Course description
What is the course about?
This course allows students/professionals with an interest or experience in the use of digital media for entertainment to further develop advanced skills and understanding of the main technological and management aspects associated with the use of computing for entertainment.
Examples of such systems are Digital Film, eMusic, Digital TV, edutainment and infotainment , amongst others. The course will also develop understanding about research and development issues in the field.
Careers Prospects:
Some examples of career opportunities after the successful completion of the course are listed below:
-Game Industry: Programmer or Media Content Developer
-Telematic/wireless: Applications Developer
-E-Learning: Designer, E-Business Manager, Multi-Media Developer, etc...
-Digital Libraries Developer
-Further Research by PhD
What are the course details?
The digital content industry is enormously complex and varied, comprising a disparate range of services and products across a broad range of applications, platforms, tools, and industry sectors; embracing education, information, entertainment, and consumer and businessoriented content.
-The programme learning outcomes define that at the end of the programme, students should:
-Be aware of current and developing principles and practices of digital entertainment systems technologies
-Have widened and deepened students' knowledge and skills in the areas of digital entertainment and its applications
-Have been exposed to and applied a range of tools and techniques currently being used in the development of digital entertainment systems
-Have critically analysed and developed a major piece of work in the area
-Be able to understand current research issues in the relevant aspects of digital entertainment systems technologies
-Be able to study independently and have developed research methodology skills
-The course consists of the following core and option modules:
SEMESTER 1 CORE MODULES
-Research Methods
-Multimedia Technology
-Entertainment Systems Design and Development (Year long)
SEMESTER 1 OPTION MODULES
-Multimedia Systems Development
-Advanced Computer Graphics
-Web Development Technologies
-Management of E-Business
-Software Development - Java
-Forensic Computing
SEMESTER 2 CORE MODULES
-Entertainment Systems Design and Development (Year long)
-Digital Sound Technology
SEMESTER 2 OPTION MODULES
-Human Computer Interaction
-Multimedia Database Systems
-Advanced Multimedia Technology
-Mobile Computing
-Computer Visualisation and Animation
-Virtual Reality
-Online Gaming
-Advanced Computer Games Technology
-Project Dissertation
-The module Entertainment Systems Design and Development is year long and has 30 credits.
In Semester 1, full-time students normally study all the three core modules listed above and one option module selected. Part-time students normally study two core modules in the first year, and the third core module and one option module selected in the second year.
In Semester 2, full-time students normally study the two core modules listed above and two option modules selected. Part-time students normally study the two core modules in the first year, and two option modules in the second year.
For Project Dissertation, students normally complete their projects by the end of August, after the completion of all the four core and three selected option modules.
Some details of the core modules and the brief summaries of the option modules for the course are given below:
RESEARCH METHODS
This module provides a grounding in research methods as they apply to
research in computing and information systems. It outlines essential
considerations when conducting experimental research, survey research,
field research, etc., and allows an opportunity to analyse research papers
and develop familiarity with research areas and approaches. It also
provides students with an opportunity to plan and develop an individual
research strategy suitable for a Master's dissertation.
Topics studied include a variety of research methods and processes,
general components of surveys and field studies, issues in problem
analysis, topical research sources, and the requirements of a dissertation.
MULTIMEDIA TECHNOLOGY
This module offers an understanding of the current hardware for soundand video, and relevant software development tools for supporting the
development of general integrated multimedia applications. It also covers
the critical evaluation of multimedia technologies and associated
standards. In particular, recent technologies such as virtual reality and the
integrated use of various authoring tools are examined. Case studies are
used for practical hands on experience of building and evaluating
multimedia systems.
Topics studied include media types and their attributes such as speech
and moving images, analogue/digital conversion, hardware components
such as sound cards, software components, virtual reality, tools and case
studies.
ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEMS DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT
This module develops a thorough understanding of the theory and
practice of games design. Current approaches to games design are
examined. Students will develop critical thought with regards to
computer games design and will be able to appraise game designs
throughout their various stages. Students will develop theoretical and
practical design and implementation skills associated with games
developments.
Topics studied include game theory, psychology and game design,
working as part of a games team, principles of games design, content
creation and modelling, physics and simulation, multimedia contents and
game object systems.
DIGITAL SOUND TECHNOLOGY
This module provides a detailed understanding of audio from a digital
perspective. It examines the capture, processing, storage and output
requirements for digital audio. Practical skills in digital audio manipulation
and preparation are developed. The storage and compression techniques
available for digital audio are discussed.
Topics studied include analog sound, digital audio and A/D conversion,
audio hardware, encoding and compression, digital signal processing and
audio data, sound synthesis, 3D and positional audio, MIDI and audio
streaming.
FORENSIC COMPUTING
This module is intended for post-graduate students interested in the field
of forensic computing. The purpose of the module is to provide the
fundamental technical concepts and research issues essential for
computer forensic investigations within the organisation, law
enforcement or national security.
MULTIMEDIA SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT offers understanding and skills
in multimedia programming and design, and introduces recent
developments in the subject area.
ADVANCED COMPUTER GRAPHICS explains the principles and
techniques underlying 3D computer graphics, develops programming
skills in 3D graphics, and demonstrates advanced techniques for 3D
rendering and modelling.
WEB DEVELOPMENT TECHNOLOGIES examines modern computing
architectures suitable for the development of large-scale, web based
applications. It discusses the main concepts and technologies used in the
development of such applications.
MANAGEMENT OF E-BUSINESS provides students with an in-depth
knowledge of e-business capabilities, enabling technologies and their
management. Students will develop an ability to appraise critical business
issues associated with e-business and related technologies, and will be
able to assess concepts relevant to e-business life-cycle management.
SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT-JAVA develops the skills needed for the
design and implementation of object-oriented applications using the Java
programming language.
HUMAN COMPUTER INTERACTION provides students with design
principles of user interfaces and multimedia techniques for building
systems with good interactivity and usability.
MULTIMEDIA DATABASE SYSTEMS examines the characteristics of
multimedia data, the current trends in multimedia database systems, and
the corresponding research issues.
ADVANCED MULTIMEDIA TECHNOLOGY This module offers a further
understanding of multimedia systems, development of their relevant
components, the need for synchronisation between various media types
and the techniques for achieving it.
MOBILE COMPUTING offers an advanced understanding of the theory and
practice of mobile computing and an in-depth study of devices, applications
and middleware services for support of mobile systems design.
VIRTUAL REALITY offers students opportunities to develop skills in
desktop virtual reality worlds construction and applications evaluation.
COMPUTER VISUALISATION AND ANIMATION explores a variety of
computer animation techniques, e.g. motion control and deformation,
animation of natural phenomena, and collision detection.
ONLINE GAMING covers the various design and interactivity issues of
multiplayer games, and also provides information on different facilities
used for online gaming, including video game consoles, wireless devices,
and the Internet.
ADVANCED COMPUTER GAMES TECHNOLOGY develops and
understanding of advanced techniques applicable to game development
and suitable solutions to a diverse range of advanced computer game
problems.
