimacy of the exchange whilst quietly providing a subtle hint of the context of the conversation.
I spent today filming a ‘demo’ video, purely so that when I am not at the exhibit, there is a clear description and walk through of the process involved in using the scarf. I have omitted the ‘prototype’ parts for the sake of this demo, for example the fact that a computer microphone is being used as opposed to a microphone in the ipod is irrelevant to this concept, and is only of real interest to those who want to know how the prototype was built, not the idea itself. It is pretty basic, but I didn’t want to detract from the ‘film’, and I think it’s nice to use video as a format for communicating other elements of the project: I’ve also included 4 of my prototype videos on the site for comparison.
I need to prepare a kind of elevator pitch for Thursday, which will go on the front page and replace the text that is there just now.
Oh and I’ve been preparing a project website which will have another ‘how to’ video on it as well as the rest of the information about the project - it’ll go along side the scarf / mannequin combo.
Interaction Design degree project: Documentary demonstrating context of a working prototype of an iphone app that subtitles people who are losing the ability to speak clearly. (In particular ‘ataxic dysphonia’). The iphone is held in an interchangeable scarf, and through a system of filtration that I have developed, and existing speech recognition technologies, only the vital words in a conversation are subtitled; thus merely adding to the common sense we all use when understanding another person.
SO I have spent the bulk of today mashing up a background track / music for my film, and I THINK I’m done. I am sick of the site of my piano / laptop / lots of cables / books but am impressed that I can “plug in” and record directly in computer land. Making it ‘happy’ was clearly a massive issue as well, it’s just not the most ‘joyous’ of films. But it is a great deal less depressing than the first cut (I hope!)
I’ll upload the film to vimeo tomorrow, in its HD glory! I don’t know what I should put in the credits though… “by calum pringle”… “directed by, produced by etc” seems a tad overboard considering I did it all. Maybe just “Calum Pringle : Freecalum.co.uk”?
I’m editing my film together, and it’s difficult! I have a rough cut now though, and I think it’s quite sweet. Will obviously post it online when I have more confidence in it!!!
I’ve finally made the decision that the mic is embedded in the scarf (which we know works) and I think that’s for the best. Need to spend some time looking through my photographs and either choose one for my one great image or choose to do another shoot.
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