8/14/2019 AS1 Proposal

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COURSE PROJECT DESCRIPTION ICAM101VIS140

DIGITAL IMAGING: IMAGE AND INTERACTIVITY 

SPRING 2008

LECTURER: NAOMI SPELLMAN

COURSE PROJECT DESCRIPTION

You will develop a computer-based prototype for a digital tool that does not yet exist. This

tool should be an aid for some kind of physical or spatial activity, but it does not necessarilyhave to be practical. In other words, your digital tool is meant to facilitate, enhance, or

enable a physical human activity, but it can provide an entertainment or sensorial element

rather than a functional role.

Example: Many surfers use online tools like Wavewatch.com to help decide where and 

when to surf. A great variety of data is collected locally and from remote buoys including

wind direction, wave height, tide levels, swell patterns, etc. How could such an tool be

improved so that the information is easier to understand or quicker to integrate into your

routine? What if you could take such a digital tool with you – on a waterproof wristband 

interface, for example, or built into the surfboard itself? What if the information were

communicated through color, sound, vibration, etc.? How would one navigate thisinformation? What if the surfer were far-sighted, and could not see the screen up close?

 How would that affect the visual elements and their layout?

COURSE PROJECT GUIDELINES

1.  Project groups must consist of 3 people. You may NOT work alone. Group

collaborations ensure a wider knowledge base and allow you to delegate work. You

have a lot of freedom in choosing your topic. Here are some guidelines to help you

pick a good one:

2.  Rely on your own interests, hobbies, sports you play, activities you engage in. You

are your own best case study! You will form groups based on these common

interests.

3.  Research: What already exists as a product, service or art project, that engages some

of the same goals or technologies you are interested in here? Which technologies

would allow this idea to be realized?

4.  Your project must be an interface between humans and their physical environment.

5.  Your project must have a substantial user interface.

6.  Creative, original projects are preferred. Ideally you will focus on a specialized

narrow problem or situation. A radical change in the way the task is done should be

considered, based on emerging communication and computing technologies. Make

sure you research the underlying technology and have an understanding of it, eventhough we are not actually engineering hardware!

7.  It must at least be possible to simulate your project on the desktop, since your

prototype will be such a simulation.

8.  You may NOT produce prototypes for the following devices: A navigation device,

since these already exist in abundance (navigation can be one function of your

device, but it can’t be the only function.) A diet monitoring device – these already

exist in abundance.

8/14/2019 AS1 Proposal

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ASSIGNMENT ONE: COURSE PROJECT PROPOSAL

In this first phase of your Course Project you’ll work independantly. Initial Preliminary

Proposals are due Thursday April 10 at the beginning of Lab Section. They will be shared

with the class. By the end of Lab April 10 you must be in a group, based on your common

interests and the activity or content you want to work with.

Your initial proposals should be an adventurous, inspiring idea that seeks to expand our

understanding of what computing is. You should present 2 ideas. It should be about a page

long, and include the following parts:

1.  Problem. Describe the problem(s) that your project will seek to solve. Take the

user’s point of view. Consider what the user's goals are, and what obstacles lie in the

way.

2.  Target users. Characterize the user population that faces the problem you're trying to

solve.

3.  Solution. Describe a possible solution to the problem, i.e., the interface that you

envision, and how it will address the problem. You aren't committed to your

solution, since you will be working in groups based on either one of the ideas

presented – or on a completely different idea.

4.  Research. Use the google links on our website to improve your search skills. See if 

there are tools that already exist for this or a similar situation. Provide a list of 

existing tools that attempt to solve the same or a similar problem. How will yours be

different? Provide research on relevant technologies as well (some potentially useful

technologies are listed on our class website).

TIPS FOR PROJECT PROPOSAL

1.  Consider one of your hobbies or sports as inspiration for your device. Choose an

activity you know well to serve as a basis for your device. Working through familiar

activities should help you come up with a good project idea.

2.  Consider what is available or emerging in the way of sensor technology. For

example consider technology that reads the weather or other physical information.

Consider ubiquitous computing – now as WiMax (outdoor high bandwidth) is finally

offered. Consider location sensitive communication (GPS, RFID, Bluetooth, etc.).

3.  Research any useful technologies according to the problem you are trying to solve,

and the environment you are in. Will the user be indoors or outdoors? What kind of 

information will they need access to? What physical limitations or requirements are

imposed by your target audience and by their particular activity? In what form

should this information be expressed (text, symbols, diagrams, sound, speech, color,

animation, images, vibration, scent, changes in shape, etc)?

4.  You will ultimately be working together with a small group on this project. You can

think in terms of selling your idea to the class. Your ultimate goal is to work with a

committed group. Or you can think in terms of joining a group with ideas that are

interesting to you. Take notes while listening to presentations of these proposals.

5.  Students are expected to spend about 8 hours per week outside of a 4 credit studio

class on homework. Your assignments should reflect this time commitment.