Sample Syllabus


Catalog Description: This course provides an introduction to entertainment-based user interface design and development from a computer science perspective.  The course includes: a survey  and classification of the types of computer mediated entertainment (CME); challenges in developing such interfaces; software architectures to support CME; design principles for sketching CME; software tools to create CME and provide the technical infrastructure necessary to sustain it. 

Textbook(s)

Reeves, B and Nass, C., The Media Equation, CSLI, 2003, ISBN 1575860538.

Oxland, K. Gameplay and Design, Addison Wesley, 2004, ISBN 0-321-20467-0

Taylor, T.L. Play between worlds:  Exploring online game culture, 2006 MIT Press, ISBN 0262201631

Andersson, E. Greenspun, P. and Grumet, A.  Software Engineering for Internet Applications,  2006, MIT Press, ISBN 0-262-51191-6


Week-By-Week

Week
 Topics Covered
 Reading
 Assignments
1
 That’s entertainment: games, communication, video & audio

2
 How to start, Consumer HCI, collaboration and communication
Paper proposal submitted
3
 Architectures for entertainment part 1: entertainment services

4
 Architectures for entertainment, part 2: distribution, delivery, billing and support

5
 Designing, modeling and simulation

6
 Development Tools part 1
Paper due
7
 Development Tools part 2
Midterm
8
 Considering the three screens
Project proposal submitted
9
 DRM, compression, networking and PKI

10
 Software and consumer testing
Log Books submitted
11
 The Web and entertainment

12
 Specialized hardware


13
 Future Trends in entertainment

14
 Final Projects Review


Course work involves two exams and a final exam, as well as periodic homework assignments.  In addition each student keeps a logbook that records on a weekly basis their thoughts on software process either from the lectures, readings and exercises or their experience as a software developer for other class or work related projects. Log book entries will be graded biweekly.