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

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, and 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.

 

Woops...

Hey folks – bit of a typo.  Instead of putting the presentation dates as the 26th/28th, I put them as 19th/21st.  I’ve fixed the presentation slots and given slots to those people who've sent me emails.  Act now if you want a specific slot!

Final Project Presentations...

Hey folks,

A few people have expressed interest (perhaps even concern) about the format of your Final Project presentation.  Originally, I wanted to have everyone present on the last three classes.  However, since I’m out of commission tomorrow I wanted to reclaim one of those days for a lecture.  So, Final Project presentations will be in the last two days of class.  Now, given the fact that there are 20 projects to present (each of which will take up 5–10 minutes), things are going to be kind of tight in terms of time.  So, I would ask that everyone makes sure that they make sure that their presentations are not any longer than 10 minutes.  This still means that if everyone does a 10 minute presentation, we might run a little late.  Given this, I would strongly suggest that if anyone has anything immediately after class, they schedule their presentation early in the class.  As for the presentation, here are some guidelines:

Beyond handing in the final project to the instructor, students must prepare a short (5-10 minutes) presentation outlining their project which will be delivered in the final day of class. The presentation will account for 25% of their final project grade, and it must include visual examples/visual aides in the form of screenshots, PowerPoint slides, etc

Now, who is going to present on which day?  10 slots/class – first come first served basis.  I’ll post all of the slots below, and as people email me with their preferences, I’ll fill in the slots (I’ll go be the time I the email was sent).  If the slot is taken, I’ll give you the closest available slot.

April 26th

1. Ryan Torre
2. Jeff Siarto
3. Scott Harding
4.  Jason Reichle
5.  Kien Hunter
6. John Tuma
7. Kiran Belankar
8. Mark Santiago

April 28th

1. Kirk Berryman
2. Stanley Park
3. Hai Kyung Min
4. Jessica Boyle
5. Andrew Demey
6. Mi-Young Jo
7. Jay Lau
8. Matt Ponke
9. John Ellenich
10. Keith Anderson

So, when do you hand in the factual actual Final Project?  I was going to have people hand them in when they present.  However, I’m going to give everyone until the final day of class to hand it in. 

Audience Profile Data...

I’ve made the same survey results that should be used to generate your Final Project audience profiles available in PDF format in the resources section of the course website.  My apologies for not getting this to you earlier.

Sample Usability Report...

Hey folks – I’ve been looking around for an example usability report that you can look at.  After much searching, I’ve found a student focused usability report of the new University of Calgary University of Alberta website (http://www.ualberta.ca) that was launched in 2003.  The report is extremely comprehensive, and available in both HTML and PDF format.  Check it out at:

http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/usability/

Thanks for the heads up on my mistake Paul.

Slides...

Hey folks – I just wanted to let everyone know that I’ve updated the course slides on the website.  They are now all up to date.

Keyhole...

A student of mine 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...

Hey folks,

As promised (and as discussed), here are the possible options for your Final Project:

Option 1: Fully Pre-Digital Design Document

Option 1 must, at the very least, include, but shouldn't be limited to, the following things:

Introduction : introduction to the website upon which you will focus. This should, at the very least, include a discussion of the website's topic/content. If the student is creating a design from scratch, they must provide a detailed discussion of their intended website's topic/content.

Audience Profile: A detailed audience profile that includes all possible characteristics that might impact upon the site's redesign.  Ethan will provide the raw data that you’ll use to generate your audience profile by the end of this week.

Market Analysis: A detailed exploration of at least three other similar sites. The student should compare and contrast the site's to their site (as well as its redesign).

Design Analysis : a detailed analysis of the site's current design shortcomings (if you are redesigning a site opposed to creating a design from scratch). This section should include visual aids (diagrams, screenshots, etc.), your proposed changes. The Design Analysis should also take into account the site's audience (level of technology, accessibility, bandwidth, etc.).

Proposed Changes: Building on the design analysis, this section needs to include a detailed discussion of your proposed changes. You must justify any changes you wish made. As before, this section should include visual aids (diagrams, screenshots, etc.

Storyboards : Provide 2 sets of detailed illustrations (each with different designs) of the various different top level page layout schemes that you are going to be using. Be sure to clearly label different individual elements. In this section, it would also be wise to introduce your visual metaphor (i.e. color choices, images, etc). It is extremely important that your storyboards be presented in a very legible, detailed, and professional manner.

Information Architecture : Provide detailed information architecture diagrams that shows exactly how your site is going to be organized. It's very important that the diagrams are neat, understandable, and complete.

 

Option 2: Interactive Prototype with “lite” Design Document

Option 2 must, at the very least, include, but shouldn't be limited to, the following things:

Introduction : introduction to the website upon which you will focus. This should, at the very least, include a discussion of the website's topic/content. If the student is creating a design from scratch, they must provide a detailed discussion of their intended website's topic/content.

Design Analysis : a detailed analysis of the site's current design shortcomings (if you are redesigning a site opposed to creating a design from scratch). This section should include visual aids (diagrams, screenshots, etc.), your proposed changes. The Design Analysis should also take into account the site's audience (level of technology, accessibility, bandwidth, etc.).

Storyboards : Provide 2 sets of detailed illustrations (each with different designs) of the various different top level page layout schemes that you are going to be using. Be sure to clearly label different individual elements. In this section, it would also be wise to introduce your visual metaphor (i.e. color choices, images, etc). It is extremely important that your storyboards be presented in a very legible, detailed, and professional manner.

Information Architecture : Provide detailed information architecture diagrams that shows exactly how your site is going to be organized. It's very important that the diagrams are neat, understandable, and complete.

Functioning Prototype: A functioning portion of the website.   In building your prototype, you will want to choose one of the following approaches (or a combination of them):

• Depth-First Approach - focuses on a small section of your web site and bring them to completion, leaving other areas incomplete.
• Breadth-First Approach - focuses on a broad overview of all the sections of your project and the navigation between them with few details.
• Onion Approach - focuses on the core elements of your project.

 

Option 3: Fully Functional Website

Option 3 must, at the very least, include, but shouldn't be limited to, the following things:

Introduction : introduction to the website upon which you will focus. This should, at the very least, include a discussion of the website's topic/content. If the student is creating a design from scratch, they must provide a detailed discussion of their intended website's topic/content.

Storyboards : Provide 2 sets of detailed sketches (each with different designs) of the various different top level page layout schemes that you are going to be using. Be sure to clearly label different individual elements. In this section, it would also be wise to introduce your visual metaphor (i.e. color choices, images, etc). It is extremely important that your storyboards be presented in a very legible, detailed, and professional manner.

Functioning Website: This is pretty self explanatory