Dec 6, 2007

Today is our last day so we'll wrap up the semester. I'll collect the Cell Phone papers, then I'll have just a few final words and take a few closing comments.

Then you're done!

Topics

Homework

Dec 4, 2007

Topics:

Homework:

Nov 29, 2007

Topics:

Homework:

Nov 27, 2007

Yet another brief day as all we have to do is see Luke's presentation from last week.

Topics:

Homework:

Nov 20, 2007

Today is a very brief day to let you start your Thanksgiving a bit early.

Topics:

Homework:

Nov 15, 2007

Topics

Homework

Nov 13, 2007

I don't think it's possible for the day to get any simpler.

Topics:

Scavenger Hunt:

Nov 08, 2007

Topics:

Homework:

Nov 06, 2007

Topics:

Homework:

Nov 01, 2007

Topics:

• Real Life Sim Presentation by Heather
• Discuss: Virtual Itza
• Discuss: Virtual World, Real Life Lawyers
• Discuss: Second Life Faces Mobile Death
• Discuss: Beijing Police Will Patrol Web Virtually
• Discuss: Real Hope in a Virtual World
• Discuss: Dennis Kucinich Opens Up Shop in Second Life
• Discuss: How a Computer Game Glitch Could Help to Fight Off a Global Pandemic

Homework:

Oct 30, 2007

Topics:

Homework:

Oct 25, 2007

Today we tackle the issues surrounding the second half of your "final" project. ...among other things...

Homework

Oct 23, 2007

Topics:

Homework:

Oct 18, 2007

No Class in the classroom today.

Please take this time to work on your Software Simulation Instructional Design packet. They're due next Thursday!

Oct 16, 2007

Topics:

Homework:

Oct 11, 2007

Topics:

Homework:

Oct 9, 2007

Topics:

Homework:

Oct 4, 2007

Three Real Life Sims: Bobby, Alex, & Brian

Topics:

• Oddware Presentations.

Homework:

Oct 2, 2007

No SL Presentations today.

Topics:

Homework:

Sep 27, 2007

Two Real Life Sim presentations. Bobby & Jesse

Topic:

Homework:

Sep 25, 2007

• The Crooked House
• Virtual Hallucinations
• Myst Online

Scavenger Hunt : A pet of some sort. We'll meet at the Beach House and show them off.

Sep 20, 2007

Real Life Simulation Presentation by: Bobby

Topics:

• Hardware Prototypes

Homework:

• Oddware

Sep 18, 2007

Second Life Sim: Mike

Other places by Damian

Homework

• Optional: Jewelry with "bling."

Sep 13, 2007

Real Life Sim: Jerilyn

Topics:

• My 4th Newspaper Interview about UB and Second Life.
• Four interesting Second Life books.
• Second Life Terrorism
• Second Life Punishment
• Reuters in Second Life
• Disaffected!

Homework

• Play Disaffected

 

Sep 11, 2007

Today we meet in Second Life at 11am.
Jesse will be presenting his first Second Life simulation.

Sep 6, 2007

Here are the topics we will be covering today:

• Ricky's Real Life Sim Presentation
• Non-Computer Platforms
• Computer Based Platforms

Homework

• No Homework
• Optional: New Avatar Hair in Second Life

Sep 4, 2007

Today we meet in Second Life.
Regular class time: 11am.
Run Ventrilo and log in to the server.
(Get the server / port info from the blue panel.)
Log into Second Life and I'll send you a teleport
to our location.

Homework:
(Read the Class Requirements for fuller details.)

• Student Setup
• Scavenger Hunt #1
• Class Photo

APPLIED SIMULATION     
COSC330.SG1     
Fall 2007     

-Ventrilo Information-     
Server: 69.12.74.141     
Port: 4143     

This course is designed to introduce the class to the concept of "Applied Simulation," hence the name of the course.

This semester we will explore the concept of simulations of all sorts, with particular emphasis toward computerized (and computer-assisted) simulations. We will do this with an eye toward the application of such simulations for purposes other than (gasp!) the playing of games.

We will examine:

• the concept of simulations
• types of simulations
• choice of medium
• clients
• instructional design
• subject matter experts
• simulation programming
• usability issues
• a simulation's audience
• hardware configuration and repurposing

A couple of those topics have guest speakers.

We will have a few small projects and one "medium sized" project. Don't fret about them just yet--there are caveats to nearly every project--but the projects are:

• Find-a-sim presentations
• Virtual tours of sims in Second Life
• Odd hardware design
• Be an Instructional Designer
• Be a Simulation Programmer
• Cram a game onto a cell phone.

Hopefully, they'll be more fun than tedious.

The Innovative Part

Because this is a class about simulations, we will be taking advantage of one of the largest and most ambitious sims out there: Second Life.

Every Thursday we will not meet in the classroom; instead we will meet inside Second Life. There we will tour the environment, explore real-world people/places/things that have been simulated in "the grid," learn how Second Life's monetary system meshes with the real world's monetary system, get a lesson on building things inside the..um..game. We even have a guest lecturer scheduled for one night!

In order for this to work, however, the following things must be done:

• Check the Requirements page and get everything set up. DO NOT wait until the very last moment to do this stuff. Get it set up and tested right away so that you're ready for next week.
• Check the Assignments & Deadlines page so I can explain how it all works and can harp on you more about the importance of getting the work done in a timely manner.
• Remember to check the site's main page for changes to the schedule. If we get snowed out of regular class, for example, we may meet in SL instead. Or if SL's grid is down we may have to fall back on our alternate plan. (Yes, there is an alternate.)
• Check your email often! I'll send out class-wide blasts as necessary to keep you up-to-date. It does me no good to send out important notices if you only check your email once a month!