Topics: Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, Artificial Intelligence, Speculative design, Human Computer Interaction
Disciplines: Media Technology, Psychology, Philosophy.
Admission requirements:
This course is an (extracurricular) Honours Class: an elective course within the Honours College programme. Third year students who don’t participate in the Honours College, have the opportunity to apply for a Bachelor Honours Class. Students will be selected based on i.a. their motivation and average grade.
Description:
Artificial Intelligence can feel quite abstract; like pure intelligence that is stripped from any physical form. We interact with AI through an anonymous chat interface or by speaking into the void, almost like communicating with an omniscient deity.
In this course we will explore the roles that AI can take and the shapes it could have. We discuss classical humanoid robots and smart vacuum cleaners. And we try to come up with more exotic physical forms, like intelligent artworks and store assistants. By giving AI a place in the world, we aim to make AI less abstract and trigger social interaction.
We explore the way with which we can interact with AI in the virtual world. We study the possibilities for AI-powered characters in Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality. As these spatial computing interfaces become mature we see powerful applications in training and education and in supporting people on-the-job. How can AI improve these applications?
In this research course you’re challenged to work on a project that uses AI in the virtual or the real world. You identify use cases and condense this into a concept. Together with your team mates you develop this concept into a working prototype.
As this project can be quite challenging, we designed the course to make it achievable for all students:
In the classes you work on your technical skills, creative ideas and theoretical knowledge;
We choose easy software with ready-to-go AI functions;
We give hands-on technical support.
The concept and design of your project is just as important as the technical implementation of the prototype. You don’t need experience in programming to join the course, but everyone is expected to put effort in growing their digital skills.
Course objectives:
Upon successful completion of this course, students will:
have a basic understanding of the technology of Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and Artificial Intelligence;
have gained basic coding and digital design skills to build 3D prototypes;
have identified the interactions between Artificial Intelligence and VR & AR;
have analyzed the influence of VR, AR and AI on society;
have analyzed the influence of giving AI a physical form;
have created a project that gives AI a presence in the real or virtual world.
Programme and timetable:
The sessions of this class will be held on Tuesdays from 17.15 - 19.15.
Session 1: October 8
Course introduction + tech experience: Virtual Reality games, Augmented Reality experiences, AI Photobooth and more
Session 2: October 15
Skills Lab: creating interactive 3D worlds
Session 3: October 22
VR & AR: technology, applications and implications
Session 4: October 29
Exploration of different AI applications
Artificial Intelligence in the real world: shapes & roles
Session 5: November 5
Skills Lab: implementing AI in interactive 3D worlds
Session 6: November 12
Speculative design: conceptualizing applications
Session 7: November 19
Skills Lab: creating physical prototypes
Session 8: November 26
Guided project work: research, concept, design and development
Session 9: December 3
Guided project work: research, concept, design and development
Session 10: December 10
Room for extra lecture / guided project work
Session 11 December 17
Final project presentations
Location:
PLNT Leiden
Langegracht 70, 2312NV
Reading list:
For this course we will read parts from:
Mateo Kroese – Hello, Robot
David Rose - SuperSight
Andy Clark – Natural-born Cyborgs
Thomas W. Malone – Superminds
Doug Engelbart – Augmenting Human Intelligence
Other possible literature will be announced in class or via Brightspace.
Course load and teaching method:
This course is worth 5 ECTS, which means the total course load equals 140 hours:
Lectures: 11 physical lectures of 2 hours = 22 hours
Literature reading and asynchronous online courses: 28 hours
Technical homework assignments: 15 hours
Final project 70 hours ( including research, concepting, design, development and reflection)
Public event: 5 hours
Assessment methods:
The assessment methods will look as follows:
Final project (100%)
At two points in the process the students have to hand in parts of the project. For these assignments the students will receive qualitative feedback so they know if they’re on the right track.
The deadline for the project is the 17th of December 2024.
Students can only pass this course after successful completion of all partial exams.
The assessment methods will be further explained in the first session of the class.
Brightspace and uSis:
Brightspace will be used in this course. Upon admission students will be enrolled in Brightspace by the teaching administration.
Please note: students are not required to register through uSis for the Bachelor Honours Classes. Your registration will be done centrally.
Application process:
Submitting an application for this course is possible from Monday 19 August 2024 up to and including Tuesday 8 September 2024 23:59 through the link on the Honours Academy student website.
Note: students don’t have to register for the Bachelor Honours Classes in uSis. The registration is done centrally before the start of the class.
Contact:
Robin de Lange
mail@robindelange.com