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 the major problematic issues present in rendering a nonlanguage conditional interface for relaying African Diasporic histories.
The prototype seeks to test user ability to navigate the interface, interact with found objects/animations, show user understanding through test simulation.
The interface is a 2D Flash environment which instantly drops the user into the interactive world. The user moves through the world by dragging the mouse across the window. The direction the mouse points determines the users orientation within the world. While traveling through, users will discover regionally placed flowers containing animations and quiz games. The animations function as historical narratives through solely visual mean. The quiz tests whether or not the user was able to learn image correlations and ultimately the animation story.
The prototype is paramount for several reasons. The functionality of the animations to relay complex information will be revealed in the users ability to retain and comprehend the symbolic construct of the images presented through correctly answering questions within the quiz. If the user is able to answer the questions, proof of the potential of a non-language conditional interface successfully serving as a teaching tool becomes apparent.
Rough Navigation Demo here
HistoryAnimation here
AnimationQuiz here
twitter
flickr
facebook
Equipment