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Masters in Creative Media TechnologyFrom HIT Lab AustraliaMasters In Creative Media TechnologyHuman Interface Technology (HIT) Lab Australia, School of Computing & Information Systems The Master of Creative Media Technology is a sixteen unit conversion program (based on the Graduate Diploma plus an additional four postgraduate units and a 50% project) available on a part-time or full-time time basis for domestic and international students from semester 1 2010, for graduates in any areas to broaden skills and knowledge already gained in an undergraduate program and develop new skills and knowledge in human interface technology. Students are required to undertake a major individual or group project, worth 50% of one academic year. The Master of Creative Media Technology is composed of instructional and project-based units that emphasize technology, creative and entrepreneurial disciplines. The objective is to bring students together to broaden understanding in all components needed to field marketable products that solve pervasive problems in the world through the use of digital media. Through a schedule of required units and electives, students will be able to connect between ‘technology’ and ‘creative’ disciplines while still being able to emphasize either track through the degree. Finally, entrepreneurial and business instruction provides a practical foundation for translating technology and content into marketable products. The emphasis throughout the program will be on solving real problems in the world.
DescriptionThe 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. The program is 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
KXH141 Virtual Reality TechnologyThis 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
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 TechnologyThis 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
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 DesignUnit 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 EntertainmentUnit 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 / KXH741 Advanced Project AFirst 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 / KXH742 Advanced Project BSecond 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: KXH741
KXH343 Designing Virtual WorldsUnit 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 EntertainmentUnit 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 |
