Title: The EcoRaft Project
Date: June 2004
The EcoRaft project is an interactive multi-device installation focused on teaching young children about the complex subject of restoration ecology. While Chemistry and Physics have the advantage of dramatic demonstrations (usually things exploding), restoration ecology is a slow and laborious process.
To achieve these goals, we used a combination of desktop PCs and portable tablet PCs that were networked together. The desktop PCs would act as virtual islands that each had their own ecosystem. The tablet PCs would act as carrying devices that guests could use to move plants and animals between the islands simply by walking from one island to another while holding the tablet PC.
My primary role while working on the EcoRaft Project was to serve as the group's Technical Art Lead. As the Technical Art Lead, I helped design our main content pipeline and also produced the majority of the 2D and 3D art assets for the project. These assets included the models, textures, and animations for multiple plant and animal species. During the project I was also able to collaborate with the team’s graphics programmer to update software tools and identify key technical challenges. I also served many secondary roles such as producing the promotional video that I linked to above.