CSC8610 : Physical Prototyping
- Offered for Year: 2024/25
- Module Leader(s): Dr Nick Taylor
- Owning School: Computing
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 5.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
This module aims to provide students with a practical introduction to, and skills and experience in, the design and physical prototyping of interactive products. Increasingly, we are interacting with computers through physical interfaces embedded in the environment, in the form of smart products and IoT devices. Designing for these interfaces requires the HCI professional to have a range of physical prototyping skills. This module will introduce students to common electronics prototyping platforms, allowing them to create physical interfaces involving sensors, actuators and network connectivity. Alongside this, they will learn how to use fabrication techniques ranging from simple DIY methods to the laser cutters and 3D printers found in modern makerspaces. Together, these skills will support the creation of physical prototypes capable of demonstrating designs for interactive and connected products. The module will give students experience in responding to a brief by designing, fabricating and documenting their own interactive product.
Outline Of Syllabus
This module will be delivered through a series of workshops, practical inductions and skills training sessions including access to our maker space/workshop, class and small group discussions and directed reading.
Indicative topics to be addressed through the course materials, include:
1. Design sketching and ideation
2. Workshop skills e.g. basic workshop tooling; laser cutting; 3D printing
3. Prototyping materials and mediums
4. Electronic prototyping kits
5. Programming for embedded electronics.
6. Sensors and actuators
7. Making things talk
8. Design documentation
9. Research-through-design
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 70:00 | 70:00 | Practical project completion. Non synchronous. |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 3 | 2:00 | 6:00 | Reading assigned materials. Non synchronous. |
| Structured Guided Learning | Academic skills activities | 12 | 0:30 | 6:00 | Online video tutorials for practical design skills. Non synchronous. |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 3 | 2:00 | 6:00 | Class-based presentation and discussion of assigned reading PIP. |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 6 | 2:00 | 12:00 | Practical classes/ learning workshop skills in the marker space and the flat teaching space. PIP. |
| Total | 100:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
This module focuses on practical skills in prototyping using a common microprocessor platform and associated sensor, actuator and networking components and an introduction to tools and techniques of the maker space. Alongside physical and software-based ‘making’ skills there will be practice in design documentation to enhance the research-through-design skills required for successfully communicating physical design and prototyping work. Classes will be formed of video-based tutorials for prototyping skills using microprocessor kits and in class practical work, alongside directed reading and discussion. All students will have time in the workshop for tuition with maker space equipment.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Design/Creative proj | 2 | M | 100 | Practical individual design project responding to a brief – documented as an annotated portfolio and video with associated physical prototype |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oral Presentation | 2 | M | Presentation of concept sketches in a ‘design crit’ environment to demonstrate emerging design work and obtain peer feedback. |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The module will require students to individually design and prototype an interactive product (physical prototype), demonstrating the skills they have learned through the course. They will do this responding to a brief, but will have significant opportunity to shape their design response in line with their personal interests. Design work produced will be documented in the form of an annotated portfolio, which alongside the physical prototype will be submitted as a single ‘portfolio’ submission, as the summative evaluation for the course. Design decision making and quality of documentation will be assessed through the annotated portfolio and build quality, reliability, and appropriate use of materials and equipment will be evaluated through presentation of the physical prototype. Students will also take part in a virtual group ‘design crit’, mid-module, in which they will receive feedback on their emerging ideas, delivered in a supportive group context – to help them develop their thinking – this element forms the formative assessment component of the module.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- CSC8610's Timetable