WEEK2- | Digital Media Produc

Gyo

Week 2

Immersive Storytelling

What is multimodal storytelling:

Multimodal storytelling is telling a story using different types of media or formats, like text, images, videos, sounds, and interactive elements. It combines these different tools to create a more engaging and dynamic experience for the audience.

Examples of multimodal storytelling:

The Crossing

The Crossing is an interactive exhibition that uses multiple 2D screens to offer new insights and perspectives on the black-market economy of sex trafficking, following the journey of a trafficked woman.

Displaced Witness

Displaced Witness invites viewers to physically experience the people and landscape of Lesvos.

As they step into the installation's center, viewers are transported through sensory elements. The sounds of the Lesvos coastline fill the air, and the crunch of pebbles is heard beneath their feet. A visual story unfolds from a swirling cloud of points, revealing a portrait or landscape from Lesvos.

The experience of Displaced Witness takes place on a uniform surface made up of 1-meter by 1-meter textures from Lesvos, digitally recreated from 3D scan data.

Thresholds

Artist Mat Collishaw unveils his latest virtual reality artwork, Thresholds. Utilizing cutting-edge VR technology, Thresholds reimagines one of the first photography exhibitions in 1839, where British scientist William Henry Fox Talbot showcased his photographic prints for the public at King Edward's School in Birmingham.

Classroom task:

We were told to go to

https://docubase.mit.edu/project/

And then find an example story that is of interest to us.Document our thoughts in a few sentences, presentation,notes etc and be prepared to share with the class why we chose the work and what stood out for us and if it linked to the story we want to tell?

I decided to go with Subway Stories because I was immediately drawn to the cover art, which caught my eye with its blue shade and intriguing design. The character drawings were also a big factor in my choice, as they were presented in such a distinctive, captivating style that just made me curious. After watching the exhibition video and thinking more about the concept, I was truly impressed by how unique and innovative the idea was. I found it to be something quite unlike anything I had seen before. One of the most amazing parts of Subway Stories is how they used a box to house the hand-drawn characters and put them in a subway(undeground train). This simple yet creative setup was so engaging. The two levers placed within the box allowed you to choose a character and hear their individual story, which added an interactive element that made the experience feel personal and immersive. The combination of thoughtful design, clever mechanics, and compelling storytelling made the project stand out to me, and I thought it was a really amazing and fresh approach to sharing narratives.

The 7 Steps of Digital Storytelling:

7 steps of Digital storytelling (Lambert, 2017)

Eko Task:

This week's task involved exploring Eko and familiarizing myself with its features. Unfortunately, I'm writing this after the platform has transitioned from focusing on creatives to more commerce clientel. As a result, I now have to schedule a demo with them, which adds an extra layer of hardship to the process. Although I have used Eko before and can share insights from that previous experience, I am unable to provide any screenshots to accompany it, which is a bit of a setback. Nonetheless, I still aim to reflect on my experience and provide a thorough understanding of how Eko works.

I explored several features in Eko, and here's what I liked and disliked about them:

Branching Narratives:

I really enjoyed how this feature let me create multiple storylines based on user choices, allowing for non-linear storytelling. It made the experience feel more personalized and engaging. However, managing all the different paths and ensuring they flowed smoothly was a bit challenging at times.

Interactive Elements:

The ability to add buttons, clickable hotspots, and decision points was a great way to make the video more interactive. It allowed me to engage users and keep their attention. On the downside, I found it tricky to get the placement of the buttons just right, and some users might find too many choices overwhelming.

Real-Time Feedback:

The feedback feature was useful for seeing how users interacted with the content, which helped me improve the experience. I liked being able to track their choices, but the analysis could have been more detailed and easier to interpret.

Customization:

I appreciated how I could customize the interactive elements to match my branding and aesthetic. This made the experience feel more cohesive and tailored. However, the customization options felt a little limited when it came to more advanced design tweaks.

Multi-Platform Publishing:

Being able to publish the video to different platforms like websites and social media was a huge plus. It made sharing the content easy. But, there were some minor compatibility issues on certain platforms that I had to work through.

Overall review and opinions:

Overall, Eko provided a highly interactive experience, although there were some aspects that could have been more intuitive. Still, its versatility and power make it an excellent platform for creating interactive video content. The ability to create branching narratives and include interactive elements offers a level of engagement that traditional video formats cannot achieve. Whether it's for storytelling, educational purposes, or marketing, Eko’s tools allow for the creation of immersive and dynamic experiences. These interactive features let viewers make choices that influence the direction of the story, increasing their involvement. As a result, Eko is a great way to engage audiences, making it an ideal choice for creating personalized, responsive, and memorable content.

However, with Eko now having switched to a commercial model, it’s no longer available for general use, which is a significant downside. This change feels like a major loss for creatives who previously relied on the platform for its innovative features.