Overarching problem to solve is fatigue (especially because in the context of the creative industry, users spend long hours with the mouse, therefore allowing them to comfortably use the mouse for as long as possible is the number one challenge to solve. it seems fatigue while using computers is usually caused by:
I made a research presentation communication piece to my audience in order to gain some feedback on my design possibilities. this site is https://w1w1w1w1.wixsite.com/website-2
I then downloaded the feedback form onto my computer to analysis the results.
Some of the most repeated things were: small, cheap, long hours, comfort, function
Some of the main points that persisted were that: 1) there may be a market for a hybrid of efficiency, comfort and functionality instead of improving only one 2)small, cheap, and wireless were among the most important features when looking for a mouse 3) hand size was pointed out as important 4)shallow mice are not good for long hours
[interesting insight is that a lot of people mentioned comfort as one if the top things they look for in a mouse, yet they value the efficiency and functionality as possibilities for this project. – maybe this mean that comfort is just a design requirement but doesn’t need to be necessarily improved. ]
This feedback is prompting me to possibly find a hybrid between some aspects of my design possibilities.
Within the work force, many workers are affected by RSIs
I wanted to find some more specifi information about the impact of wrist injuries in the labour fource.
aproximately ” 1. 1.8 million workers are afflicted by RSI’s per year: Almost 2 million US workers suffer from RSI’s like carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and tendinitis each year. [1]600,000 workers take time off work each year to recuperate and treat their RSI. “
“ 1 in every 50 workers has RSI symptoms: According to the Trades Union Congress (TUC), 1 in every 50 workers has reported experiencing RSI symptoms. [3] These numbers are even higher in industries like computer operation where the prevalence is as high as 1 in every 4 employees.”
Approximately 50% of people ” who work with computers suffer from RSI symptoms“
The wrist area is “the most common RSI trouble spot: A survey on RSI trouble spots found that wrist pain is the most common point of pain out of all RSI related injuries “:
Wrists – 69%
Fingers – 29%
Forearms – 23%
Thumbs – 20%
“Up to 23.8% more women complain of RSI symptoms compared to men: More women have poor office health compared to men. A workforce survey by the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health found that 63.5% of women experience neck and shoulder pain while only 39.7% of men do. The same goes for back pain, which is more common in women (51.4%) than men (44%). “
” 33% of workers with RSI are below 45 years old: Surprisingly, about one-third of workers with RSI are under 45. [9] This number is quite high considering the fact that degeneration due to old age is still not yet a factor at that point.”
” 62.2% of young workers do repetitive motions at least 25% of their work time: Based on the European Survey on Working Conditions 2000 report, a majority of workers aged 15 to 24 years old are exposed to repetitive motions for at least a quarter of their work time. This can lay the foundation for developing RSI later in life.”
“34% of all lost workdays are due to work-related musculoskeletal disorders:The data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicates that work-related RSI’s are the most common reason for lost or restricted work time, accounting for more than a third of lost workdays. “
“Most injuries take an average of 9 days for full recovery while RSI’s require 23 days off work on average.”
Resources
Jon MullerI’m a mechanical engineer and founder of ErgonomicTrends.com. Good Form. Good Function. Good Health. (2020, October 12). 42 New Statistics on RSI and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Every Worker Should Know. Retrieved October 20, 2020, from http://ergonomictrends.com/rsi-statistics/
“A repetitive strain injury (RSI), sometimes referred to as repetitive stress injury, is a gradual buildup of damage to muscles, tendons, and nerves from repetitive motions. RSIs are common and may be caused by many different types of activities, including:
Hecht, M. (2017, March 14). Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI): Causes, Prevention, and More. Retrieved October 20, 2020, from https://www.healthline.com/health/repetitive-strain-injury
The “creative industry” also called the “creative and digital industries” is defined as “a range of economic activities that are concerned with the generation and commercialization of creativity, ideas, knowledge and information.”
The creative industry is said to include sectors like “design, music, publishing, architecture, film and video, crafts, visual arts, fashion, TV and radio, advertising, literature, computer games and the performing arts.”
Sources
Parrish, D. (2019, December 19). Creative Industries definitions. Retrieved October 18, 2020, from https://www.davidparrish.com/creative-industries-definitions/
Functionality: Uses regular mouse functionality with track pad integration, Turns Power on when folded up and turns power off when flat.
Pros: Simple, Small, Wireless Cons: Non ergonomic, too small for comfort, clicking issues(would left lick instead of right is two fingers are on the mouse),
Functionality: Uses uses triggers to act as left and right button clicks, has completely vertical position.
Pros: ergonomic design, Cons: not intuitive hand hand movements, very bulky, wired,
pen: Lychee Pen mouse
George CGeorge is an ergonomist and chief editor of Ergonomic Trends. He brings with him over 15 years advising companies on best office practices, & Says, B. (2019, November 21). Is a Pen Mouse Worth Your Time? (A Look at the Two Best Ones). Retrieved September 29, 2020, from http://ergonomictrends.com/best-pen-mouse-review-and-ergonomics/
CAD $20.99
Functionality: Uses uses triggers to act as left and right button clicks, has pencil/pen-like form factor
Pros: ergonomic design, Cons: not intuitive button placement, , click buttons on the side are difficult to do while keeping pen in place, does not have stylus-like functionality
Insight [Most of the mice on the market use the same technology, but the components in different locations, or house all the components in a different looking housing]
Resources
Sigalas, T. (2019, August 21). Do you need a Trackball mouse? Why do PROS use them! Retrieved September 28, 2020, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVX91onQH0w
Wong, H. (2019, April 9). Surface Arc Mouse Revisited: Design Over Everything. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQ4x-uctYWs
George CGeorge is an ergonomist and chief editor of Ergonomic Trends. He brings with him over 15 years advising companies on best office practices, & Says, B. (2019, November 21). Is a Pen Mouse Worth Your Time? (A Look at the Two Best Ones). Retrieved September 29, 2020, from http://ergonomictrends.com/best-pen-mouse-review-and-ergonomics/
On a regular Computer mouse, there is a Left click button, a Right click button, a scroll wheel, a motion detection sensor, and some sort of connection element.
The connective element is usually either a hard wire that connects directly to the computer or device, or a wireless transmitter and receiver that communicated to the computer or device without the need for a cable. The driver is usually installed upon first connection to a new device and is the thing that maps the buttons to executable command on the device; some mice allow you to change what each button does.
Functionality: The left click button usually selects, drags
The Right click button normally allows for secondary options
The Scroll wheel usually allows for vertical navigation and sometimes allows for secondary function by pressing down
The motion sensor detects the movement of the mouse and translates it to the cursor.
Resources
Murmson, S. (2019). Parts & Functions of a Computer Mouse. Retrieved September 29, 2020, from https://www.techwalla.com/articles/parts-functions-of-a-computer-mouse
Modeling software can be used in either the design context (CAD: creating a model that will be used to make an object in real life) or in the CGI context (for use in VFX). The industry standard programs for CGI for VFX are: MAYA and Houdini. The industry standards for CAD for design are: SolidWorks and AutoCAD. But whether it is CGI or CAD design, modelers need to create entire models with intricate parts and elements usually from scratch. this process can take hours or days to complete.
the modeling process includes:
inputting specific numbers for dimensioning, dragging objects, navigating the scene in 3D space, moving and rotating around object in 3D space, creating multiple objects and joining them together to form bigger objects, adjusting precise parts of the model, using calculated functions and equations (so that the dimensions of one object is controlled by another), creating patterns to use across the model, using creativity to achieve certain shapes with the tools provided by the software, texturing/decals, shading, and rendering.
CAD softwares often use a combination of keyboard buttons, and mouse movements to initiate commands within the software (ex panning usually is done by holding Command/CTRL whole moving the mouse). Both the keyboard and mouse are important for modeling however, the mouse is used to perform more tasks and therefore is used more often.
Resources
TFI. (2015, October 9). Learn Autodesk Inventor in under an hour, 3D CAD modelling full tutorial IMPORTANT – SEE DESCRIPTION. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCnVZrzz1VI
Aggarwal, A. (2020, March 13). These VFX software are used frequently to create out-of-the-world visual effects – MAAC India Academy Animation & VFX Industry Blog – MAAC India Institute. Retrieved September 29, 2020, from https://www.maacindia.com/blog/these-vfx-software-are-used-frequently-to-create-out-of-the-world-visual-effects
Indeed. (n.d.). CAD jobs. Retrieved September 29, 2020, from https://ca.indeed.com/jobs?q=CAD
“VFX Compositing seamlessly integrates digital assets with live-action footage to bring together the final shot of a film or game. Compositing is the final step of the VFX pipeline. A skilled Compositor layers together various elements in a way that makes them appear to naturally belong in the same space. To give you an example: a production company shoots a background (referred to as a plate) that contains a building up close and a cityscape behind. The Animator has animated a missile, and the Effects Artist has added smoke effects and an explosion with building destruction. Once this is all rendered out, the Compositor layers the missile, smoke, explosion and building destruction into the shot, using things like color correction and z-depth to bring it all together. Z-depth is basically a black and white representation of the depth of an object in a scene, and is very important in compositing 3D elements.”
Resources
Fitzgerald, R. (2019). What is Compositing?: The Job of a VFX Compositor: CG Spectrum. Retrieved September 28, 2020, from https://www.cgspectrum.com/blog/what-is-compositing
VFX or Visual Effects are sometimes confused SFX or special effects. SFX are mainly practical (done in real life and actually recorded on camera), while VFX are done digitally. Video effects Artists mainly spend their time in their VFX software. There are many fields within VFX such as :
Illustration
Chroma Keying (using green screens)
Stop Motion Animation
2D & 3D Motion Capture Animation
2D & 3D Animation
Compositing
Modeling/Sculpting
Rigging
Character Animation
Environment/Physical Effects (explosions, fog, smoke, set extensions, destruction)
Rotoscoping (tracing over motion picture footage)
Tracking
Camera Matching
-(Lesley University)
Many of these categories bleed into CAD designing seeing that nowadays, VFX is including more and more CGI (computer generated Imagery) which is mainly created using CAD softwares. The ones that don’t however, are very similar to the video editing process. Before they can begin working on the shot, the VFX team must organize clips and label them in an organized manner . One of the main differences between VFX and Video Editing is that while Video editing mainly deals with a large amount of shots and sequences, the visual effects artist will work on a select few shots (most of the time only one) and will spend an immensely long time on just those shots; which then will be delivered to the video editor who will then thread those shots together in a coherent manner.
the process of VFX includes :
Assessing footage, scrubbing through timeline (window that shows sequence of clips), dragging clips, inserting effects, creating new elements to add to the shot, creative problem solving, shot tracking (tracking a clip to attach a digitally created element to a moving object), compositing, detailed and precise mouse positioning to move objects, elements, and frame point to a precise location, color correction, and frequently playing and re-playing segments of clips.
The VFX process uses a heavy combination of the mouse and the keyboard. The mouse is used mainly to drag, navigate, scroll, and make adjustments. Technically speaking, although it would take more time, aside from naming clips the entirety of the VFX process could be done with only a mouse. The biggest use of the keyboard is the use of shortcut commands for efficiency, and the input of numbers to attain exact values for certain effects.
References
Lesley University. (2020). Visual Effects (VFX) at the College of Art and Design. Retrieved September 28, 2020, from https://lesley.edu/visual-effects
FilmRiot. (2020, September 10). Teleport like The Umbrella Academy (VFX Tutorial). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iDnTaf-d90
Renée, V. (2014, December 03). SFX vs. VFX: Two Effects Artists Discuss the Differences Between Practical & CGI. Retrieved September 28, 2020, from https://nofilmschool.com/2014/12/sfx-vfx-two-effects-artists-discuss-differences-between-practical-cgi
