DXARTS 470 A/B: Sensing and Control Systems for Digital Art

Wed + Fri: 14.20-17.10 Raitt Hall 107

Instructor - Annie Wan anniewan@u.washington.edu
Office hours - please email for an appointment

TA: TBA
Office hours - please email for an appointment

Syllabus | Schedule & Homework| DXARTS Home | UW Home

SYLLABUS

Please note that this site is subject to modification as the course progresses.

DESCRIPTION

DXARTS 470 A/B is a 2 terms long (both Summer Term A & B) studio course, which focuses upon developing innovative processes for understanding and deploying a range of software and hardware based real-time I/O and electromechanical tools within the context of contemporary experimental art practice. The course covers real-time systems programming and basic digital / analogue electronics and looks to locate the usage of these within a wider aesthetic framework. In building a critical language with which to analyse relationships between real and virtual, static and mobile, local and remote, online and offline, students are encouraged to implement new tools, new systems and new presentational scenarios for performance, art installations, and other digital arts applications. The concentration in this class is on prepackaged but flexible tools, and rapid protoyping processes.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES AND REQUIREMENTS

Attend all lectures, workshops, labs and critiques (class Wednesday + Friday each week)
The class has only twenty sessions, and each one will have a lot of information packed into it. Therefore it is important that you don't miss any sessions, and attend regularly. If you have to miss class due to emergency, illness or due to an established religious holiday, then you must notify the instructor directly and in advance. You will be expected to make up any missed sessions.
Students are expected to come to class on time, ready to start promptly. Please bring any required materials, homeworks and notetaking equipment.
Complete weekly lab exercise and/or reading homeworks, typically small experiments related to the current week's topics.
Participate in class discussions
Complete a mid-term assignment and critique: late work will not be accepted
Complete a final project and presentation: late work will not be accepted
Creative experimentation is required and expected: attempt the impossible; use your imagination to stretch the boundaries of any and all assignments.

PROJECTS

Mid-Term
The mid-term project will consist of a proposal for the final project. The proposal should include the following:

a functional prototype using MAX/MSP/JITTER and the Arduino;
a 500-word proposal document including sketches, diagrams, abstract, aims and objectives, research context, research methodology, time schedule and proposed output;
an academic bibliography.

You will demonstrate and discuss your protoype in a group critique at the end of Summer Term A.

Final Project
The final project must be a mechatronic art project that responds to the one of lecture topics (refer to schedule)

Your final project must demonstrate at least three [3] iterations beyond your midterm prototype. These iterations must be documented as a research process that includes notes, diagrams, video, audio, code, etc. You will demonstrate and discuss your final project in a group critique at the end of Summer Term B.

Lab Exercise/ Reading
The class will focus upon rapid prototyping and ideation processes. One element of this will be a small homework that you will be set each week. You are required to complete the homework in time to discuss it the following week.

GRADING

Grading of all assignments will be based upon the quality of concept, experimentation, work ethic and realization.

The overall class grade will be approximately broken down as follows:

Term A

Attendence & Participation: 20%
Lab Exercise/ Reading: 20%
500 words Proposal: 25%
Mid-Term Prototype: 35%

Term B

Attendence & Participation: 20%
Lab Exercise/ Reading: 30%
Final Project: 35%
Final Project Audio/ Visual/ Online Documentation: 15%

POLICIES

No smoking, eating or drinking in the laboratory, classroom or building.
Back up your data. No excuses for losing papers, web documents, images, etc. Keep at least three copies of everything: one on your hard drive, one on a CD, and one somewhere else just in case.
If you have a disability that you think may impact your participation in this class, please contact Disabled Student Services. Every effort will be made to accommodate your needs.

RESOURCES

Students have access to the DXARTS Sensing and Control Laboratory (Raitt Hall 107) according to the following lab policies:
- any equipment that you have used must be put away in its proper place before you leave the lab.
- be considerate to other users of the lab. Do not leave any mess behind.
- never use a power tool without someone else being in the lab.
- never use a tool which you have not been trained to use, or which you do not feel comfortable using.
- never use a tool that is damaged. If you discover a tool that is damaged, report it to your TA immediately.
- never work in the lab when you feel tired or drowsy, or under the influence of medication.
- if the lab is unsupervised, only use tools that are you are allowed to use without supervision. If you want to use a tool that requires supervision, then contact your class TA.
- always wear appropriate clothing in the lab. No open-toed sandals, loose clothing, etc.
- do not use power tools whilst wearing gloves.
- tie back long hair whilst in the lab.
- use goggles and, where appropriate, ear protection when using power tools.
- do not use noxious chemicals in the lab.
Students will be assigned equipment that must be returned on time.