Course Number: IAT 351
Course Title: Interaction Technology
Credit Hours: 3 Vector: 3-0-2 (lecture-tutorial-lab)
Course Description
Key areas of technology for supporting user interaction with systems in work, learning and play are introduced, employing tactile, aural, and visual senses of humans. Technologies used in sensors and actuators for robotic systems are reviewed for their applicability to user-centred interaction.
Prerequisite: Completion of 48 credits, including CMPT 225.
Recommended: None.
Corequisite: None.
Special Instructions: None.
Course(s) to be dropped if this course is approved:
None.
This is one of four core upper division courses in the Technology in Arts and Design (TAD) Stream. Together with the three other core courses it covers the key technologies and methodologies applied in the creative, design and other human-centred applications. Specifically, this course concentrates on devices for human interaction with digitally mediated systems.
Will this be a required or elective course in the curriculum; probable enrolment when offered?
This is a core required course for the Technology in Arts and Design Stream. It is an elective for other streams. The expected registration would be 30 students per offering.
Indicate Semester and Year this course would be first offered and planned frequency of offering thereafter.
First offering: 2005-3
Which of your present CFL faculty have the expertise to offer this course? Will the course be taught by sessional or limited term faculty?
V. Kumar, M. Hatala, P. Polydorou, V. Kyrylov, B. Ben Youssef, T. Calvert.
Are there any proposed student fees associated with this course other than tuition fees?
No.
Is this course considered a `duplicate' of any current or prior course under the University's duplicate course policy? Specify, as appropriate.
No.
Note: Senate has approved (S.93-11) that no new course should be approved by Senate until funding has been committed for necessary library materials. Each new course proposal must be accompanied by a library report and, if appropriate, confirmation that funding arrangements have been addressed.
Provide details on how existing instructional resources will be redistributed to accommodate this new course. For instance, will another course be eliminated or will the frequency of offering of other courses be reduced; are there changes in pedagogical style or class sizes that allow for this additional course offering.
Does the course require specialized space or equipment not readily available in the department or university, and if so, how will these resources be provided?
No.
Does this course require computing resources (e.g. hardware, software, network wiring, use of computer laboratory space) and if so, describe how they will be provided.
The course requires access to a computer lab with appropriate hardware and software. Hardware includes advanced audio systems and visual displays, motion capture systems, and SONY AIBO entertainment robots (all are currently available in the SIAT). Software includes standard packages coming with MS Windows and AIBO robots; some are available as the Open Source applications.
Learning outcomes expected for students include:
Understanding of the core technologies used in mechanical sensors and actuators and for sound and visual interaction.
Experience in analyzing and evaluating the design of these technologies to provide optimal solutions.
Experience in using interaction technologies for the design of human-centered applications.
Interaction technology overview: sensors and actuators; user modeling for sense-level interaction. (1 week)
Technology for mechanical interaction: tactile/graspable user interfaces and mechanical sensors and actuators. (2 weeks)
Sensor technology for user detection; proximity, temperature, and humidity sensors. (1 week)
Sound interaction technology: speech and music synthesis. (2 weeks)
Sound interaction technology: speech recognition. (2 weeks)
Visual interaction technology: display technology and visualization (2 weeks),
Visual interaction technology: computer vision and image processing. (3 weeks)
Integrating sensors and actuators in immersive environments. (1 week)
Project (Lab component)
For a course project the students may use sensors and actuators and software applications included in the SONY AIBO robotic kit.
Project Objectives
Gain practical experience in the following:
Evaluate sensor and actuator design
Read and interpret sensor inputs (sound, video, proximity)
Analyze the robotic visual and aural systems
Process input sound and visual signals using high level tools (e.g. software applications included in the AIBO robotic kit)
Produce output signals to control simple devices such as speakers, motors, displays, etc.
We have yet to locate a single text that covers the range of topics addressed in this course. We aim to put together a course pack using reference material and other books on interaction technology.