Recommended prerequisite for participation in the module

Content, progress and pedagogy of the module

Objectives:

Hearing is one of the fundamental senses of the human perceptual system. Being able to understand how auditory signals are created and how they can be used as input or output devices in solving problems in interactive media is an essential element of the Medialogy program. In this semester project, students pose problems that include the design and implementation of computer systems being able either to analyse an auditory signal in real-time or to produce interactive auditory feedback. Such feedback is either created from scratch using sound synthesis techniques or obtained by manipulating recorded samples. Examples of such systems are an interface which is controlled by the human voice or an interactive installation where the sounds change according to users' motions, or a tangible sonic interface embedded with sensors. The posed problem must be motivated, analysed and its solution evaluated using quantitative experiments and statistics.

As specified by the Study Board for Media Technology, a sub-theme description is formulated in connection with the project. In connection with the project a minimum of five related seminars /lectures are offered.

Learning objectives

Knowledge

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

• Knowledge about theories and techniques within audio design and computing
• Describe basic concepts and terminologies in the field of sound design and processing
• Understand how to evaluate the proposed solution using quantitative experiments and statistics
• Knowledge about how to create interactive sound systems that react to users’ action
• Knowledge about applications of sensors technologies (electrical transducers) to interactive systems

Skills

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

• Analyse a problem and suggest a solution that uses relevant theories and methods from interactive sound design and computing
• Apply programming in a multimedia system where sound and interaction play an important role
• Identify relevant constraints and assessment criteria for a system based on audition, in terms of usability and technical aspects (analysis)
• Design an interactive system wherein audio is used as either input and/or output, using relevant theories from sound and music computing (application)
• Apply electrical transducer(s) as input devices for an interactive system
• Apply passive electronics to interface the transducer(s) with the computer
• Assess the proposed solution using a quantitative experiment and statistics (analysis)
• Describe, communicate and argue the designed solution using proper terminologies and theories from the fields of sound and music computing and experiment design, both orally and in a written report (synthesis)

Competences

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

• Select relevant theories and methods from the field of sensors technology, mathematics and programming and apply these to solve a problem in sonic interaction (synthesis)
• Plan, structure, execute and evaluate a project within the field of sonic interaction (synthesis)

Type of instruction

Academically supervised student-governed problem oriented project work

Exam

Exams