YEAR 4 // SEMESTER ONE

3D Computer Animation [COM532J1]

Rationale
Rich, animated, interactive content is becoming increasingly important for many industries exploiting multimedia technology, for example in design, simulation and film production. The production of such content requires well-developed practical skill supported by knowledge of underlying concepts in areas such as modelling, rendering and animation. The practical skills and knowledge of concepts developed in this module equip graduates with the ability to play a productive role within the three-dimensional computer animation industry.

Programme(s)/Technologies Used: 3D Studio Max; Macromedia Dreamweaver MX; Adobe Photoshop CS; iMovie; SoundForge

Areas covered

• Introduction to 3D computer animation: A brief history and overview of the digital production process.
• 3D Modelling: Concepts and techniques for creating 3D computer models, e.g. structure of a 3D model, polygonal modelling and NURBS modelling.
• 3D Animation: Concepts and techniques for creating 3D computer animation, e.g. inverse and forward kinematics, procedural animation, shape animation and character animation.
• Rendering: Rendering algorithms and their application, e.g. Hidden surface removal, ray tracing and radiosity rendering and the rendering process.
• Shading: Techniques for shading surfaces and their application, e.g. faceted, smooth and specular shading.
• Cameras: Concepts underlying virtual cameras and techniques for their use, e.g. the pyramid of vision, types of lens, common camera shots and camera animation.
• Lighting: Types of lights their properties, strategies for using lights and light animation.
• Sound: Producing sound to accompany 3D computer animation and techniques for including it in a finished animation.

Assignment(s)
The assignment for this module was to design and produce a 3D computer animation (from initial concept and storyboarding through to prototyping and producing the finished piece), approximately one minute in duration, using the techniques and technologies covered. The finished piece had to include sound, titles and credits and be accompanied by a report at each stage.

A basic, one-page journal website was used to document the development of the assignment.

Website: 3D Journal

Innovation and Concept [DES511J1]

Rationale
The student is taught all of the various aspects of project preparation, management, and delivery. The module offers the student an opportunity to complete a realistic and meaningful piece of work. Work from this module will help students develop individual design skills, identities and direction. This is achieved in the context of taking part in International Design competitions.

The module additionally offers students support and feedback in regard to the development of a project proposal document for the Major Project module.

Aims

1. To introduce students to design at an International level
2. To introduce students to design research
3. To develop students design presentation and prototyping skills
4. To exercise and develop students design methodology skills
5. To give students project experience prior to their project/dissertation
6. To prepare a Project Proposal Document for the Major Project Module
7. To develop students individual design skills and identities. The module represents work performed by the student under suitable staff supervision that draws both from the practical and creative nature of a design project.

Assignment(s)
Using a journal website, we were required to document the research undertaken while creating a project proposal for the Major Project module, to be taken the next semester. At the end of the module, we were to colate our research, conclusion and ideas for our Major Project into a project proposal in the style expected by international design companies.

The journal website was not simply for documentation; it was to have an evolving style that mirrored the direction our ideas were taking us.

Website: Innovation & Concept Journal

Programme(s)/Technologies Used: Macromedia Dreamweaver MX; Adobe Photoshop CS; Adobe Illustrator CS; CSS; HTML; PHP

Networks and Data Communications [COM552J1]

Rationale
It is important that students have an understanding of how computers communicate both in general and when used in both local and wide area networks.

Aims
To provide an understanding of the theory of data communications and networks, which will be underpinned through a series of hardware experiments culminating in the implementation of a physical communications system. This treatment will reinforce software engineering best practice.

Assignment(s)
Coursework 1: Write a white paper entitled "Investigation into the Physical layer used in communications systems"

Coursework 2: Build a network card that is able to connect two or more computers.

 

YEAR 4 // SEMESTER TWO

Major Project [DES512J2]

Rationale
Students are required to undertake a major project during the final year of the course. Within the project the student integrates and applies material presented through other modules.

This module represents a piece of work undertaken by the students that is their own choice of topic but is within the domain of Interactive Multimedia Design. The choice of topic and preparation of a project proposal document will have wholly or in part taken place in the Innovation and Concept module of the first Semester of the final year of the course. The choice of topic should be sufficiently open ended to allow the student to demonstrate his or her abilities to develop a range of creative solutions.

Aims

• To design and prototype an Interactive Multimedia product based on a self-generated Project proposal document and design brief
• To provide the student with the experience of carrying out a major programme of work in Interactive Multimedia
• To develop in all students the ability to work independently
• To provide a measure of integration of the various topics studied in the course
• To test the inventiveness, the critical capacities, and the design skills of the student.

Assignment(s)
The sole assignment for this module was the creation of our Major Project. Additional research was also to be undertaken when needed.

In my case, my Major Project was an Interactive Manga. I hand sketched all of the illustrations; digitally coloured, created effects (using brushes), and added panelling and lettering with Adobe Photoshop CS; and programmed the interactive elements using Macromedia Director MX, enhanced with Lingo script.

Website: Major Project Journal; Final piece (Macromedia Director Projector): EXE, HQX

Programme(s)/Technologies Used: Macromedia Director MX; Lingo; Macromedia Dreamweaver MX; Adobe Photoshop CS; Adobe Illustrator CS; CSS; HTML; PHP

Design Presentation and Reporting [DES513J2]

Rationale
Students, during this module, will devise, develop and present a report which sets out the rationale, analysis, conclusions and critical appraisal of their Major Project. It will allow students to make a formal structured presentation, engage in independent study, research their chosen market and develop written and visual skills. By the end of the module students will have understood and analysed visual communication problems, prepared and presented structured information and reviewed, evaluated and developed their own practices.

Aims

• To provide an opportunity for students to formally present their project research, concepts, their development and application in a structured and coherent format
• To increase students capacity for independent study and critical thought
• To encourage students to collate and analyse factors which have influenced the success of multimedia in the marketplace
• To enhance communication skills through written and visual material that clearly explains the methodology of the Major Project's design development.

Assignment(s)
This was to be comprised of a short description of the work involved, dates, hours required, size and its assessment criteria. Students were required to submit either a word processed and bound 'Project Report' of between 4000 and 8000 words and supping visual material/data or an authored multimedia presentation of between 2000 and 4000 words.

Students were expected to study text and visual material from the world wide web and visual communication journals as part of their research for the project. They were to undertake a significant part of this module as self-directed study in order to fully synthesise and resolve the complex design problems they will encounter.

Programme(s)/Technologies Used: Adobe Photoshop CS; Adobe Illustrator CS

Advanced Interaction [COM533J2]

Rationale
Multimedia authoring is evolving beyond the development of straight forward stand-alone point-of-information systems / kiosks or rolling presentations. The skills required for the latter will have been acquired by the students during the previous three years of the course. Given the impact that advanced multimedia telecommunications will have upon information dissemination, it is essential that the students are provided with the requisite skills to be able to deliver these advanced systems.

This module recognises the future development trends in multimedia authoring combining interface design; advanced telecommunications and dynamic queries from distributed databases for information delivery and management. It will provide in-depth instruction in advanced interaction techniques for multimedia authoring to meet these development trends.

Assignment(s)
As this module recognises the future development trends in multimedia authoring combining interface design; advanced telecommunications and dynamic queries from distributed databases for information delivery and management. It will provide in-depth instruction in advanced scripting (interaction) techniques for multimedia authoring to meet these development trends. These are skills which mature through the combined application of theoretical and experiential knowledge in practice. It is appropriate therefore to test these aspects of the student's knowledge in the context of their practical application.

Coursework 1: Create a Director projector movie, programmed in Lingo script, based upon and interest. It should including interactive elements such as controlling and object with key presses and collision detection.

Coursework 2: Create an ASP enabled website where users can register and login to access protected and hidden content. In addition, create a a tutorial describing how you created the projector movie for the first coursework assignment.

Website: Kismet Productions

Programme(s)/Technologies Used: Macromedia Director MX; Lingo script; JavaScript; ASP; DBMS