REALLY..... WHERE IS WALDO ?

In this research project I will attempt to under-stand the graphic tendencies of how Waldo is hidden. I will seek to understand the methodology and and re-occuring themes involved in the hiding of Waldo. In doing this resarch i hope to create a series of diagrams (tools) that will aid in finding waldo in any book.

THESIS

THEMES -Location on the page -Decoys vs. Waldo (Proximity) -Eye movement on the page -Isolation vs. clustering (Density) -Compare effiecencies between books -Forward vs. Reverse -Importance of the color yellow

DISCOVERED THEMES

BOOK ONE (FORWARD)

BOOK TWO (REVERSE)

SO FAR....... I have gone through two books of similar char-acters and themes. The first book i went through and documented my experience in how i found and how long it took to find waldo in each of the 12 puzzles. I repeated these steps in the second book however, i completed the book in reverse to see if there was any correlation between how you find Waldo. After docu-menting the experience in the both books i formulated these common themes between them.

METHODOLOGY... UNDERSTANDING HOW

I would begin by mapping waldo’s location on each puzzle. Then compile the findings from both books together into a layered map.

WALDO’S LOCATION

Book OneOne Puzzle

Book Two Combined

METHODOLOGY... UNDERSTANDING HOW

I would find all of the decoy waldo look-a-likes and then measure the distances between them and Waldo. Then i would map those distances into a data form and compare the first book with the second.

DECOY PROXIMITIES

Book One

Decoy Characters

Waldo

Book Two

METHODOLOGY... UNDERSTANDING HOW

For each puzzle concerning Isolation and cluster-ing, I would map out a 1” x 1” grid and then record how many figures are in each square. I would then assign a grey tone that is a reflection of the numeri-cal value of figures. Once this is has been done I can then begin to compare to the other book and see if there is any trends.

DENSITY RELATIONHIPS TO WALDO One Puzzle

I also will be comparing the rate at which Waldo is found. For both books I had timed how long it took to find waldo in each puzzle. After this was completed I now can begin to make a data form that compares the reverse strategie to the forward strategy to see if it has an effect on how quickly you find Waldo.

EFFICIENCY OF FINDING WALDO

METHODOLOGY... UNDERSTANDING HOW

CONCLUSION.... METHOD TO HIS MADNESS?

In the aftermath of this project I hope to after compiling a kit of tools, apply these to a final un-viewed book. From this point I can really see if the findings of my earlier discoveries are actually helpful or applicable.

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS