Here's version two of my Alien Display Interface. The biggest changes are
the change in font, the bottom panel and the cross hairs. I still haven't
added the new space scene to the image, since I have it stored on another
machine and am still working on it. My next version will have the new scene
in it, I promise.

As usual, I'm looking for constructive critisism, so please comment.
Thanks,
Darcy

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Attachments:
Download 'alienv2.jpg' (116 KB)

Preview of image 'alienv2.jpg'

A great improvement over you're last version!  I especially like the
streamlined, more organic look of the displays.  Authentic looking text.  If
you're going for a completely alien feel then I'd suggest getting rid of
anything remotely akin to a "human" display, (ie crosshairs, who knows what
you could replace them with?).

-Chris-

Darcy Johnston <djo### [at] inamecomNOSPAM> wrote in message
news:3a902905@news.povray.org...
> Here's version two of my Alien Display Interface. The biggest changes are
> the change in font, the bottom panel and the cross hairs. I still haven't
> added the new space scene to the image, since I have it stored on another
> machine and am still working on it. My next version will have the new
scene
> in it, I promise.
>
> As usual, I'm looking for constructive critisism, so please comment.
> Thanks,
> Darcy
>
>
>
>
>

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Much more natural looking. I don't know that it's necessarily better, but at
least it doesn't look Anglo-Saxon anymore. :) Personally I kinda prefer points
to curves, but that's me.

--
David Fontaine  <dav### [at] faricynet>  ICQ 55354965
My raytracing gallery:  http://davidf.faricy.net/

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Darcy Johnston wrote:

> Here's version two of my Alien Display Interface. The biggest changes are
> the change in font, the bottom panel and the cross hairs. I still haven't
> added the new space scene to the image, since I have it stored on another
> machine and am still working on it. My next version will have the new scene
> in it, I promise.
>
> As usual, I'm looking for constructive critisism, so please comment.
> Thanks,
> Darcy
>
>  [Image]

So much better!  Cross hairs are pretty standard.  You could use an odd number
of them, like three, or five, and rotate them strangely.  Also I don't imagine
that aliens would have things cluttering up their screen without a purpose.
For example the circle in the middle of the left side could be used for a close
up of the contents of the cross hairs.


--
Dan Johnson

http://www.geocities.com/zapob

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MUCH better!  THAT is alien!  Is the font an original creation or did you
find it somewhere?  If so, what's it called? (share with me, please, please,
please?)

I've spent a good deal of time working on simulated crosshairs for computer
games (Halflife/Counter Strike, etc.) and have become aware of the broad
range in technology that can be expressed by such a simple element.  I agree
that anything based on four lines breaking the "site" into equal quadrants
says "human" in appearance but as geometry and dimensions of space/time are
roughly similar throughout the cosmos it's a given that "alien" crosshairs
may share similar characteristics.

What I would do then is try to figure out how an alien (and I'm assuming
technologically advanced) culture would construct such a disply.  With this
in mind you may want to consider bringing in a visual interpretation of
distance to target; not just a numerical range finder, but something in the
design that incorporates 3D or even pseudo holographic.  A good example to
look at can be found in any of several sci-fi movies and series (BladeRunner
comes to my mind).  What I am thinking about is a display consisting of a
trail of frames or bounding boxs showing a suggested/actual flight path to
target that get smaller as they procede virtually away from the observer,
giving a good sense of distance or depth, even in what may appear to be a 2D
display.

Highlighting of important objects (planets, other space craft, etc.) could
also be used, either by superimposing a bounding type box or brackets
similiar to those found in conventional military aircraft displays and HUDs.
A planet might have a barely visable 3D grid or wireframe superimposed over
all or even just a part of the visable surface, perhaps also including
indicators of rotation direction and speed and/or displaced above the
surface of the planet to suggest an upper atmosphere or even the horizon of
the bodies gravity well.

There is a lot of stuff you could do to make such a display say "alien" and
"advanced technology" to a viewer and I think the real trick may lie in
accomplishing the these first objectives without cluttering up the display
too much.

A challenging task!  I look forward to seeing your next wip!

Best,

Jon Hoskins

--
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 A webring for the artist in all of us:
 http://gxworkshop.9ug.com/webring.htm

 http://gxworkshop.9ug.com
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"Darcy Johnston" <djo### [at] inamecomNOSPAM> wrote in message
news:3a902905@news.povray.org...
> Here's version two of my Alien Display Interface. The biggest changes are
> the change in font, the bottom panel and the cross hairs. I still haven't
> added the new space scene to the image, since I have it stored on another
> machine and am still working on it. My next version will have the new
scene
> in it, I promise.
>
> As usual, I'm looking for constructive critisism, so please comment.
> Thanks,
> Darcy
>
>
>
>
>

Post a reply to this message