Prerequisite/Recommended prerequisite for participation in the module

Content, progress and pedagogy of the module

The students shall learn about screen media production, animation and computer graphics, including the analysis of relationships between audio-visual communication and the communication offered by animation and computer graphics technologies. The students shall develop their technical and methodological skills by creating audio-visual experiments and experiences that are interactive.

Interactive 3D computer graphics applications are becoming increasingly abundant and find themselves into ever more aspects of our lives. They range from 3D computer games for entertainment over mobile augmented-reality applications for navigation to visualizations of abstract phenomena in web-based applications. In addition to its wide range of applications areas, interactive 3D computer graphics is also mediated in many different ways, from high-end desktop computers to hand-held devices, from projection screens to head-mounted displays, from monitors to laser light displays.

In this project module students will be working with analyzing, designing and implementing (parts of) applications in which real-time, interactive 3D computer graphics is an essential part. This can, for example, be a 3D game based on a game-engine, a custom-designed application for data visualization, an interactive edutainment installation, a mobile navigation application or even a production tool for aiding in the implementation of such applications.

It is essential that projects contain elements of real-time, interactive 3D computer graphics and address an audio aspect, if applicable (and it has to be considered that many of the desired impacts on an audience can be achieved through the use of audio instead of, or in combination with visuals). Film theory and cinematography must be applied wherever it can be applicable for the project or wherever the project can benefit from such theoretical and practical considerations. Evaluations of the designed solution must be conducted to test formulated hypotheses or set design criteria.

Learning objectives

Knowledge

Students who complete the project module will obtain the following qualifications:

• Analysis of fundamental concepts and theories within screen media production, animation and computer graphics

• Understanding of the mathematical transformations and interpolations involved in animating and projecting 3D models on 2D displays
• Understanding of real-time rendering techniques for interactive 3D computer graphics

Skills

Students who complete the project module will obtain the following qualifications:

• Ability to analyze relationships between established theories for audio-visual communication and the communicative possibilities offered by animation and computer graphics technologies
• Ability to apply theories, methods and techniques within animation and computer graphics (to create an interactive application or a communicative artefact/installation)
• Ability to analyze theoretical and practical issues in interactive 3D computer graphics and to synthesize solutions for such issues
• Ability to apply 3D modeling, animation and rendering techniques to synthesize an interactive 3D computer graphics application

Competences

Students who complete the project module will obtain the following qualifications:

• Ability to analyze the product requirements of an interactive graphics application and to synthesize a functional specification for it
• Ability to critically evaluate their knowledge in comparison to the knowledge required for the project work - in particular knowledge in 3D computer graphics, human-computer interaction and/or audio design and programming

Type of instruction

Academically supervised student-governed problem oriented project work.

Exam

Exams