History 9832B: Interactive Exhibit Design (Winter 2015)

History 9832B is a studio course on interactive exhibit design, intended primarily for public historians and digital humanists. Students will learn how to create interactive exhibits through a series of hands-on projects that teach the basics of interaction design, physical computing, and desktop fabrication. No prior experience is necessary, but History 9808A: Digital History or History 9877A: Digital Research Methods might be useful if you don’t have much experience with computers. Preference will be given to students in the public history MA program, but other graduate students may take it with my permission. Contact me at wturkel@uwo.ca for more information.

Students

Schedule

07 Jan. Making Things
14 Jan. Programming in Max, continued
21 Jan. MaKey MaKey and Makedo
28 Jan. Interacting with Multimedia in Max
04 Feb. Phidgets
11 Feb. Sensor Workshop
18 Feb. READING WEEK
25 Feb. Project Consultations
04 Mar. Work on Projects
11 Mar. Work on Projects
18 Mar. Work on Projects
25 Mar. Work on Projects
01 Apr. Work on Projects
08 Apr. Project Demonstrations

Optional Software

If you have a laptop, install a trial version of Cycling 74’s Max 7 software before the first class. Don’t buy a copy until you know that you are going to need it, however. This software is installed on some of the machines in the classroom, and not all student projects use Max. If you do want to use the software for your own project, educational pricing is available. You can subscribe for about US $10 per month, or $60 per year, or purchase a permanent license for US $250 if you would like to continue to program in Max in the future. The software is available for both Windows and Mac computers.

Evaluation

In this course you will be graded on your documentation of the design process (25%), the project(s) that you develop (40%), your presentation of the project(s) in multiple media (25%), and reflective blogging (10%). Your final grade will reflect how much you’ve learned or accomplished in this course, rather than any overall level of technical attainment.

You will notice that there are not any formal assignments for the course. I expect you to document your design process regularly on your blog and in other media.

Workspaces

We have three spaces where you will be able to work on your projects. The digital classroom Lawson Hall 2270C, where the course meets, has a number of iMacs with Max installed and an overhead LCD projector. At the beginning of most classes, I will use the room to give brief demonstrations before students begin working on their own projects. The digital lab Lawson Hall 2270B has more computers, printers, scanners, cameras and recorders, and Wacom Cintiq pen displays. LH 2270B and 2270C are appropriate for digital work; photography, videography and audio production; light construction tasks such as sewing, or working with paper, plastic, foamcore or cardboard; and for solderless electronics. You can also contact me to borrow cameras, tripods, lighting kits, digital audio recorders, a green screen, real-time 3D scanners (Kinect and Xtion) and other equipment that is usually locked up.

I also have a very small laboratory space on the ground floor of the Social Science Centre. The lab has facilities for 3D printing, 3D scanning, computer-controlled paper and vinyl cutting, light CNC milling, very light woodwork, laser cutting, moldmaking and casting, soldering, and advanced electronics (there is an oscilloscope, circuit design lab and very large supply of active and passive components). Unfortunately this is a temporary space since we are in the process of moving, so most of the equipment is not set up. Talk to me if you are interested in doing something in the lab, and we will try to figure something out.

Winter 2014 Projects

Learn more about some of the projects: