To give simple instructions for how to customise 3D Flunstellas Models, by adding personal designs to their textures.

Activity

This guide instructs you to...

• Install and use the Flunstellas 3D Shape library witin StarLogo TNG
• Locate the Texture Files for the 3D Shapes
• Redesign the Textures, adding the 'Content' of the Flunstella, e.g. an idea, memory, emotion, or sensation.

 

 

To do this activity you will need...

• To have installed StarLogo TNG
• Added the 'Flunstellas' model library, see below.
  
• And Downloaded & unzipped 'SetUpRoom.sltng.zip'

 There is a short video demonstation, for each step of these instructions.

If the video is not playing, refresh your browser window.

If the video is too small, click on the 'Full Screen' icon at the bottom right hand corner of the video

 

Installing the 3D Flunstellas Shape Library, to be used within StarLogo TNG.

• Download & Unzip 'SetUpRoom.sltng.zip'
• Copy the folder 'Flunstellas' into applications/starlogo tng/models
• If you like, copy the 'Interiors' folder across into Applications/StarLogo TNG/Models too

 

Viewing & Using the 3D Flunstellas Shape Library within StarLogo TNG

• Open StarLogo TNG
• In the Blocks Window, click on 'Edit Breeds'.
• Alongside the usual shape libraries, you should now also find a 'Flunstellas'  shape library.
• Add another Breed, choose a Flunstellas shape and set up a new program with it. For instructions as to how to do this click here.
• In the SpaceLand window, if you click 'SetUp' you should find your 3D FLunstellas Shapes.
• Have a look at the different shapes, note that each shape has a flat white space at the back end. This is where we will add our content.
• Save your Project.
• Close StarLogo TNG, you will need to close & re-open it everytime you add, or alter a model or its texture.

 

Locating the Textures for the new 3D Flunstellas Shape Library

•  Fluntellas, like a lot of Shapes in StarLogo TNG have 2D image files wrapped around them called Textures. They work a much like wrapping paper, or mathmatical nets.
• We are going to add content to our 3D Flunstellas Shapes by redesigning their 2D texture files.
• To locate the 2D texture files that are wrapped around these 3D Flunstellas shapes go to...
• Applications/StarLogo TNG/Models/Flunstellas
• You will see just over 50 folders. each containing files to make up a 3D shape.

Here are the details of what each file is and what it does

• default_icon.png is a 64px X 64px image file, used to make Thumbnails withing StarLogo TNG
• The other .png file is the 3D Shapes Texture file, this is the main file to redesign and put our content in.
• The .obj file is the 3D model file. If you want to see what it looks like you can open it in a text editor like notepad or word.
• The .mtl file tells the 3D .obj file which texture to use and how. If you want to see what it looks like you can open this in a text editor too.

 

Designing new Content for a 3D Flunstella Shape Using Paint, or similair application

Locating the right Texture and Thumbnail files.

•  It is useful to have an idea, memory, emotion, or sensation, that you want to use for the content of this Flunstella in mind.
• In the StarLogo TNG, select a shape that you think suits the idea, memory, emotion, or sensation, e.g. an angry thought might be a big red shape with sharp edges, Remember the shapes thumbnail.
• Navigate to the 3D Flunstellas Shapes Folder. Very Important Only Edit the Textures of Shapes Folders with names beginning 'xx' or 'yy'. The other shapes are to be left blank.
• Find the shape you want to edit, and open both
• 'default_icon.png' and the other '.png' file in the same folder.

Designing the Texture

• We are going to add content relating to our idea, memory, emotion, or sensation onto the white space in the middle of the texture. As this is a flat blank part of the 3D Shape we can draw & write on this space without any distortion.
• We can redesign the rest of the Texture, but as the 2D image is wrapped around a 3D shape it will be heavily distoted.
• Use paint and text tools to design an image and/or text that can represent the content of this Flunstella.
• When you have finnished the design, save it with exactly the same name in exactly the same location.

Designing the Thumbnail

• Open 'default_icon.png'
• This image is to be used as a Thumbnail for the 3D model with your design on it. As it is quite small (64x64 pixels) it is a good idea to design something simple that will be easily make you think of the Flunstellas Content.
• If you know how to it is a good idea to copy and paste the main design from the texture, if not a simple symbol or piece of text will do the job.
• When you have finnished the design, save it with exactly the same name in exactly the same location.

Designing your Flunstella content In Paint

 

Designing your Flunstella content in Gimp or Photoshop.

• If you have more advanced Gimp or Photoshop Skills then why not montage photos and other images?

Checking your new Texture and Thumbnail

•  Go to Applications/StarLogo TNG/Models/Flunstellas and search for the folder of the texture files you have redesigned.
• If you have a quick look at the default_icon.png file & the .png texture file, they should have your new designs on them.

Viewing & Using your newly designed  3D Flunstellas Shape in StarLogo TNG

• Open StarLogo TNG
• Open the .sltng project you saved earlier
• In the Blocks window, open 'Edit Breeds' and select one of the Flunstellas Breeds you had already added, (or add a completely new one if you like)
• While you still have your Flunstella Breed selected, glick on the 'Flunstellas' tab and browse to find your redesigned thumbnail.
• Click on your redesigned thumbnail, and close the 'Edit Breeds' window by selecting 'OK'
• In the 'SpaceLand Window', click on the 'SetUp' tab again to set up your program.
• Look around spaceland for your new 3D Shape, it should now also have your image on it.

 

 

To enable people to use StarLogo TNG to set up a simulation of Flunstellas in a Social Space

Educational Resource

This entry level guide shows you how to select different Flunstellas Models and chose where they are positioned in space, and what size they are.

At the Flunstellas Organisation, we are developing an educational framework in which people can use, and create, various engagement tools, with which to explore the Flunstellas Phenomenon.

StarLogo TNG is a user friendly program that enables entry level users to create & explore, Interactive Models, Simulations and Games, and as such is idealwith which to construct our understanding of Flunstellas.

 

To do this activity you will need...

• To have installed StarLogo TNG
• Added the 'Flunstellas' model library, see below.
  
• And Downloaded & unzipped 'SetUpRoom.sltng.zip'
  
• If you prefer printed instructions, .pdf & .doc files of this guide are attached at the bottom of the page.

Adding the New Models to StarLogo TNG

• Download the 'flunmodels.zip' file from

Opening

• Go to file/open & browse to 'set up room.sltng'
• If you try to open .sltng files that use custom model libraries such as 'flunmodels', by double clicking on the .sltng file on your computer, or through the most recent projects option within StarLogo TNG, it may not open the file correctly.

Adding a Flunstella Model

Breeds

• There will be Four 'Wall' Breeds which have already been created for this project.
• Click 'New' and navigate to the 'Flunstellas' tab, below the top layer of thumbnails.
• Choose one of the 'Flunstellas' models with a grey background and large 'B' in the Thumbnail.
• Give your Flunstellas Breed a name by typing under its thumbnail.
• Click 'Ok'

Creating a new Set Up

1. Click and drag your along the dark grey background we call this the 'Scripting Canvas', until you get to the 'SetUp' page.
2. 
3. You should see the set up block already made to set up the room called “Set Up Wall”
4. Open “Set Up & Run” and drag out a “SetUp” block and place it on the “Set Up” page, on the “Scripting Canvas”
5. 
6. You can rename the “Set Up” block by clicking on the word Set up & Editing it.
   
7. Drag out a “Clear Everyone” block from the “Set Up & Run”
8. Drawer, and place it in the “Set Up” Block.

The Create Do Block

• Click on the Blue Arrow to the right of 'Factory', this will take you to 'My Blocks'.

• Each Breed has it's own blue 'Drawer' of blocks.

 

• Click on the blue tab with your new breeds name on it.

• Drag a “Create Do” block out onto the “Set Up” page, and place it in your new “Set Up” block, underneath Clear Everyone.

Viewing the SetUp in the SpaceLand Window

• Click on the 'SetUp' block at the bottom left of the window.

• If you zoom in, you will be able to see your Flunstellas Model in the room, if you click on it, it's monitor will pop up.

• You can view and change different attributes of your Flunstella such as Xcoordinate, Size and Altitude.

If you want to place your individual Flunstellas in a specific location then..

 

• Go to the 'Factory' and open the 'Traits' drawer.
• Drag out 'Set XY', 'Set Size'and Set Altitude' blocks and place them into the 'Do' socket of the 'Create Do' Block.
• 

 

• Click on the Flunstella model & its 'Monitor' window will pop -up.
• You can move the Flunstella to where you want it to be, by adjusting the 'Xcor', 'Ycor' & 'Altitude' by clicking on the up or down arrows to the right of the individual numbers.

•  You can now copy these numbers, and paste them into the set-up block.

If you want to scatter your Flunstella Model(s) randomly...

• In the “Set Up” page on the “Scripting Canvas”.
• Adjust the number of your breed you want to create, by adjust the 'Num'
• Go to 'Factory' and from the 'Traits' drawer drag out a 'Set Size' block, and a 'Set Altitude' block, place them into the 'Do' socket of your new breeds 'Create Do' block.
• Go to 'Factory' and 'Maths' and drag a 'Random' block to replace the 'Set Altitudes' number block.
• Go to your new breeds drawer in 'My Blocks', and drag a 'Scatter mybreed' block underneath its 'Create Do' Block.

 

To enable people to use StarLogo TNG to manipulate camera views of 3D space

Educational Resource

 

This guide shows you how to manipulate the various camera views, in the 3D window StarLogo TNG.

At the Flunstellas Organisation, we are developing an educational framework in which people can use, and create, various engagement tools, with which to explore the Flunstellas Phenomenon. 

StarLogo TNG is a user friendly program that enables entry level users to create & explore, Interactive Models, Simulations and Games, and as such is ideal with which to construct our understanding of Flunstellas.

Moving the Camera around 3D Space.

 

 

To do this activity you will need...

• To have installed StarLogo TNG
• Added the 'Flunstellas' model library, see below.
  
• And Downloaded & unzipped 'SetUpRoom.sltng.zip'
  
• If you prefer printed instructions, .pdf & .doc files of this guide are attached at the bottom of the page.

•  Download the 'flunmodels.zip' file from

• Copy both folders and all their contents into the StarLogo TNG Models directory, see below.
• Applications/StarLogo TNG/Models/

Opening

•  Go to file/open & browse to find the file 'Set Up Room.sltng' 

•  If it isn't already open, in the top set of menus, go to “Windows/SpaceLand

Moving around a Room in SpaceLand

There are two basic views of Spaceland – aerial and overhead.

 Aerial is the 3-D view and Overhead is the 2-D view.

Looking Around SpaceLand

There are two ways to switch to “agent eye” and “agent view".

Method One:

and is based on the 'SpaceLand Navigation Guide'

 worksheet developed by S.T.E.P.

 

These 3D models can be used to create Flunstellas simulations in StarLogo TNG.

Media Art

This is a set of textured 3D models, in the .OBJ file format, to be used as a library of Flunstellas models when creating interactive simulations and games using StarLogo TNG.

To download the Flunstellas 3D model Library click the thumbnail below.

Instructions

    1.    Check that you have already installed StarLogo TNG, which is available for free from http://education.mit.edu/drupal/starlogo-tng
    2.    If StarLogo TNG is open, then close it.
    3.    Unzip flunmodels.zip
    4.    Copy both folders "interiors' & "Flunstellas" & all their contents into Applications/StarLogo TNG/models


    5.    When you next open StarLogo TNG, you should find a new set of models labelled  "Flunstellas" and "interiors".




These models were made by the Flunstellas Organisation.
You have permission to use, alter and share, but please attribute
www.flunstellas.org

To involve people in the temporary transformation of retail spaces into Flunstellas Mind Spaces.

Activity

 

Instructions

 

Materials Needed

• Coloured Pens

• Blu-Tac

• Different Shaped pieces of card/paper

 

 

 

Preparation

 

Choosing a Time & Place, & a Target Subject

 

Either

• Pick out of a hat

• Choose over the internet, using a vote, wiki, or forum.

• Picked by one person, not revealed to others, this may be useful to research telepathy & remote viewing.

   

 

Making the Drawings/Writings

 

• The First 3 must be directly related to the Target subject chosen by the group

• For their remaining drawings, let your mind wander, make drawings of the things you think about as your mind wanders.

• Collect the drawings you have made together and get ready to leave.

   

 

Each of you go to the retail space at the prearranged time

 

Once in the Retail-Space

 

• Wander around the retail space and find somewhere that feels right, this is where you will begin.

• Place your first drawing by blu-tac-ing it into position.

• Next find another drawing that relates to the first one, and place it somewhere nearby, consider the spatial relationship between the two drawings. Should it go above or below? How close to each other?

• Wander around placing your drawings in clusters and constellations relating to one another, and other peoples.

 

• Simpler instructions
• Prep to be done online?
• Prep to be done individually?
• Emphasize more personal, less ironic starting subjects

The Creative Wing

To spread the word about Flunstellas across the world

Pamphlet

 Click below to download

 

To be reproduced and placed in public spaces, or given to people.

The Creative Wing