Course Reflection

Time to reflect on the past 13 weeks!

Honestly this assignment has been a positive experience for me, I've learnt that working in a team can be a good thing and that sometimes you can land yourself with people who want to be as productive as you do!

Looking back on my original course expectations, I'd say they've definitely been met. The group members I have have pulled their weight in their own way. 

As a group, we approached this course as splitting up tasks and distributing them. Hiep and I have been researchers, I have done most of the documentation, Angus has been the coding genuis and Hiep has been our visual. As my presentation skills are negative four, Hiep has been the face of our group during presentations. We all have our strong points and I believe we have distributed our work quite evenly. 

For the tasks that I have completed, I have always gone back to my group to ask for feedback and they have always given constructive criticism and helped me to improve my work. Whenever any of us has needed help with our own individual tasks, assistance has been given as soon as possible. 

We haven't needed to have group meetings outside of class as most of our communication has occurred in a Facebook group chat. Even without physically meeting, we have always met deadlines and completed work in a timely manner.

Aside from the team members I've worked with, the actual course has been enjoyable. The tasks that have been set have been manageable and have tested my creativity and problem solving skills. The staff have been super friendly and have always given constructive criticism during presentations. Their feedback has been vital to the completion of this application and the application itself would not be as good as it is now without their comments.

As a last thought, when I went into this course,I never thought I'd be as lucky as I have been to be in a group with such nice people who have always been ready to lend a hand. They have far exceeded my expectations and if given the chance, I'd choose to work with them again. 


p.s buy "Made in The A.M" on itunes. thank.

Trade Show

During this week's contact lesson, we held a 'Trade Show' and displayed our implemented website applications. I hooked my laptop up to a large screen and we waited and lurked to see if anything was game enough to click enter. 

After, like, ten minutes of not activity, I went over to the application and selected a prompt. I clicked the YouTube play button and suddenly the music took over the entire sound system in the room. I have NO clue how that happened, but it definitely attracted attention to our application! :~) As a result of my random outburst, tutors decided they'd start their rounds at MoodyMusic.

Tutors had multiple points to comment on after using the application first hand. They generally enjoyed the website BUT there were a few things that needed changing ASAP. First off, there was an error pop up message displayed to users if they inputted an unrecognised keyword in the search bar. That was a big red flag and tutors said to remove that and find another way of communicating to users the error. 

Second, the positioning of the 'another mood' and 'next song' buttons were not as easily accessible as tutors thought they should be. Those needed to be relocated.

Thirdly, the text imported from Trove looked plain, boring, unappealing, etc. They recommended styling it in some way.

Lastly, as the data from Trove takes decades to load, they suggested using a mini loading screen like the one that appears when users first enter the site. 

THE LAST MINUTE CHANGESSSSS

Firstly, the error message was removed and the search bar was restyled to turn red when an incorrect keyword has been input.

Next, the Suggestions page was a little restyled. Angus had trouble styling the Trove text, therefore he simply changed the font style and relocated the 'another mood' and 'next song' button so sit beside the composer's portrait. A mini loading page has also been added, now users will only see a completely loaded Suggestions page. 

So, overall, this trade show proved to be a very important experience as those last minute suggestions have further improved the design. My team and I realise that the lack of styling on the Trove data does impact the design, it doesn't compel users to read the data however there really wasn't much that could be done with styling the data. 

Reflecting on Week 12

So this week we found the keywords for the search bar, I started work on my portfolio and the final report/document/thing. I hope that putting the document together won't take too long. I plan on putting 'A Guide to MoodyMusic' in the document to tick the interaction box, so whoever marks it can clearly see how one is meant to navigate through the website/all the features.

Angus is working on finishing the code this weekend, so fingers are crossed that it will be finished in time for next week's trade show. I think I'll write up a little document for Hiep to read from, to pitch the final idea to the tutors. We really have a good dynamic, the three of us. Hiep is like our visual because he has the confidence to talk to the tutors and explain the design to people, whereas Angus prefers coding and I prefer to do the research/documentation side. We're a good trio.


A sneak peek at my portfolio...

Key Words

This week Angus, Hiep and I put together a list of key words for the search bar. We categorised them into emotions so that upon a user inputting one of these words, they'd be randomly suggested a song from the mood's playlist. 

For the majority, these words were basically found through using an online thesaurus. 

Angry

Angry, frustrated, pissed off, shit, annoyed, pissed, steaming, seeing red, bitter, cross, irritated, heated, furious, infuriated, raging, fuming, provoked, riled, sulky, sullen, wrathful, tempered, stormed, tempered, ferocious, fierce, exasperated, irate, outraged, indignant, resentful, maddened, mad, enraged, choleric, offended, uptight,

Sad

bitter depressed desolate dismal dispirited down downcast downhearted dull dysphoric gloomy heartbroken low melancholy mournful pessimistic somber sorrowful sorry wistful bereaved blue cheerless dejected despairing despondent disconsolate distressed doleful down down in dumps down in mouth downcast forlorn gloomy glum grief-stricken grieved heartsick heavyhearted hurting in doldrums in grief in the dumps languishing low-spirited lugubrious morbid morose out of sorts pensive sick at heart troubled unhappy weeping

Happy

cheerful contented delighted ecstatic elated glad happy joyful joyous jubilant lively merry overjoyed peaceful pleasant pleased thrilled upbeat blessed blest blissful blithe can't complain captivated chipper chirpy content convivial exultant flying high gay gleeful gratified intoxicated jolly laughing light looking good mirthful on cloud nine peppy perky playful sparkling sunny tickled tickled pink up walking on air

Excited

animated aroused awakened breezy brisked bubbly bursting buzzed buzzing charged delighted driven driving eager energetic enthusiastic enthused industrious inflamed high hyperactive hysterical jumpy keyed up on fire popping overwrought roused ruffled snappy spirited steamed up surprised vigorous wild worked up zippy

Calm

apathetic breezeless cool composed disinterested even harmonious hushed laid back light mild peaceful placid relaxed restful rested serene slow smooth soothing tranquil unbothered undisturbed weightless

In Love

adore adoring cherished cherishing devoted fervour flame fire in heart love loved loving lustful passionate precious relish romantic

Reflection on Week 11

During this week we held an in class Digital Prototype session where hypothetical users interacted with our website. 

Users were asked a series of questions:

• Were you able to successfully navigate through pages?
• Did symbols make sense?
• Was there any aspect that confused you? 
• In three words, how would you describe the website? 
• What did you think about the spacing of objects on the page?
• Do you think pages followed a logical sequence

The way users interacted with the application was documented. Upon arriving at the Home page with all the suggestions, most readers read the entire list of prompts before selecting the 'Meant to be studying?' prompt... I assume that has nothing to do with their procrastination skills that are frequently used to avoid doing things like write blog posts... And they were then redirected to the song recommendation page. At this time we did not have the song suggestions randomised and all songs redirected to the same page. Nor was the search bar functional at this stage, but somehow the feedback received was largely positive.

Aside from our incomplete features, there only seemed to be one common query among users; they couldn't find the Home Page to return to choose another emotion. It appeared as though the Home button in the header was not visible or clear to them.

From this feedback, we've decided to implement an 'another mood' button that sits at the bottom of the Trove article, beside the 'next song' button. Hopefully with this addition it will be clearer to users how to navigate back to the previous page.

Aside from holding this workshop, I worked on the Progress Demonstration & Report document this week. I want to finish as much of it during this weekend as possible. On top of that, next week we will be making lists of key words associated with each emotion for the search bar. Angus has been working on implementing a working version of the application so hopefully the randomiser will be working soon. Hope it all goes smoothly! 

Trove Articles/Images

Finding relevant articles on Trove is honestly such an exhausting and time consuming process because there just does not seem to be that much relevant database about music in this database. It's really fortunate that the tutors said we could use a music plugin because otherwise this would be an impossible mission. 

As a result of lack of relevant articles, the list of composers we can recommend music from is forever decreasing. Having to cull the list limits the number of songs that can be recommended. Finding images is especially tedious. However, if I can find articles on composers but not images, I'll speak to my team and question whether we can sack the portrait idea because otherwise there really won't be much of a variety of artists to recommend from.

Another alternative could be sourcing images from other places for the composers who have very limited Trove searches.


Articles:
Ludwig Van Beethoven (link)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (link)
Johann Sebastian Bach (link)
Claude Debussy (link)
Frederic Chopin (link) (link)

Franz Liszt (link)

Franz Schubert (link)

Antonio Vivaldi (link) (link) (link)

Images:
Ludwig Beethovan (link)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (link)
Bach - no image found.
Claude Debussy - image not found. 
Frederic Chopin (link)
Gershwin - (link)
Franz Liszt - (link)
Franz Schubert - no image found.
Antonio Vivaldi - no image found. 

Categorised Songs

Lost your keys?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hJf4ZffkoI -  Mozard Symphony #40 in Gminor, K550 1. Molto Allegro

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4IRMYuE1hI – Beethoven 5th symphony

The Four Seasons, Summer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10d1Pxqj_WA Debussy, Pour le Piano

Is it raining?

Clair de Lune

Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun

Gymnopédies

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lv-jiA1JiFU Beethovan - Adagio cantabile

On good today?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiTO7c_qeZs – Beethoven – Music, Love and Wine (can be used for “Just aced an exam/Found $5/On Fleek)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUuusqy50yk Tchaikovsky - Valse Sentimentale

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4Hfv00eqoI Mozart String Serenade No.13

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cdZYQB5ONE Beethovan Sonata No.31 in A-flat Major, Op. 110: II Allegro

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1gE3nyQnKg Debussy - Children’s Corner, Golliwog’s cakewalk

In love?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncl91E3Ourw – Fracais Lai – Love Story(Could also be sad)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPuCrzXfPUI – Beethoven – 9th Symphony(starts off slow but gets better)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiTO7c_qeZs – Beethoven – Music, Love and Wine (can be used for “Just aced an exam/Found $5/On Fleek)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRKv5ZLJ7Ts - Beethoven - Melody of Love

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9E6b3swbnWg Chopin - Nocturne op.9

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpOtuoHL45Y Franz Liszt - Liebestraum - Love Dream

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Fle2CP8gR0 Debussy - Deux Arabesque

Just aced that exam?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiTO7c_qeZs – Beethoven – Music, Love and Wine (can be used for “Just aced an exam/Found $5/On Fleek)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcIyTiKwDvU Mozart - Clarinet Concerto in A Major K.622 Adagio

Rhapsody in Blue

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gu77Vtja30c Gustav Holst - Jupiter

Just found money?

Rhapsody in Blue

Got a headache?

Clair de Lune

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79UfWizjGiQ Claude Debussy - Reverie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lv-jiA1JiFU Beethovan - Adagio cantabile

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZsqxAa0M1Y Debussy, Beau Soir, L.6

Just had a break up?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Tr0otuiQuU – Beethoven – moonlight Sonata

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYjRBDk2IYY – Beethoven – melody of the stars

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mf711o8jAQA Mozart - Piano Concerto No.23 In A Major, K488 Adagio

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Tr0otuiQuU Beethovan - Piano Sonata No.14 in C-Sharp Minor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lv-jiA1JiFU Beethovan - Adagio cantabile

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZsqxAa0M1Y Debussy, Beau Soir, L.6

Is it storming?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kC4m2EDc5oY – Toccata and Fugue in D Minor – Johan Sebastian Bach

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZ4YWdnaXBQ&list=PLpZ54uK6rq4KsFkJwA-8QwcusnIY1RgSK – Mussorgsky – Night On Bald Mountain

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McegZXtYE_U&index=2&list=PLpZ54uK6rq4KsFkJwA-8QwcusnIY1RgSK – Berlioz – Dream Of Witches’ Sabbath

Angry

Night On Bald Mountain

Calm

Debussy - Clair de lune

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_7loz-HWUM Debussy - Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun

Happy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSMfI0wMgDM Debussy, Petite Suite : 1. En bateau

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bW01NSqOA7M Debussy Danse (Tarantelle styrienne)

Sad

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jc2hjkMmtv4  Bach - Come, Sweet Death (lmao)