Project Concept
I changed my Final Project idea from the LED simulation to a space exploration simulation. This project enables user to interact with the p5js console using the Arduino controlled input devices. Through various buttons (subject to change), the user can navigate through space and explore various planets. The project features a aesthetic interface with liberty for the user to move around in space and explore. As of now, the user can only see the nine planets in the Solar System (including Pluto) and the Sun.
User Testing
Jun Lee and my roommate were my user testers (featured in the video: Jun). They had some difficulty navigating the buttons as they were not labelled, but they quickly learned the mechanic looking at what each of the buttons did. They were able to navigate the space quite easily after a few seconds of trying. The project is still not complete, so the only thing the players can do is move around and admire the heavenly objects and their surface mappings.
Areas that are working well
The navigation is working quite well. I had to adjust where the camera moves (spatial positioning) relative to where it is pointing, such that the left, right, forward, and backward movement are not static and can change depending on where the player is looking at.
There are a lot of areas that need improving. One of them is positioning. Since the background is completely back, it is hard to tell where the player is in space and where he could find planets. I tried adding in a pointer to the Earth, such that the player is not lost and can come back home anytime.
Another thing that needs improvement is the purpose of the project. I want this project to be educational, and at the same time adventurous and fun as the player explores various planets and stars.
Parts I had to explain
I had to explain what the project is and what it does, which is natural and necessary. However, for the controls, I did not explain anything, but the users caught up on it pretty quickly. I had to say what planet they were looking at when they explored, but this can be fixed with a pop-up on screen about such information.