Abstract

In our last context seminar we had to bring in an abstract that we had written, and then people went round and looked at everyone's writing comments to help them improve, and to see if their abstract was clear. This was the one I wrote:
" I have always loved animated films since I first began watching the Disney films when I was young. Growing up the films have become better with advances in technology, so the animators have been able to do 3D modelling and better animating with the new software. I also love drawing, and try to incorporate this into my work as much as possible for example by illustrating my ideas with cartoons, or using my drawings to create interactive narratives. This has then lead me to want to do virtual environments in my second year so I can learn how to do animation and 3D modelling on software such as 3Ds Max and Maya and hopefully someday help to create animated films like Finding Nemo and Monsters Inc. At first I was undecided between virtual environments and interactive media, but now I have done lessons in both of them I think I would prefer to do virtual environments next year, as I can learn to do flash quite easily by myself using tutorials so I could do this as a hobby, whereas I could not do that with virtual environments because it is quite complicated. By doing this pathway I think it would make me more versatile and interesting so I attract employers.
I also think I would like to work in 3D because I enjoy learning about the new software that we use in seminars, and we have just come across Google Sketchup in another lesson which is really interesting to use. There are so many 3D design software packages so there are always new things to learn. For example I can learn how to design a house, or a character, or make my own cartoon and I think I would really like to do those things.
There are quite a few animated films that have inspired me to do virtual environments for example the IceAge films. I love the way the characters look and how you can tell what emotions they are feeling by their facial expressions. They are also good because they are not just aimed at young children, there are jokes that only older people can understand and find funny. I think it would be a great thing to do because you would be doing something you love every day, and then the end product looks so good and people are impressed by it. |
I think virtual environments is the pathway for me because I will not lose my creativity with it and there are always going to be elements of it that will interest me and I think it is definitely going to challenge me. This will then make me a better artist and I will be able to overcome problems I have with my work and constantly improve myself. "

I only had 2 people comment on my abstract and the comments were very brief and so did not help me much. It seemed like they hadn't picked out anything really from what I had written about. I do think when I do my finished abstract I need to make it more detailed and talk more about my research and practitioners because people seemed to find these unclear.