Root Awakenings is an extensive interface that could take years to realize. I am currently rendering a prototype that will allow me take note of major problematic issues in creating the interface, whether a mainly nonlanguage based interface is capable of sucessfully teaching history issues/events.
The interface created as a 3D environment, will begin by focusing on one tree "The Learning Tree-Ancient Africa" (the main interface), with branches, limbs, flowers (with individual action attributes) which by rollover/click actions (have not decided which yet) will be able to display image, movies, games, sounds which I assign to them. These images, movies, games, sounds will act as a substitute for text, thus relaying information about historical happenings. I've also thought about creating some sort of key or beginning simulation, (like in the beginning of the first Halo, when you do various activities within the ship to learn how to manipulate your robot), where the user can get used to the navigation/ new "language" of the interface. This key/simulation will not be set up like a first person shooter though. The goal of the prototype is to skim down this idea of capturing/illustrating all African Diasporic history, while still addressing the major attributes of the design/design issues. So the interface (tree, branches, limbs, flowers), will act similar to that of a page embedded with image map attributes.
Tentatively through *MaxMSP Jitter, *Maya, *Processing (possibly)
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