What is the subject of your proposed virtual world?
I focused on the wind patterns of a mature tornado-producing supercell – with particular attention paid to funnel cloud anatomy.

       What mood, feelings, and/or emotions will you try to evoke in a viewer experiencing this world?
The idea of actually entering, and exploring such a violent force of nature is, to me, mind-boggling.  I tried to evoke a sense of wonder.

       How can visual form be given to abstract forces or energy principles?
Wind is invisible; but we can see its negative in sand, snow, mountains, tornados.

       What are some basic natural forms, and how does the character of their form relate to natural forces?
Forms are built on a pattern – forms repeat.  The globe, for example, formed out of gravitational forces, is repeated endlessly in nature: from the molecular to the galactic.  Forms like sand dunes you might relate to mold-making – dunes are the negative created by wind.

       What is the role for movement in your concept design?
My model is about wind – the form of the storm is shaped by very high velocity, invisible movement.

       What are some examples of linked forms in nature: forms from different realms (atmospheric, liquid, plant, organic, earth, energy) which have analogous characters
Waves and dunes; volcanoes and ant mounds; tornados and whirlpools and conch shells and some seeds and leaves, etc.

       If we are to convey the sensation of flying or swimming, how can the arrangement of forms in relation to the viewer's point of view, create a dynamic sense of place, an invitation to explore, a quality of engagement, comfort, awe, or another emotional or physical quality.
The space of the CAVE is (with some luck and technological cooperation) infinite; we can explore endlessly and at any scale.  But as creators, we can choose to leave the viewer in infinite void, or limit the range at which he/she can explore: crowd the viewer with repetition or intense color, create atmosphere, muddy the waters.  The possibilities are only limited by imagination, and our understanding of the psychology of design.

       Does your world fit within the "real" space of the Cave (8x8x8 ft) or does it extend beyond the walls?
Tornados are big.

       What did you choose to depict with 2D imagery? Why?
With the 2D imagery I focused on the structure of the entire storm.  I wanted to be as expansive with my information-gathering as possible, incase I wanted to depict specific details in the CAVE.

       What did you choose to depict with 3D painted form? Why?
I focused primarily on the anatomy of the funnel cloud, I guess because that’s what we focus on when we see one of these storms in the real world.

       Did you have any trouble logging in?
Nope.

       Did you have any trouble running CavePainting?
I had trouble with the glasses the first night I was in the CAVE.  It looked like the right lens was darker than the left, and I got a double image when I worked at arms-length (the image was fine at a greater distance).  I assumed I was only having focusing issues, but then the next night, the glasses were much clearer. (Guess I should have tried another pair)

       Did you learn how to change colors? Change brush stroke types?
Yes.

       What discussion question do you have from the Cave paper?
Is there potential for adding new controllers that would make the CAVE easier to navigate, or one that might limit user control to, say, only move laterally?

       In this assignment, what worked, what didn't work, and how would you change it? (briefly)
I just need more time – two solid hours isn’t enough.  I was very comfortable working with the program…probably going to go there a lot earlier this week.