Registry

Module Specifications

Archived Version 2008 - 2009

Module Title	Digital World
Module Code	CA168
School	School of Computing
Online Module Resources
Module Co-ordinator	Dr Cathal Gurrin	Office Number	L2.42
Level	1	Credit Rating	10
Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None

Module Aims

The aim of this module is to present the student with an overview of the current state-of-the-art in the world of digital media and the increasing digital nature of the world. The module will address issues of multimedia data creation and storage, including how to capture, encode and store.
Given that capture and storage is only half the problem, the module will also present the student with an overview and an understanding of how to organise multimedia data, how to access the data and how search engines for multimedia data operate. The module includes coverage of these topics as they are applied to the WWW.
Finally, the module will address a number of state-of-the-art concepts in Digital Multimedia and the digital world to give the student an understanding and appreciation of how digital technologies affect all aspects of our lives.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module, the student will be able to:
To know and be able to correctly utilise the three areas of technology associated with the Digital World – audio, images and video
To know how to utilise the three key areas of technology in order to support digital entertainment.
To understand and be able to apply the three key areas of technology to support digital business and e-commerce.
To know, to evaluate and to be able to correctly apply the technologies required for organising information in the digital world and in digital libraries.
To understand at an overview level, how search engines can operate over text and multimedia data, to provide retrieval facilities and how this can be applied to digital libraries.
To know about, to appreciate and to utilise many of the key digital technologies that affect our lives today and into the future. These technologies are; Mobile Media Access (MP3, MP4), Personal Media Organisation, Digital TV, Collaborative, Haptic and Tactile Information Access, Blogging & Social Networking, Human Digital Memories, Gaming, Virtual Reality, Digital Homes and Digital Education, Location aware archives (GPS & RFID), Multisensory computing and sensor networks.

Indicative Time Allowances
	Hours
Lectures	30
Tutorials	0
Laboratories	12
Seminars	6
Independent Learning Time	102

Total	150
Placements
Assignments

NOTE

Assume that a 10 credit module load represents approximately 150 hours' work, which includes all teaching, in-course assignments, laboratory work or other specialised training and an estimated private learning time associated with the module.

Indicative Syllabus

The syllabus will consist of three sections; content creation (1); content organisation (2) and the key digital technologies of today and tomorrow. Section 1 and 2 will run sequentially, with the section on key digital technologies running concurrently with section 1 and 2.
Basics of image/photo file storage – video storage formats - audio storage – how to capture these multimedia types and where to find multimedia content – the basics of information retrieval from digital archives – using and understanding search engines for WWW pages and multimedia documents (audio, image and video) - Construction of and planning for Digital Libraries – Personal Media Collections - Introduction to key digital technologies; Mobile Media Access (MP3, MP4, photos), Personal Media Organisation, Digital TV, Collaborative, Haptic and Tactile Information Access, Blogging & Social Networking, Human Digital Memories, Gaming, Virtual Reality, Digital Homes and Digital Education, Location aware archives (GPS & RFID), Multisensory computing and sensor networks.