Virtual Library - Day 2

Our group then worked to develop and extend the idea to create architectural space and also achieving various moving parts via scripting

By using the cut path option, I created a spiral staircase connecting the multiple levels of the library together. In this attempt we considered making the first floor have open windows and large glass walls to take full advantage of the vast ocean view for the lobby area. On the second floor we would close off the space with more emphasis on walls to achieve privacy and to allow the spiral staircase to run outside the building and at the same time not obstruct the view.

Moving the spiral staircase from the inside to the outside also allowed better use of the space as the majority of the building's floor plan wont be taken up by the obstructive staircase and placing it on the outside takes advantage of the views around our site, creating a more efficient space.

Motion

Our team also wanted various moving elements in our design and with Scratch for Second Life we scripted various cut rings and the spiral staircase to rotate at various speeds to really bring the building alive.

 Unfortunately displaying the motion is difficult through a screenshot

 By using Scratch it also opened up the opportunity to create dynamic staircases. For example the platform my avatar is standing on is divided into multiple sections each with their own unique script. When the prims receive the message "stairs down", in other words when I type the phrase in chat, they would move downwards to form a spiral staircase.

Also I added another script onto each prim in where if I type the words "stairs up", they would then move upwards to allow access to higher levels. This method would save space in the building and allow for interesting means of circulating through the structure

Scripted spiral staircase

Staircase going down

Script for the first step to go down

Script for the last step to go up

And lastly we experimented with conveying our information to the users of the building by placing our blogs on differently shaped prims. However in the end, a normal rectangular shaped prim was the only convenient method of placing our websites.

Blogs on spheres, cylinders and half cylinders

Useful Links
As I experimented with scripts, I found a few useful links that helped me understand Scratch for Second Life a lot better, hopefully any readers interested in the area would also find the information useful however basic they might seem.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qi9Jf_vHKUg&feature=relmfu - Second Life Lock Door script
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHb8WBtyKQg - Scripting a light switch
http://code.google.com/p/secondlifelivelyscripts/ - download custom script for light switch