DES 387 / Virtual Reality Design : Syllabus

Place: Group 6, Rooms 252, 254, VR Lab
Time: Monday 3:00 - 5:50 pm
Required Text: Your required text is the video training provided on the DVD which was distributed on the first day of class. You will also be responsible for reading all handouts I assign during the semester.

Virtual Reality
Function: noun
Date: 1989: an artificial environment which is experienced through sensory stimuli (as sights and sounds) provided by a computer and in which one's actions partially determine what happens in the environment

ex-pe-ri-ence
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin experientia act of trying, from experient-, experiens, present participle of experiri to try, from ex- + -periri (akin to periculum attempt)
Date: 14th century
1 a : direct observation of or participation in events as a basis of knowledge b : the fact or state of having been affected by or gained knowledge through direct observation or participation
2 a : practical knowledge, skill, or practice derived from direct observation of or participation in events or in a particular activity b : the length of such participation <has 10 years experience in the job>
3 a : the conscious events that make up an individual life
b : the events that make up the conscious past of a community or nation or mankind generally
4 : something personally encountered, undergone, or lived through
5 : the act or process of directly perceiving events or reality

Virtual Reality Design is an advanced-level studio course designed to teach students the fundamentals of experience design for virtual reality simulations. Course content will focus on the theory, methodology and technical skills necessary to create meaningful, multisensory, interactive experiences.

Course Objectives
Improving the ability to create effective interactive, multimedia communication.

Learning to construct an environment (real or virtual) which communicates clearly through the use of space, time, sound and lighting.

Understanding the role of narrative in virtual reality simulations.

Improving verbal communication skills by presenting work to others in the form of a well-organized oral presentation.

Learning how to respond to constructive criticism and take the steps necessary to defend or improve your project or incorporate new ideas.

Learning how to constructively critique the work of others from formal, technical and conceptual frames-of reference.

Developing solid working habits and a systematic design process to complete a project within a prescribed timeframe.

Furthering our understanding of and appreciation for the multisensory design language.

Expanding our personal design vocabulary by trying new and alternative processes and techniques.

Evaluation Criteria
Your final projects will be evaluated using these criteria. Please make sure that you understand these terms and are confident that your projects will receive high marks in each category.

— concept / idea / experience
— navigation system / flow
— space / architecture
— modeling / static meshes
— texture design
— lighting
— sound
— movement / animation
— interactivity
— craft / presentation

Your course grade will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
— The quality of your final projects and weekly assignments
— Your demonstrated understanding of the design process
— Participation, motivation and attendance
— Your demonstrated understanding of the use of the software and hardware
— Results of exams on readings and lectures
— Your notebook/sketchbook/models
— Your risk taking and creative search

You will receive grade forms for the following projects and activities:
— Project content outline (concept drawings and models)
— Semester-long project mid-semester critique
— Submitted copy of your final project
— Final Exam on lectures, readings and demonstrations

Additional Expectations:

Listen
Throughout the semester I will be conveying information to you that may not be available in written form. It is critical that you pay attention to avoid missing out on key information.

Question
This is a must! In order to gain a high degree of comfort in computing, we all must attempt to obtain the information that will allow us to freely explore these exciting tools.

Take Notes
It is essential for you to take notes during lectures, presentations, and demonstrations in order for you to have an organized body of information you can refer to in the future. Please be prepared to move and have the proper materials at hand for taking notes, as I will tend to call the class to one computer to share in a problem or I may take the class to another area, for a demonstration or lecture.

Projects and Exercises
Throughout the semester there will be one major project in this class. There will also be class exercises covering some of the techniques discussed for that day. The class will meet as a group once each week for a lecture or demonstration period and to look at homework. Additionally, you are expected to spend at least 6 hours outside of class each week. Please become familiar with the lab hours and regulations. You may work during any open hours unless a class is in progress and using the lab.

Integration of Traditional Skills and Computer Skills
The implementation of your final design will focus on the computer as a delivery medium. Design skills which you have learned and utilized in other classes will be necessary. For your major project, thumbnails, sketches, maps, models, etc., will be required. Keep your tools and materials handy.

Critiques
Final assignments will be due at the beginning of class on the date specified. There is no time for last minute changes. All pertinent files must be in place and any print-outs or other materials must be prepared ahead of time, as specified. On that day we will hold critiques or discussions of the projects presented. Everyone is expected to participate and be vocal!

Attendance
Since I will be taking attendance every class, I trust that you will make every effort to be in class and to be on time. Of course there is some limited flexibility, however, excessive absences or tardiness will hurt your grade. You may have 2 absences, no questions asked. Each additional absence will drop your entire course grade by a full letter grade (ie. A to a B, B to a C, etc.).

Late Assignments
In the design profession, missing a deadline will cost you money and can even cause you to lose the job. Late work is equally unacceptable in this class. Your major project will be broken into sequential stages due weekly. Late work will receive an automatic grade drop. Missing a group critique will drop two grades.

Academic Dishonesty
All UMass Dartmouth students are expected to maintain high standards of academic integrity and scholarly practice. The University does not tolerate academic dishonesty of any variety, whether as a result of a failure to understand proper academic and scholarly procedure or as an act of intentional dishonesty. A student found guilty of academic dishonesty is subject to severe disciplinary action which may include expulsion from the University. Please refer to the General Catalog, the Student Handbook and Student Judicial Code for more details about academic dishonesty and due process.

Assignment
The Semester-Long Virtual Reality Project will be broken down into four distinct stages that will be evaluated at specified times during the semester. (See separate assignment sheet for specific project details and deadlines.)

Design Brief
Each student will fill out and submit a design brief. The purpose of the brief is to identify a clear set of goals you wish to accomplish with your project. Without a clear statement of purpose you will quickly find yourself frustrated and slowed down by the multitude of design decisions.

Content Outline
Once you have settled on an idea, you will need to outline the content. Depending on the details of your brief, you will need to produce storyboards, plans, elevations, maps, models or other presentation materials as appropriate. Each of these documents must show all critical elements to be included in the final project. This step is the same as writing an outline for a term paper or newspaper article. These documents will provide the blueprint for you to refer back to during the production of the final project.

Critiques
There will be a total of three group critiques of the main project. The first will assess the effectiveness of the content outline. Every effort should be made to make certain that all pieces of the content outline are clear, thorough, clean and professionally crafted. The second critique will be held at mid-semester to assess progress made toward completion of the final project. The final critique will be held close to the end of the semester. This will be the last formal critique of the project but you will have time to make changes before submitting it for a final grade. There will also be a substantial amount of time spent working in the lab and reviewing projects individually with the instructor.

Final Project
You will submit one copy of your finished project to the instructor at the end of the semester to receive your final grade. This copy should be burned to compact disk and be clearly labeled with your name, the name of the project and the current semester. This copy is for my collection and will not be returned so be sure to make additional copies for yourself.

Supplies
You will need the following supplies for class:
— A binder to use as your notebook
— A digital camera
— A stack of 700 MB writable CD?s (CD-R?s) or...
— A flash memory key (512MB or larger recommended) or...
— An external hard drive (USB 2 or Firewire)
— General sketching and construction materials (tracing paper, pens, pencils, paint, foam core, balsa wood, etc.)
— Presentation materials (illustration board, special papers, etc.) for your blueprints, maps and storyboards.

Have a great semester!

© Scott Ahrens 2009. All rights reserved. Last Updated: 08 23 09