Monday, January 9, 2012

Week 1 Topics

  • Mobile devices and the App store(s)
  • Device limitations - texture memory
  • Cyclical development vs. Waterfall development
  • Plan/Mitigate Risk, Execute, Test, Evaluate
  • Corona overview - simulator, sample code, API reference
  • text editors
  • Coding essentials...
  • Variables and tables
  • Functions - API based and custom
  • Operators - if, else, else than, and, or
  • Loops
  • Event Listeners - object and runtime
  • Corona functions...
  • display.newImage
  • display.newCircle
  • load sound
  • play sound
  • physics.addBody
  • physics.start
  • timer.performWithDelay
  • transistion.to
  • display.remove, = nil
  • physics best practices (delaying physics events with timer)

Corona - go get it!!!!

http://www.anscamobile.com/

Text editors:

Windows - Notepad++


Mac - TextWrangler

CA 530 syllabus

The Art Institute of California – San Francisco

Course Number: CA530

Course Title: Graduate Interactive Design


Class Meetings: Tuesdays, 8am-noon

Session/Year: Winter 2012

Instructor Name: Greg Lemon

Email Address: greg.lemon@gmail.com

Instructor Availability Outside of Class: Let's talk!


Graduate Interactive Design


Course Description:

A study of paperless 2-D animation/interactive design systems. Techniques and current interactive production tools will be covered, but the majority of the course will focus on the use of Ansca Mobile's Corona SDK.

Course Length: 11 Weeks

Contact Hours: 44 Hours

Lecture: 22 Hours

Lab: 22 Hours

Credit Values: 3 Credits


Course Goals: The moving image and computer graphics are considered in these courses. Two-dimensional paint, animation, and graphics programming techniques are explored. Digital video and digital audio are introduced. Assignments include making prototypes and full-working models of a variety of interactive projects including websites, information kiosks, games, and on-line services. Focus is on the constructions and design of the interaction, screen design, navigation, and design for media specific limitations.


Course Competencies:

Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:

  • Understand and discuss Two-dimensional paint, animation, and graphics programming techniques.

  • Understand and incorporate digital Video and Audio.

  • Design and prototype an interactive environment.

  • Apply 3D modeling and animation techniques as needed.

  • Apply Key frame and interpolation techniques.

  • Research and produce a short interactive piece/game.


Course Prerequisite(s): CA500 Advanced Computer Animation

Materials and Supplies: Storage Medium and notebook and supplies, laptop if possible, graph paper notebook.

Estimated Homework Hours: 4 Hours

Technology Needed:

Hardware: PC Linux / Windows , (Mac as applicable) , microphone, DV video camera

Software: Ansca Corona , Maya or Other 3D Software as needed , After Effects, Shake , Renderer (Mental Ray / Renderman Mtor & Slim), Photoshop / Gimp. Vegas (X) , Final Cut Pro. Additional tools as needed.


Grading Scale:

All assignments must have clear criteria and objectives to meet. All students shall be treated equitably. It will be that student’s right to know his/her grade at any reasonable point that information is requested by that student. The criteria for determining a student’s grade shall be as follows (on a percentage of total points):


A 100-93

A- 92-90

B+ 89-87

B 86-83

B- 82-80

C+ 79-77

C 76-73

C- 72-70

D+ 69-67

D 66-65

F 64 or below


Process for Evaluation:

Attendance and Participation 10%

Mid-Term Project/Examination - DUE WEEK 5 - 40%

Final Project/Examination - DUE WEEK 11 - 40%


Student Evaluation/Grading Policies:

  • Class time will be spent in a productive manner.

  • Grading will be done on a point system.

  • Points for individual activities will be announced.

  • All work must be received by the set deadlines.

  • ABSOLUTELY NO WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THE FINAL CLASS MEETS WEEK 11.


Classroom Policy:

  • No food allowed in class or lab at any time. Drinks in sealable bottles allowed in classroom.

  • Edible items brought to class or lab must be wrapped in saran wrap, flattened and scanned. The resulting image file must be saved as a PNG24, saved to the transfer drive, and used in whatever project the student is currently working on.

  • If student elects to eat/drink outside class or lab door, missed time is recorded as absent.

  • Attendance is taken hourly. Tardiness or absence is recorded in 15-minute increments.

  • Break times are scheduled by the instructor at appropriate intervals.

  • No private software is to be brought to lab or loaded onto school computers.

  • Students must make chicken noises upon entering and exiting the classroom.

  • Socks must be worn at calf level. Students who do not pull up their socks will be asked to leave the class.

  • Any student who has special needs that may affect his or her performance in this class is asked to identify his/her needs to the instructor in private by the end of the first day of class. Any resulting class performance problems that may arise for those who do not identify their needs will not receive any special grading considerations.


Disability Policy Statement:

It is our policy not to discriminate against qualified students with documented disabilities in its educational programs, activities, or services. If you have a disability-related need for adjustments or other accommodations in this class, contact the Disabilities Services Coordinator at 415-276-1060.


Academic Honesty Policy:

Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic honesty while pursuing their studies at AiCA-SF. Academic dishonesty includes but is not limited to: plagiarism and cheating; misuse of academic resources or facilities; and misuse of computer software, data, equipment or networks.


Student work that appears to violate AiCA-SF’s standards of academic honesty will be reviewed by the Committee on Academic Honesty. If the work is judged to have violated standards of academic honesty, appropriate sanctions will be given. Sanctions include but are not limited to course failure and academic termination.


Suggested Course Outline


Week 1: Lecture: An Overview of the course .The Multimedia Environment an introduction to the Corona interface. Designing an interactive experience.

Lab: Design a simple interactive app/game. Create thumbnails for this project.

Homework: 1st prototype of project 1.


Week 2: Lecture: More corona juiciness. Sprite sheets, etc

Lab: Playtest project 1, revise and plan 2nd prototype.

Homework: 2nd prototype of project 1.




Week 3: Lecture: Working with color

Creating Visual Impact

Application Chapter: Building the Interface Getting Stared with Lingo

Adding Interaction

Application Chapter: Adding Functionality

Working with Text

Lab: Playtest project 1, revise and plan 3rd prototype.

Homework: Revise and plan 3rd prototype.


Week 4: Lecture: Application Chapter: Creating a Help File Including Sound in you Application

Adding Content

About the Products

Digital Video in you Application

Video Presentation

Packaging your project

Working with Lingo / javascript

Working with Lists

Text File Database

Working with Behavior properties

Log-in Screen

Controlling with Lingo/javascript

Lab: Playtest project 1, revise and plan final prototype.



Week 5: Lecture: Project 1 Review & Critique. Initiate 2D Animation project. How to use 2D effectively for the web.

Lab: Guided group discussion on technical issues from project development

Homework: Work on plan for Project 2.


Week 6: Lecture: 2D Animation project development.

Lab: Guided group discussion on technical issues from project development.

Homework: Work on Project 2 1st prototype.


Week 7: Lecture: Interactive architectural presentations. 3D short animated piece design concept Acquaintance with all phases of production from layout, editing, composition, digital file video recording, etc.

Solid technical and esthetic foundation in video post-production

TV commercial Concept

Lab: 2D animation producing project due ; Class show and discussion of student assignments. Review of production pipelines. Design a production flow for a commercial piece.

Project evaluation and problem solving.

Reading: Research based on project.

Homework: Work on project.


Week 8: Lecture: Uses of 3D within Education – Interactivity, animation, connectivity and 3D

Project evaluation and problem solving.

Lab: Guided group discussion on technical issues from project development. Presentation of work in progress.

Reading: Research based on project.

Homework: Work on project.


Week 9: Lecture: Combining resources – discussion on different 3D applications for the web.

Provide technical support to students’ project development.

Lab: Guided group discussion on technical issues from project development; Continue working on project

Reading: Research additional possible areas for 3D on the web.

Homework: Produce a paper defining current and future interactive environments.


Week 10: Lecture: Students Present Paper outlines.

Provide technical support to students’ project development

Lab: Guided group discussion on technical issues from project development.

Reading: Research depending on Paper Topic.

Homework: Finish Paper for presentation and submission next week.


Week 11: Lecture: Final Presentation of projects and papers.

Lab: Project presentation and evaluation

Homework: None.