LCC 4730 / 6318 / 8803 Experimental Media

In this project-based class, students develop the critical, intellectual, and creative tools necessary to understand and work at the developmental stages of emerging technologies. The course focuses on physical computing and the construction of hybrid physical/digital spaces through the design and creation of a large-scale tangible media installation piece. The theme for the piece is "the garden as performance space". It consists of two parts described below. These should be well-documented by the students on a project website.

The Garden as Performance Space

1. Remote-controlled physical performance space [ grad students ]
Project teams of graduate students will work together to develop the various parts of a real-time tangible performance space, equipped with sensors and actuators that can be controlled by remote GUIs designed by students in Ken Perlin's UI class at NYU. The goal is to create a playful garden-like space in which spontaneous performances consisting of behavioral/reactive elements can unfold, and be visually interesting to watch and interact with both locally and remotely. For example, the garden might contain plants that dance to music, converse with each other, and react to light and movement in the space.

2. Remote-controlled real-time video capture of performances [ undergrad students ]
Undergraduate students will work in sub-teams to equip the physical performance space with multiple steerable cameras that can be controlled by GUIs designed by students in Ken Perlin's UI class at NYU. The goal is to enable the capture and sequencing of an unfolding performance in real-time, and stream the captured performance to a theatre in the SecondLife 3D virtual world.

Logistics

LCC 4730 / 6318 / 8803 will meet on:

Th

1:30-4:30pm

Skiles 006 (unless otherwise specified)

Expectations
[ Tutorials, exercises, class participation ] ------- 20%
Small homework exercises and in-class tutorials in the early part of the semester will focus on background research and skill development in physical fabrication and electronics. Class participation is mandatory.

[ Initial project design and presentation ] -------- 20%
Detailed information about requirements will be posted on the class website and/or swiki.

[ Midterm prototype demo and presentation ] -------- 20%
Detailed information about requirements will be posted on the class website and/or swiki.

[ Final installation, presentation and demo day ] -------- 40%
Detailed information about requirements will be posted on the class website and/or swiki.

Materials
[ Texts ]
(Required) Igoe & O'Sullivan, Physical Computing. (available at the Georgia Tech bookstore)
Additional readings and resources will be linked from the class webpage.

[ Tools ]
(Required) Course pack from the Georgia Tech Bookstore: wiring board, power adaptor, USB cable, breadboard and jumper kit.
Wiring and Processing will be used for learning basic concepts of physical computing. Electronic test equipment and some sensors and actuators will be provided for use in tutorials. Students need to purchase their own parts and materials for the final class project.

[ Webpage ]
http://www.lcc.gatech.edu/~mazalek/courses/spring07/lcc6318/

[ Swiki ]
http://thistle.skiles.gatech.edu/xmedia-sp07

[ Class List ]
lcc6318-spring07@lists.gatech.edu