Educational Graphics Proposal

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  • 19 Jul 2017 03:01
    Reply # 4983598 on 4969130
    Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Alan, that autonomous camera drone that follows you around is a brilliant idea – especially as portrayed in that promotional package and real cool video in the link you gave, at https://www.lily.camera/

    The autonomous feature raises some interesting questions as to who is the pilot and you would want to see how it sits with the drone flying regulations of whatever country it was used in.

    But of more concern is that although it will follow the user to within 5 – 100 feet, it has no obstacle avoidance ability except (hopefully) with respect to the actual user, so you would want to be well out on the water and away from other boats…. as a device it really might not be quite so smart as it first appears. There have been questions raised as to the authenticity of that promotional video.

    The other problem is that evidently the “purchase now and get it for $499” dates back a year or so, and the current situation now is that, according to “Independent” 17th Jan 2017 the company is facing pending law suits and is now winding itself down and refunding customers. Link.

    Which is a shame because it sure looked like a “great fun” device.

    I think Jim’s ideas are great and forward looking – but just a little  bit ahead of your time yet eh Jim?

    By the way, Jim, great to hear you are back home still in one piece after all your adventures - are you going to get that neat boat of yours going again soon?


    Last modified: 19 Jul 2017 03:06 | Anonymous member (Administrator)
  • 18 Jul 2017 13:18
    Reply # 4982205 on 4969130
    Anonymous

    I think there are a couple of ideas here that are worth considering, although I think the professional illustrator and graphics idea could be expensive. Maybe that part could be done by a volunteer using Powerpoint or something similar, and incorporated into a video.

    I think videos are the best way to go, as one can shoot perfectly acceptable video on most smartphones, and make them accessible on YouTube etc, and just provide links on the JRA website. It would be easy to shoot some footage explaining what each rope does, etc.

    However, the really exciting idea is to use drones, and there is a new one just coming on the market which is going to be really easy to operate from a boat, as it flies itself automatically to a preset route controlled from a smartphone, tracking the boat, and it floats, and can take off from the water. Check the video here!

    https://www.lily.camera/

    Wow!

    They are currently offering an amazing deal if we pre-order, just $499, otherwise it is $1000. I think it would make a great addition to the performance measuring project as well, as it would produce a video record of how each boat sails, the sea conditions, etc.

    My thanks to Joddy Chapman for putting me on to this one. Amazing!

    Last modified: 18 Jul 2017 13:23 | Anonymous
  • 11 Jul 2017 22:51
    Message # 4969130

    At the AGM in Whangarei NZ this year, I suggested that the JRA invest in some professional level graphics and video resources to help illustrate and explain the junk rig to newcomers. The purpose is not to recruit new members like missionaries but to help those who have already chosen the rig.
    The following are some of my thoughts. So far, I have not had much luck finding local talent to give us a quote but that may happen yet. Meanwhile, I will put out these suggestions and perhaps interested members could find among themselves or in their own locale, the appropriate expertise.
    Here is what I propose:

    3D GRAPHICS
    I suggest a 3D interactive drawing of a typical junk rig mounted on a boat such as Footprints. Capable of being rotated in any direction and zoomable to get in to see details.
    It should consist of several layers, each depicting a separate category of parts. E.g., sail, mast, yard, boom, battens, standing rigging, running rigging, mast step, and so on.
    Each layer should have check boxes. Like Google Earth. These will reveal notes in balloons pointing toward an item. Another check box to go to a separate drawing and/or text explanation.
    The boat layers should be very basic. No details to distract. It should be showable as opaque, transparent (ghost-like) and invisible.
    A gallery of photographs should accompany this set.

    GRAPHICS ANIMATION
    A step up from the a fore mentioned would be animated features. When you see what has been achieved today for video games, it’s quite amazing what can be illustrated and is such realistic detail. However, unless we could piggyback on someone else’s work, I imagine it would be too expensive for us to go that route.

    VIDEO
    A series of videos to post to our archives and YouTube illustrating the components of our rig and how it is operated in different modes.
    Video aboard boat from various locations. Limited to close-ups but instructive.
    Videos from heretofore remote perches. E.G. From the top of the mast. See GoPro cameras.
    Suggest a temporary bipod, or single pole, a “selfie stick” if you like, to hold a camera off the stern of the boat to bring more into view than is possible from a video aboard. It’s cheaper than a chase boat.
    Suggest using a camera with a “video stabilization” mount to cope with jerky motion. (E.g. Gopro HERO5 + Karma Grip). With appropriate distance and lens, one can get quite a bit in one view.
    (BTW, I have no financial connection with anything in this article.)
    Another suggestion: Employ a 360 degree, stabilized video camera on a stern mount. This would guarantee that just about everything we need to show is in view. Don’t know what editing possibilities are. For our purposes, we might want to limit that because we don’t need to know what’s behind us. Then there are other mounting points. A selfie-stick from the bow, on centre, off centre, deck level, off deck level and water level. A Mast top view would be interesting.

    PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER
    We should consider having a commercial photographer do some of this work. They understand the challenges of lighting, perspective, framing and so on, to make the video instructive and entertaining too.
    I suggest a photographer on a chase boat. Video from a distance at different angles or in motion, such as circling the boat.
    Scenarios: Raising sail, adjusting yard hauling parrel etc.
    Sail set for pointing; close reach; beam reach; broad reach; running.
    Heaving to.
    Reefing one panel, two panel etc.; depicting sheetlets resetting themselves.
    Gybing
    Alternating scenes showing junkrig versus Bermuda rig to demonstrate difference in visibility; time and effort to reef/un-reef, no flogging when heaving to, etc.

    DRONE VIDEO
    Everybody has seen drone footage these days. This could be another way to illustrate the junkrig in operation. It can be very pleasant to watch. This might best be done by a professional. Or not. The drone would have to cope with wind. But the technology gets better all the time.  I see a scenario where a junk rigged boat is sailing in tandem with a Bermudan rigged boat, on a port tack to windward. Then both boat turn to weather and heave to. The difference between their sails will be obvious, one flogging, the other not.


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