The New England Institute of Art

IMD470: Emerging Technologies
Winter 2008

http://seanfitzroy.com/imd470/
Office Hours and Contact Info
Revision:1/8/2008

Winter 2008 Class Sections and Meeting Times

Tuesday 7:00pm - 9:50pm

Email (accessible at: http://stu.aii.edu )

All students are provided with an Art Institute email account. Students are expected to know how to use the email system and to check email regularly. Instructors use email as the primary method of communicating with students outside of class. Students who don’t wish to check the NEiA account on a regular basis should forward it to the email account they check most frequently, or risk missing important class instructions. Students are expected to use email responsibly and respectfully. Refer to Student Code of Conduct as well as “Policy on Computing Ethics” and “Acceptable Use Policy for Networks.”

Course Description

The Emerging Technologies class focuses on emerging trends in the field of interactive
media. The Winter 2008 semester course will focus specifically on IPTV and the
development of a broadband video distribution channel.

Students will research, conceptualize, design, develop, and market a branded
broadband channel (a website with integrated broadband video player). Students will
create all of the content for the site, including producing video content (webisodes) and
traditional content web content. In designing the broadband channel, the class will
identify a target demographic, potential viewers, online-usage habits, and advertising or
subscription revenue possibilities. We will examine current and past independent broadband
channels such as Oxygen’s OhBaby (www.oxygen.com/ohbaby/), Lime (www.lime.com),
KIDSBOP(www.kidsbop.com), and Barrio305 (www.barrio305.com) and the similarities
and differences related to traditional television programmers and text-based web
properties. The class will use the Brightcove service to host, manage, and distribute the
broadband video. This includes uploading content, adding metadata, managing RSS
feeds, and programming delivery of video titles and lineups, constructing and
customizing player interfaces, and analyzing viewership and reporting information.

We will focus on building a sustainable web property that is capable of generating
revenue though advertising or subscriptions. Particular emphasis will be given to tracking
and reporting on viewer habits (similar to WebTrends), advertising models and market
position, and broadband delivery and production costs. Guest lecturers from online
advertising and broadband marketing will provide additional perspectives and students
will come away with an understanding of the start-to-finish process of building and
managing broadband web presence.

Projects in the class will be accomplished by small teams of students, grouped based on
individual strengths.

Prerequisites

Senior Level Standing and Instructor Approval

Course Outcomes Assessment

This course focuses on building and managing a branded broadband video channel.

• Demonstrate proficiency producing video content for web delivery
• Understand visitor tracking and reporting for a broadband video property
• Demonstrate ability to model revenue for a broadband video channel
• Demonstrate ability to capture and encode video for Flash delivery based on demographic and technical viewership information

The class is extremely equipment intensive and requires most work to be completed outside of class in small production groups. This class may require off-campus production and travel. Grading will reflect the students contribution to the team and outcome of the final project. This is determined by peer reports, instructor observation, and quality of the final project. This is a project-oriented class and builds on the skills acquired in previous IMD classes. Individual learning is emphasizes. Students are expected to solve problems and learn skills as needed for production.

Required Books/Materials

• DV Tapes
• Broadband Internet Access
• N Cam (Panasonic DVX100) certification or other camera
• Access to Video Editing and Compression Software
• A Portable FireWire or USB Hard Drive is required for the class

Grading Policy

Assignment Values

See the Assignments Page

Late Assignments

All assignments are due at the beginning of class on the designated date, unless otherwise noted. Final video assignments must be successfully deployed on the web to be considered turned-in.

Late assignments and make-up tests will NOT be accepted for credit.

Assignments may not be submitted electronically, except by prior arrangement with the instructor. All writing assignments must be typed.

Academic Integrity

College guidelines for academic integrity are strictly enforced. Using the words, ideas, or audio/video/graphics files of others, without attributing proper credit to the author, constitutes plagiarism, which will result in failure of the project, and possible failure of the class and expulsion from the college. Students must document the original sources of all material that is not his/her own.
Refer to the Student Code of Conduct in the Student Handbook.

Attendance

Course work at NEiA is very hands-on and students are expected to attend class on a regular basis. Poor attendance will affect a student’s final grade in a class as follows:

Our college-wide standard is, that a student with more than 3 absences (2 during Summer Semester) will have their earned academic grade lowered one letter grade (ex: B+ to C+). More than 4 absences (3 during Summer Semester) will lower their grade to D.

Students are responsible for making up assignments and communicating with their instructors regarding missing classes. All faculty members have school voice mail and email to help students contact them.

The college does not distinguish between excused or unexcused absences.

A student who misses all of his or her classes for two consecutive weeks will be withdrawn from the college.

Tardiness

If a student arrives late or leaves early from class, it is noted in the attendance roster.
4 late arrivals/early departures = 1 absence
Further, if a student misses more then 30 minutes of class, he/she will be marked with a one-half absence for that class.
2 half absences = 1 absence

Other Class Policies

Students must adhere to all lab rules during class. Food and beverages are not permitted in the computer labs.

Respect for self, instructor, and classmates is required at all times. Refer to Student Handbook for Student Code of Conduct.

Students must turn off cell phones, beepers, and portable audio devices during class. You may be asked to leave the class for any of the events listed below. If you are asked to leave, you will not be allowed to return for the duration of the class and you will be marked absent for the entire class. If the problem occurs again during the semester you will be removed from the course and your tuition will not be refunded.

You will be asked to leave the class if:
You place or answer a phone call during class
You use chat/IM or email software during a lecture or an in class assignment
You are listening to a personal audio device during class
You attempt to disconnect or circumvent the Links system (unplug monitors, etc)
You disrupt the lecture

Academic Support and Learning Disabilities

Students with known disabilities should contact their instructors as well as the Student Services Office. All information regarding disabilities is kept strictly confidential.

Academic Support (tutoring) is provided to any student in need of tutoring, at no cost. Students who feel they are able to assist with tutoring this course should also contact the Academic Support Center for more information.

Semester Class Meeting Schedule

All course content information, including lecture topics, test dates, reading assignments, and resources can be found at http://seanfitzroy.com/imd470/