IS 660M
Theory,
Research and Applications of
Multimedia
Dr. J. Thomas
Dr. J. Thomas
TEXT BOOKS:
Multimedia and Virtual Reality: Designing Multisensory User Interfaces, Alistair Sutcliffe, Erlbaum, NJ, 2003, ISBN: 0-8058-3950-X
The Web Collection: Macromedia Flash MX, Dreamweaver MX & Fireworks MX, Thomson-Course Technology, 2003, ISBN: 0-619-10980-7
Reference Texts:
The Humane Interface, Jef Raskin, Addison-Wesley, N.Y, 2000. ISBN: 0-201-37937-6
Theoretical Foundations of Multimedia, Robert S.Tannenbaum, Freeman & Co., NY, 1998. ISBN: 0-7167-8321-5
PREREQUISITES: IS 520
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
-You will be able to explain the concept of multimedia
-You will be able to identify where and how multimedia can be applied
-You will be able to critique applications developed using multimedia
-You will be able to develop multimedia applications
-You will be able to explain the societal and ethical implications of this technology
-You will be able to explain the evolution of courseware and authoring systems and their implications for the direction of multimedia in the future
-You will be able to explain how human information processing affects development of multimedia applications
Research skills will be developed through topic definition and finding of graphical and sound files.
Communication skill will be developed through written, oral and visual presentations.
Creativity will be developed through idea generation, project definition and development.
Problem solving and troubleshooting will be developed through project development.
Critical thinking skills will be developed through critical analyses of application designs.
GRADING:
There will be one exam in addition to a number of small projects, presentations and critiques, as well as an end of semester major project. These are broken down as follows:
Exam: 30%
Small Projects: 20%
Major Project : 40%
Participation : 10%
REQUIREMENTS:
Critiques of various multimedia applications, which draw on good and bad design issues discussed in class, will be required. These will form part of the Mini Projects grade, as will various in-class activities.
You will be required to read and discuss articles from the text and from multimedia magazines. You will also be required to come to class prepared to discuss the chapter readings, handout notes, and the small projects assigned. Where group work is involved, you are expected to share the work equitably. You will be required to evaluate your fellow group members based on their contribution. Part of the requirements will involve each team presenting a chapter or portion of a chapter from the textbook from which to launch the class discussions.
In-class activities will include, among other things, taking an application idea and developing it as far as the implementation and evaluation stages. Expect to spend at least 4 to 6 hours a week learning the software included in your Web Collection text and doing the Hands-On Exercises. You will be expected to use that knowledge to develop a small application of your own.
The exam will be on the theory portion of the course, not the software, and will be essay-based.
For the Major Project you will be required to develop a small application as well as hand in a written report as part of a team.
The written project must: a) describe the application developed; b) provide a rational for the choice of topic and media used making reference to human information processing discussions; c) identify areas for improvement and how; d) report on user reactions to the finished product including statistical analyses; e) include a bibliography of all references used; f) include a disk or CD of the project.
SYLLABUS
Office:163 William St, Room 219 Tel: (212) 346-1569
Off. Hrs.:Mon/Wed. 3:30-6:00pm Email: jthomas@pace.edu
Blackboard: http://blackboard.pace.edu URL: http://csis.pace.edu/~thomas
Student Login Instructions: http://www.pace.edu/cit/DE/blackboardlogin.htm