Graduate Diploma in Creative Media Technology

From HIT Lab Australia

Jump to: navigation, search

Contents

170px-DiplomaCMT.jpg

Graduate Diploma In Creative Media Technology

Human Interface Technology (HIT) Lab Australia, School of Computing & Information Systems


The Graduate Diploma in Creative Media Technology is an eight unit conversion program available on a part-time basis for domestic students from semester 1 2010 for graduates in any areas to develop skills and knowledge in human interface technology.

Semester Code Unit Title
1, 2010 KXH141 Virtual Reality Technology
2, 2010 KXH142 Augmented Reality Technology
1, 2010 KXH241 User Interface Design
2, 2010 KXH242 Fundamentals of Interactive Entertainment
1, 2011 KXH341 Immersive World Workshop A
2, 2011 KXH342 Immersive World Workshop B
1, 2011 KXH343 Designing Immersive Worlds
2, 2011 KXH344 Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Interactive Entertainment


Description

The course concentrates on the design of the digital medium and the message or content delivered by that medium as well as the human interface to both. Although great progress has been made in developing and networking digital technology, today’s human interfaces to those technologies (e.g, mouse, keyboard, etc.) are extraordinarily limiting and do not match the power of the human with the power of computing and digital media. Furthermore, the content of these media do not take advantage the natural three dimensional capabilities of humans in relating to the real world. The UTAS and HIT Lab AU intend to change this by developing and commercialising advanced interfaces that provide high bandwidth from computers to the brain and between brains, all based upon: 1) the natural abilities and perceptual organization of the human; and 2) the functional needs for specific applications in medicine, design, education and business. Combined, the UTAS courses and HIT Lab projects will develop both technology capital to build new industry in Australia along with human capital that comes from giving students a project-based multidisciplinary environment in which to learn and grow.

In the end, our projects are directed toward building interface tools that open an effectual window for collaboration and creation of digital content that give optimal experiences to people in all fields of endeavour.

The course will focus on virtual interfaces and their potential impact on the way we think about computers and the way we think with them.


Educational Objectives of the Course

  • Understand important aspects of engineering human experience and especially online interactions
  • Understand human and technology aspects of interacting with digital media
  • Understand the social design considerations in creation of online communities
  • Participate as a team in the process of designing interactive entertainment systems and virtual worlds, including brainstorming, concept development, documentation and presentation of a pitch to other classmates and experts
  • Understand the impact that new media technology will have on the development of future virtual worlds
  • Provide hands on exposure to advanced interface and media technologies


KXH141 Virtual Reality Technology

This unit is a companion unit to KXH142 Augmented Reality Technology. Both units are foundation units for a new Human Interface Technology (HIT) major that is being introduced at the (proposed) HIT Lab Australia. The new major is an instructional companion to the organization of the Tasmania Research Centre of Human Interface Technology Laboratory in Australia. This Laboratory is linked to the HIT Lab at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington, USA and the HIT Lab NZ, located at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, NZ and will promote the development of advanced human interfaces and media technologies.

KXH141 and KXH142 will explore the exciting field of mixed reality and the advanced concepts and technologies for interfacing humans to complex machines. The course will focus on virtual interfaces and their potential impact on the way we think about computers and the way we think with them. Interface design principles will be reviewed from human factors and technological perspectives. Hardware, software and mindware aspects of virtual interfaces and virtual environments will be investigated and applications postulated and designed in the fields of medicine, education, design and entertainment.

KXH141 will concentrate more on Virtual Reality Technology, while KXH142 concentrates more on Augmented Reality Technology.

VisionSpace will be used for teaching, demonstration and practical applications.

Draft Teaching Content

Overview of Unit
Introduction to Vision
Definition of Virtual Reality (VR)
Brief History of Virtual Interface
Human/Machine side of Virtual Interface Design
Building the Virtual World
Measuring the Goodness of Virtual Worlds
Overview of Augmented Reality (AR)
Applications of VR
Collaborative VR
Medical Applications of VR
Educational Applications of VR
Creative & Design Applications
Future Developments of VR Technology & Applications

Prerequisites: None

Teaching Delivery Method: 2 hours of lectures and 2-hour laboratory work weekly, or equivalent

Assessment: 2-hour examination (60%), Assignments (40%)


KXH142 Augmented Reality Technology

This unit is a companion unit to KXH141 Virtual Reality Technology. Both units are foundation units for a new Human Interface Technology (HIT) major that is being introduced at the (proposed) HIT Lab Australia. The new major is an instructional companion to the organization of the Tasmania Research Centre of Human Interface Technology Laboratory in Australia. This Laboratory is linked to the HIT Lab at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington, USA and the HIT Lab NZ, located at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, NZ and will promote the development of advanced human interfaces and media technologies.

KXH141 and KXH142 will explore the exciting field of mixed reality and the advanced concepts and technologies for interfacing humans to complex machines. The course will focus on virtual interfaces and their potential impact on the way we think about computers and the way we think with them. Interface design principles will be reviewed from human factors and technological perspectives. Hardware, software and mindware aspects of virtual interfaces and virtual environments will be investigated and applications postulated and designed in the fields of medicine, education, design and entertainment.

KXH141 will concentrate more on Virtual Reality Technology, while KXH142 concentrates more on Augmented Reality Technology.

ARToolKit will be used for teaching, demonstration and practical applications.

Draft Teaching Content

Overview of Unit
Introduction to Augmented Reality
Overview of Virtual Reality (VR)
Augmented Reality Tracking
AR Interaction techniques
Collaborative AR applications
Mobile / Outdoor AR
Creating Content for AR applications
AR & Wearable computing applications
Promising research directions in Augmented Reality

Prerequisites: None

Teaching Delivery Method: 2 hours of lectures and 2-hour laboratory work weekly, or equivalent

Assessment: 2-hour examination (60%), Assignments (40%)


KXH241 User Interface Design

Unit will look at common trends and practices of interface and usability design for interactive entertainment and interactive media technology.

Prerequisites: None


KXH242 Fundamentals of Interactive Entertainment

Unit will provide students with an understanding and overview of interactive entertainment and new media from the perspective of the developer, storyteller, designer, artist and audience. This unit will provide students with the theories, tools and techniques to create and analyse stories that can be told as digital interactive games, animated films, immersive experiences or various forms of mixed reality design to help them in the analysis of properties and the creation of new ones.

Prerequisites: None


KXH341 Immersive World Workshop A

First of two in the series allowing students the opportunity to individually and in groups develop a concept and prototype for presentation and review. This unit will look at some of the practical challenges involved in the creation of immersive worlds such as project management and team dynamics, conceiving and writing of a concept proposal, business assessment and analysis, development of marketing and promotional plan, development of prototypes, and the integration of visual, audio and textual elements into the total user experience.

Prerequisites: KXH241 or KXH242


KXH342 Immersive World Workshop B

Second in the series of workshops this course will provide students the opportunity to individually and in groups develop a concept and prototype for presentation and review.

Prerequisites: KXH341


KXH343 Designing Virtual Worlds

Unit will look at the design and development of world building online. Course will explore such topics as what is community (online and offline), game communities, MMOs, and social networks. Particular emphasis on communities from both a social and economic perspective.

Computer graphics for virtual worlds would be also covered in this unit.

Prerequisites: KXH241 or KXH242


KXH344 Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Interactive Entertainment

Unit will provide an overview of current business models in interactive media and games, state of the game industry, future trends, funding and copyright issues. Course will also look at some of the practical challenges involved in the creation of intellectual properties such as brainstorming, project management and team dynamics, conceiving and writing a concept proposal, business assessment and analysis.

Prerequisites: KXH241 or KXH242