Monday is the Grande Finale...

Hey folks – I just wanted to remind everyone that Monday is Final Project presentation day.  For those teams who haven’t yet, you need to sign up for a presentation slot – see the list posted a couple of entries ago.  This needs to be done before Monday’s class.  Also, you need to make sure that you download and fill out a group participation form for each of your team members.  The form is located in the Resources section of the course website. 

See everyone Monday.

Bonus Blog...

Hey folks – I’m offering a bonus blog.  Basically, make a blog entry (no different from any of your regular blog entries) by Friday @ 5pm, and it will replace a 0 or partial grade you received on any of your previous blog entries.  If you’ve done all of your previous blogs, don’t bother doing this one because you won’t get any extra marks.  The only other requirements is that you use “Bonus Blog” as the title of your entry.

SIRS Class Response/Rating

Given the fact that we are nearing the end of the semester, its time to rate this class (and my teaching).  Just go the URL below and do your thing.  Remember, honest and constructive comments help improve future classes:

http://rateyourclass.msu.edu

Final Project Presentations (and other stuff)...

Hey folks,

Well, the end is almost here.  You are going to be doing your Final Project presentations next class.  The presentations should be no less than 10 minutes a piece (thought longer is certainly acceptable).  The order in which the design teams will present will be determined on a first come first served basis.  Just email me with your presentation preference (see below), and I’ll fill the list in as the requests come in:

2. Team 6
3. Team 7
4. Team 1
5. Team 2
6. Team 4

I’ve also uploaded the Final Group Participation Grade sheets to the website (in the Resources section).  You need to download it, fill one for each of your team members, and then hand them in to me on the last day of class (next week).

 

White Paper Due Today by 5pm

Hey folks – I just wanted to make sure that everyone knows that your White Paper is due today by 5pm.  You must email it to me, and it must be in PDF format.  If anyone has any questions, give me a yell ASAP.

1 Credit Class: Sounds, Images + Interactivity (April 22, 23, 24)

Hey folks,

 

Norbert Herber, a friend and colleague who teaches in the Dept of Telecom at Indiana University – Bloomington, is teaching a 1 credit class on April 22, 23, nd 24 called Sounds, Images + Interactivity.  There are still some spaces left in the class.  So, if you are interested, take a look at the description below and email me in order to get authorized to register.

 

Introduction & Background

 

It is essential for interactive designers and developers to have several channels of communication with their audience. Traditionally, the visual channel has been given the most attention. The recipe for immersion has relied on graphical wizardry in favor of creating an experience that is visually compelling and engaging. What is missing is this same kind of attention and focus on the audio components of an interactive experience. In the whole of interactive media this channel has been largely neglected. The audio elements and overall aural design of the interactive experience have not been fully considered.

 

Only through the thoughtful planning of interactive sound structures will there be the kind of audio and graphic synergy that enables the immersive experience to reach its full potential. This course aims to explore the concepts and techniques that bind the picture + sound relationship in an interactive environment.

 

Course Information

 

An understanding of audio and its relationship with images is essential to the success of an interactive production. The course will approach the material from both theoretical and practical perspectives. To discover the intricacies of this relationship, students will study the following topics:

 

• audio-only media: radio theater and other spoken word productions
• film music: role of music in cinema and film music techniques

Though interactive media is relatively young, there are traditions that are vital to the field. While traditional media provides a foundation for the picture + sound relationship, it is also essential to understand how audio is used in contemporary interactive media. Students will consider:

 

• audio in computer games (classic and contemporary)
• audio in CD-ROM based media
• audio on the Internet

 

Careful study and consideration must also go with practical application for a full understanding of the interactive audio development process. Students will have the opportunity to work with contemporary digital audio and media authoring tools to practice implementing the techniques they study and develop individually. The experience of creating interactive sound schemes will bring their studies full-circle from

analysis to implementation.

 

Objectives

 

Introduce students to the power of audio as a means of communication and storytelling, and allow students to explore the interplay between sound and on-screen images

Provide students with a framework for thoughtful consideration of audio in an interactive environment Explore various techniques of implementing an interactive audio design concept in the context of an interactive media production

 

Recommended Skill Set

 

Students are expected to have a working knowledge of digital audio, and contemporary tools for computer-based recording and editing. Musical training or the ability to sing/play an instrument can be helpful, though not necessary. Students should be familiar with Flash-based multimedia development and have at least an intermediate-level knowledge of ActionScript or similar OOP language.

 

 

Final Project Audience Profile Data...

As promised, I’ve made the data available that some of you (depending on the items required for your Final Project) will need to generate your audience profile.  I’ve also made a sample audience profile available.  Just check out the Resources section in the course website.

Slides...

Hey folks – just wanted to let you know that I’ve posted the last 2 weeks worth of lecture slides on the course website.

Summer Class: The Social History of Digital Games (TC391)

If anyone is interested, I’m teaching a class this summer called The Social History of Digital Games (TC391).  Here is the descriptions:

In 1952, A.S. Douglas wrote his PhD degree at the University of Cambridge on Human-Computer interaction. Douglas created the first graphical computer game - a version of Tic-Tac-Toe. The game was programmed on an EDSAC vacuum-tube computer, which had a cathode ray tube display. The rest, as they say, is history. 50 years later, video games are a multi billion dollar industry, and have become worthy of mainstream attention and scholarly study.

The Social History of Digital Games is an introductory survey course designed to provide student with an opportunity to explore the foundations, development, and current state of interactive entertainment as well as the interactive entertainment industry. The course will take a socio-historical approach to the subject, exploring not just the lineage of game technology, genres, and trends, but the impact that the industry had on society and vice versa.

If anyone has any questions about the class, give me a yell.

Caught up on Blogs...

Hey folks – I just wanted to let everyone know that I’ve caught up on grading your weekly blog entries.  Everything should be up to date.  I would strongly suggest that you check your grades out on Angel just to make sure everything is in order.  If there is any confusion about a grade you got, give me a yell and we can talk about it.

also, remember that we aren’t going to have lecture on Monday.  Use the time to work on your final project.

Monday's Class...

Hey folks,

I’m giving you Monday’s class off to work with your teammates on your final projects.

Creative Concept #3...

I would just like to remind everyone that you’ve got your third and final Creative Concept due on Monday.  For those who haven’t looked at the schedule lately, here is the description:

Creative Concept Day: envision an interactive application for an everyday consumer device (fridge, gas pump, toaster, etc.).  When creating your application, build in a network component of some kind (so that your application includes communication with other devices in the area or other non-local systems).  Remember, the more creative, the better.

See everyone on Monday.

Keyhole...

One of your fellow students (Sheryl Wilson) sent me this link:

http://www.keyhole.com

very cool!  Whoever thought that U.S. government spy satellites would be put to this kind of use.

Final Project Options...

As we’ve talked about many times during the semester thus far, the Final Project is not only group based (i.e. the Design Teams), but also the culmination of the course itself.  While the point of the Final Project itself is to author a creative interactive system of some sort that takes into account the principles that we’ve discussed throughout the semester, the actual form that the Final Project actually takes is not necessarily going to be the exact same for every design team. 

So, I’ve split the possible Final Project outcomes into three options.  Each Design Team can choose any one of the options:

Option 1: Functioning Interactive System

• The Design Team can decide to create a fully functional interactive system (in the medium of their choice for the platform of their choice).  This option doesn’t require the same supporting documentation that either Option 2 or Option 3 does. 

Option 2: Prototype Interactive System with “lite” Design Documentation

• The Design Team can decide to create a prototype interactive system that is accompanied by a smaller design doc than is required of Option 3.  The exact nature of the prototype is up to the design team.  It could include a fully functional robust interactive interface (in the medium of their choice) without any actual content, or an interactive system that is partially complete (i.e. interface with one “area” of content complete).  In addition, the Design Team must hand in a “lite” design document (the contents of which will be provided after the design team has handed in their Final Project Pitch).

Option 3: Robust Design Document

• If the Design Team chooses, they can prototype a creative interactive system completely on paper in a very robust design document.  The contents of the design doc will depend on the medium and platform of the interactive system itself, and will be provided to the design team after they’ve handed in their Final Project Pitch.  Examples of what the design doc could include are a detailed market analysis, an information architecture diagram, multiple storyboard prototypes, digital wire frame prototypes, audience profile, and detailed design strategy justification.

Ultimately, the option that the design team chooses is completely up to them, and will probably hinge on the amount of amount and types of skills present in each member of the team.

Creative Concept 2 Grades...

Hey folks – I’ve updated the course ANGEL gradebook with your grades for Creative Concept #2.  I’ve left comments for some of you, so I would suggest checking out the gradebook.