Multimodal Media Madness (2019)

  Class Information

Lab Wed, 14:30 - 16:30
  2222, i10 Seminar room
Language German
Credits 7

  Important Dates

Kickoff Wed, Apr 3rd 14:30
Presentation Wed, Jul 10th 14:30

  Resources

RWTHonline

RWTHmoodle

FabLab

Multimodal Media Madness (M3) is our hands-on lab ("Praktikum") for Bachelor students in Computer Science, although we also invite students with strong skills from other disciplines to apply. Build an interactive system with an unusual user interface in hard- and software that creates an awesome user experience! It's a great gateway into our lab's research and teaching focus on User Interface Design, Human-Computer Interaction, and Personal Fabrication.

This course has limited seating. You need to register to obtain a seat in this course.

Contact

Prof. Dr. Jan
Borchers

Adrian
Wagner

For any questions about the class, please contact Adrian.

Syllabus

This year, you will design and program a gaming controller and game in tandem using different digital fabrication tools created and/or located at our chair.
These tools include but are not limited to VisiCut and CutCAD for the work with laser cutters and Sketch & Stitch for smart textiles.
The unique iterative design process of working with digital tools, that you can change, adapt and extend according to the needs of your physical project will be a focus of this lab.

You will learn:

  • How to use the digital fabrication tools in our Fab Lab, from our laser cutter and our VisiCut software, to our various 3D printers, to make your physical enclosures;
  • How to use the free Eagle PCB design software and our PCB mill to design and produce your own electronic circuit boards;
  • How to use the beginner-friendly ATmega-based Arduino microcontroller boards and the Arduino IDE to program interactive behavior in embedded software.


After some quick introductions to these tools, you'll then have most of the semester to iteratively design physical prototypes and adapt our digital tools using your programming skills.

Featured Projects

Schedule

  • Introduction

    • Lab: Introduction, Group Formation

      Wed, Apr 3rd

    • Assignment: Project Pitch

      Due Wed, Apr. 10th

  • Basic Knowledge

    • Lab: Basic Software Tools, Prototyping

      Wed, Apr 10th

    • Assignment: Storyboard

      Due Wed, Apr 17th

  • Arduino and Electronics

    • Lab: Arduino, Electronics

      Wed, Apr 17th

    • Assignment: Game-Controller Concept

      Due Wed, Apr 24th

  • 2D Design and Lasercutting

    • Lab: 2D Design Tools (Inkscape, VisiCut), Lasercutting

      Wed, Apr 24th

    • Assignment: System Architecture, Game-Controller Breadboard-Version, User Feedback

      Due Wed, May 15th

  • 3D Design and 3D Printing

    • Lab: 3D Design Tools (Fusion 360, Blender), 3D Printing

      Wed, May 15th

    • Assignment: List of Changes to be Implemented based on User Feedback

      Due Wed, May 22nd

  • Guest Lecture

    • Lab: Guest Lecture Rhino / Grasshopper

      Wed, May 22nd

    • Assignment: Game-Controller Case Design

      Due Wed, May 29th

  • Work on Project

    • Lab: Project

      Wed, May 29th

    • No Assignment

  • Work on Project

    • Lab: Project

      Wed, Jun 5th

    • Assignment: Game Alpha-Version

      Due Wed, Jun 19th

  • Guest Lecture

    • Lab: Guest Lecture 3D Fabrication

      Wed, Jun 19th

    • Assignment: Game Beta-Version (feature complete)

      Wed, Jun 26th

  • Embroidery

    • Lab: Embroidery with a Bernina, Sketch & Stitch

      Wed, Jun 26t

    • Assignment: Game Gold-Version (fully documented)

      Due Wed, Jul 3rd

  • PCB Design and Assembly

    • Lab: Eagle PCB Design Software, PCB Milling, Soldering

      Wed, Jul 3rd

    • Assignment: Video-Trailer

      Due Wed, Jul 10th

  • Project Presentation

    • Final Presentations

      Wed, Jul 10th

Grading

Lab exercises and assignments will be graded on the following scale:

1.0 exceptional work that clearly went above and beyond what was given on the exercise
2.0 exercise was completed satisfactorily as per the assignment specification
3.0 exercise was completed, but has some problems
4.0 incomplete exercise
5.0 little or no effort was put into the exercise

Assignments

To take this course for credit, you must complete all assignments, lab exercises, and the final project. The grade of this course will be a combination of the assignments and final project.
Note that you must achieve a cumulative score above 4.0 and complete all exercises to pass the course.
You are expected to be aware of, and abide by, the ethics policy for courses taught at our chair.

Assignments/lab exercises will be assigned weekly. They are to be completed in groups of 4 or 5. If you do not complete the lab exercise during the scheduled lab section, you must complete it on your own time and submit it by the due date.
Late assignments will be graded with a penalty of 0.5 per each beginning 24 hour period after the due date. Exceptions will be granted only for valid (i.e., medical) reasons.

Fields of Study

  • Informatik (B.Sc.)/Angewandte Informatik

Course Allocation and Registration Guide

Number of SWS: P3 (Aachen)
ECTS Credits: 7
Course language: German for all lectures, assignments, and exams

Only 32 seats are available for this course. To get a seat in this course, you have to register for the practical in the appropriate timeframe one semester before the course is sheduled.

Details