NIKO MEREDITH MCT BLOG

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Bocuse d’Or 2017 NZ

Bocuse d’Or opened my eyes to 360 live streaming , although it did not function as planned it hold massive potential. The next iteration of livestream 360 content, would be switch between viewpoints.

The ability to switch camera angles live itself offers a far more engaging experience, this coupled with the immersive nature of 360 video is a total game changer. Live streaming 360 media through multiple switchable cameras allows the viewer to essentially become the director and editor.

You do have to be a little more strategic in how you place the camera, lighting is always an issue and as of yet there is no quick audio fix but 360 media requires less editing and provides a more engaging and rewarding experience.

In terms of my own research being apart of this project was very valuable. This reiterated the importance of setup and allowed to see the swot (strengths, weaknesses, opportunity, threats) of the state of 360 media today. After the cool factor wears of 360 what else is there? Most media content is quite gimmicky but after the initial interaction with 360 it tends to wear thin, How can 360 media delve deeper and avoid users scrolling by it on their Newsfeeds.

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Weekly Update

Weekly Update

I haven’t been completely useless over the last week (but also not the most productive.)

I’ve been doing a bit of reading and note taking (adding to my literature review.)

Filmed a few more polished experimentations

Setup a group filming session (with a couple of people/make shift actors)

A couple of reflection post

Working on reviewing more digital health promotion campaigns

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Research question, research focus: Revisited

Throughout this year and even earlier to the inception of this research the research question and topic is constantly being redefined.

My initial plans were to go into interview session with a completely open sleight and allow the conversation to dictate the research moving forward. As I quickly learned, this approach would not be overly compatible in regards to getting ethics approval and finishing on time.

I had to readjust my original intentions of the research into something more manageable and realistic for the timeframe given and coming to terms of what is expected of a Masters.

I wouldn’t necessarily say this was the sole reasoning behind me choosing to focus on mental health but it was definitely a factor. I don’t think I really discussed the rationale of focusing on mental health. I think a big part of this had to do what I’ve experienced, maybe not personally but family members and prevalence of mental unwellness in my own community. 

I do think mental health is a taboo subject for Pacific families. I think culturally, under-preparedness, lack of awareness along with other factors enable the conditions for the poor overall state of mental health for Pacific people in New Zealand.

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Prototypes & Developments

With all research projects, the aims and focus always seem to change slightly, especially if you’re working with qualitative data. I think that design thinking (codesign) methodology allows for space of flexibility and exploration. There have been quite a few unanticipated threads pop up throughout the data collection. Above are a few ideas I’ve synthesised following the extraction of themes

My next steps with this research is prototyping and experimentation

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Participatory

Conversing with participants has reinforced the concepts of participatory co-design and cocreation.

Cocreation implies stakeholders have is a say in terms of what get done and is more of a business term while co-design means a relationship over time with participants at multiple stages of the project. I naturally took this research method because of its similarities with Kakala, a tongan research framework that I’ve previously looked at.

What both Participatory design and Kakala have in common is that the research/end product is useable and relevant to the participants.

In terms of literature there’s much more written about Participatory research/codesign (more references) compared to kakala. I think I might be leaning towards codesign because it potentially be easier to write about.

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Emerging Theme

I never really made the connection between 360 video technology and indigenous models of health until it was brought with supervisors who thought that it part and parcel of my research proposal. Admittedly this oversight was a little embarrassing, but never the less this metaphor/connection of these two concepts I can see is going to essential moving forward.

My research has the opportunity to show that this connection of holistic models of health and ‘holistic (360) imagery’ is more than just coincidence. Both Te whare tapa wha and fonofale use the symbolism of the home environment as an  intricate metaphor to describe health. 360 video can literally capture all four walls of a home.

The digital translation of these Pacific/Maori models of health fit hand and hand with the medium of 360 video. This technology aligns conceptually and allows these ideas to stay relevant with the times and be introduced to a new audience.

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Revival of the blog

I know I haven’t blogged at all during my postgrad studies. 

I’ve long realised the issues of accountability and procrastination when it comes to self directed study. Neglecting due diligence in terms of daily writings and readings is becoming evermore evident in meetings with my supervisors. A return of to the blog format (BCT days of chaotic mess) I think will help me reach my flowstate before the mental block and blocks of writing ensue.

“Sometimes the formation is just as important as the conclusion”

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An overview of all the interviews I was able to conduct throughout the project. This mostly made to maintain a social media presence and keep the audience engaged.

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Technical difficulties/improvements

I think the quality of sound was an oversight with this project. Although still usable and not bad in places it is a let down production wise compared to other elements.

My inexperience in recording sound and lack of awareness of how vital sound is for content like this is definitely a learning point.

Quality mics, wind socks and sound synchronization are all things to improve on and consider moving forward.

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Reflection Post

This project has been experimental and loosely structured, I heavily relied on community engagement. It was a risky move to rely on the material of the project to reach others and grow it into something bigger than just my own input.

I think the looseness to the structure of the project stemmed from not really knowing what I wanted to achieve with it. I sought of embrace this fact. I put out content I though people would respond to, to further community engagement and to see what others had to say. This provided the backbone of the project, I ended up aggregating ‘untold’ stories within the G.I community to share what’s happening in Glen Innes.

The collaborative and flexible approach to this project allowed for spontaneous and reactive content. I did not have a set list of interviewees who were to be involved, and this was also the first time people reached to get involved with a uni project. Each interview happened organically.

The only the thing that was set in this project was not compromising the authenticity of this project to further certain narratives or agendas, I just wanted to give people a wallflowers insight to the changes happening in G.I.

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Glen Innes: Untold

Here is the website I’ve done to supplement the social media page and blog. Each platform give users the opportunity to engage with the content on a different level.

Because I’ve just (mostly) finished I haven’t had the opportunity to push this as much as I’ve wanted. I do plan to add to the website and promote through my blog and social media page.

(I am looking into purchasing a ‘proper’ domain name)

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Names: Veronica, Benji, Vera & Olalini

Veronica, Benji, Vera & Olalini are all cousins. I went to St. Pius X school with them in Glen Innes. All of them lived on Melling Street, which has been decimated under the housing redevelopment plans. This interview reminisces fond memories of what Melling Street used to be and what Glen Innes stood for. The interview underlines the connection to Glen Innes is deeper than just living here but stresses the importance of community identity.

The housing redevelopment literally trampled over this families childhood/well being, effectively telling them that the bonds and connections that they’ve established growing up in this neighbourhood meant nothing.

Unlike the other interview this was done as group. Veronica, Benji, Vera and Olalini highlight the extensive changes that Melling Street has undergone in a short space of time.

This group interview shows how young people who grew up in Glen Innes are impacted by the housing redevelopment in Glen Innes.

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This interview was with my father, a resident of Glen Innes for about 50 years or so. I thought this interview would provide a contrasting and historical viewpoint on the changes in Glen Innes.

The talanoa within this interview was able to be deep and engaging because of the close connection, I thought this interview showcases the family qualities that are embedded in the Glen Innes community.

This interview comments what’s happen now in Glen Innes with slight references/acknowledgment of the parallels shared between Glen Innes and the gentrification of Ponsonby. 

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Here’s another video made for the social campaign of #79Reasons (mentioned in the previous post.)

76. We have our own street code that grounds us and keeps us respectful 77. We've seen struggle, we're resilient 78. We bounce BACK not backwards

This was the Penultimate post.

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'Tamaki youths are great'

Several Tamaki community groups are banding together on a social media campaign to share a positive light of youth in the area.

Momma I’m Famous

G.I. Untold gets mentioned in this article

Here’s an article that documents the social change campaign that I was apart of through the G.I. Untold project.

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This video utilizes the the folk hero stature and reach that the artist Tupac Amaru Shakur has with young people and especially in the Tamaki region . I was able to find a snippet that was relevant to the message that G.I. Untold stood for.

Here I wanted to inject 360 media back into the project and bring some balance back into my original aims.

There’s also been added dimension humour in the last couple of videos. I think it’s important not to take everything so serious and leave room for the project to embrace the youthful direction.

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Closing in on 1k likes

The support for this project has been overwhelmingly positive. There was a need for a project like this and I felt that I needed to tell the story of what’s happening in Glen Innes.

People have been sending me material, encouraging messages and donations for my interviewees. I see this page of a collection of stories, almost like an archive as a tribute to was Glen Innes is/was.

Collaboration, friendships and future projects have come as a result of this project. I am enjoying working in this space both digital and location wise.