T540 SEMINAR IN DESIGNING PHYSICAL GAMES AND INTERACTIVE MEDIA SYLLABUS

Instructor ::  Professor Andrew Bucksbarg
Meeting Times ::  Monday/Wednesday 4:00 PM – 5:15 PM
Office Hours :: Tuesdays 3-4:00 PM and Wednesday 5:30-6:30 PM or by appointment
Room ::  TV 169
E-mail ::  abucksba(at)indiana(dot)edu

Description ::   

Individuals and/or groups will work together to explore embedded electronics (microcontrollers) and sensors for the design of interactive media with a focus on education, cognitive and physical health, special needs, green technologies or creative expression. No prior experience required, however an avid passion to learn and overcome self-defeating schema helps!

Process ::
Design Context---> Brainstorming/Thinking--->Ideas/Projects--->
Groups--->Project Goals/Needs/Design--->Design Context--->Prototype--->Design Context

You will be required to observe the context/environment of the design, as well as the design in the context or environment you have designed for, making sure you integrate your work (observation of use, value, impact, etc.) Always seek to intellectualize both success and failure (what can I do better?)

Weekly Schedule ::

MONDAY-
DESIGN IDEAS, DISCUSSION, PRESENTATIONS, PROJECT REVIEW

WEDNESDAY-
WORK LAB

Objectives ::

Designing media using sensors and embedded electronics, as well as integrating these with A/V content.

  ° Electronics/Soldering- by the end of the semester you should have a basic understanding of electronics and the ability to solder your own components.

  ° Bread Boards- how they work and how to use them.

  ° Microcontroller (Arduino)- connecting, using, programming, integrating with other software, etc.

  ° Sensors- knowledge of and use of in projects.

  ° Interfacing with software and controlling A/V content.

  ° Designing for the body, movement and space, as well as cognitive/physical health, special needs, learning, etc.                                                          

Required ::

100% attendance (documented cases/emergencies, etc. will be excused)
100% participation (discussion, feedback, work, support, criticism, etc.)
100% support for seminar fellows (in a diverse group with diverse expertise)
85-100% grade (at least a "B")

Project research presentations- two researched projects that relate to the work in the seminar, including leading discussion/critique (can complete as a group or as individual).

Projects-
Two project proposals (in preparation for the projects)
Two projects (can be groups or individuals)

Required technology (in lieu of books)-

  ° Arduino board

Information on-
http://www.arduino.cc
Purchasing-
http://www.sparkfun.com, http://www.adafruit.com, http://www.makershed.com, http://www.moderndevice.com

  ° Small breadboard- http://www.sparkfun.com, http://www.curiousinventor.com, http://www.adafruit.com, as well as other online or local electronics stores (see links on resource and info. page)

  ° Sensors- http://www.sensorwiki.org, http://itp.nyu.edu/physcomp/sensors, http://www.sparkfun.com is a good place to start for acquiring sensors

  ° Misc. open source software, such as Pure Data, Processing, etc.

Work, Evaluation and Grading ::

A VERY important part of how you will be evaluated is how you engage in class work and discussion. You should come prepared to talk AND facilitate and support discussion and group work, as well as interact with others in the seminar in a constructive manner. If you are not participating is this fashion, your grade will suffer...

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Design Proposal I (10%)
Including text description/design goal, sketches/diagrams/images, technical needs. Must be clear, articulate and address potential problems for prototyping.

Project I (20%)
Use of Arduino, sensors, A/V content

Project I Presentation/Demo (part of Project I grade)

Design Proposal II (20%)
Including text description/design goal, sketches/diagrams/images, technical needs. Must be clear, articulate and address potential problems for prototyping.

Project II (30%)
Use of Arduino, sensors, A/V content

Project II Public Presentation/Demo (part of Project II grade)

Project research presentations- two researched projects that relate to the work in the seminar (10%)

Participation (10%)
This is based on attendance and participation in discussion, group work, presentations, etc.

Grade Scale-
A+ 100 %
A 95-99 %
A- 90-94 %
B+ 87-89 %
B 83-86 %
B- 80-82 %
C+ 77-79 %
C 73-76 %
C- 70-72 %
D+ 67-69 %
D 63-66 %
D- 60-62 %
F 0-59 %

IU policy for religious holidays- http://www.indiana.edu/~deanfac/download/rel_obs.html#holreq

As members of the class organism, we abide by the IU Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct.  Please refer to this site for any questions you may have- http://dsa.indiana.edu/Code/index.html

I am available to meet with you to discuss course work, policies or other questions and concerns you may have during office hours and by appointment.