Digital Prototyping and Extended Reality (DECO2300)

Course overview

This course introduces students to theories, emerging key issues, and design and development practice of Extended Reality (XR) applications (Augmented, Virtual and Mixed Reality applications). Students will design and develop a series of interactive XR prototypes, along with an evaluation of their prototypes and reflection on the overall learning journey. The course will also cover specific applications of immersive technology in research and industry.

This course introduces students to digital prototyping for generating proof-of-concept Extended Reality solutions for design computing projects. It primarily focuses on creating novel embodied, immersive interactions using Unity3D and XR equipment for extended reality applications.

In this new version of the course, students now focus on prototyping both low-fidelity and hi-fidelity embodied extended reality experiences. Students will be provided with a Meta Quest 2 to design, build and test an immersive, extended reality prototype.

Course requirements

Assumed background

This course requires a significant prior knowledge of programming. It is assumed that students will have completed the prerequisite courses -ﾠCSSE1001 or ENGG1001 and DECO2500. This course will build upon the skills learnt in these courses and assumes that students are in their second year of study.

Prerequisites

You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:

DECO2500 and (CSSE1001 or ENGG1001)

Incompatible

You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:

DECO7230

Jointly taught details

This course is jointly-taught with:

• DECO7230

All learning activities are jointly taught.

Course contact

Course staff

Timetable

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.

Additional timetable information

This course has 6 hours of scheduled activities per week:

• 2hr Lecture session per week. These sessions cover prototyping theory & in-class activities.
• 2hr Practical + 2hr Studio session per week. These sessions will introduce the skills required for the projects and will be used for testing of prototypes produced.

Students are expected to attend all scheduled sessions.

Aims and outcomes

The courses aims to:

• provide students with a solid foundation in the skills needed for developing Extended Reality (XR) digital prototypes
• provide students with the conceptual basis for researching and identifying the appropriate XR tools and methodologies for the communication of design solutions
• provide students with the opportunity to produce rapid XR prototypes that demonstrate key elements of an intended design for the purposes of evaluation & iteration
• promote critical analysis of prototype design and functionality
• develop student understanding of the role of XR prototyping in the design process

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

Assessment

Assessment summary

A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.

Assessment details

Interactive Prototype 1

• Hurdle
• Identity Verified

Mode

Activity/ Performance, Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia, Written

Category

Computer Code, Paper/ Report/ Annotation

Weight

30%

Due date

Allocated session 15/08/2024

Report due by 3pm 19/08/2024

Testing material (prototype code, video/photos, low-fidelity prototypes) is due to be submitted by the end of the day of testing session.

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Task description

Hurdle requirements

Submission guidelines

Testing in practical sessions, files to Blackboard as per individual prototype briefs.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Reports

Maximum Extension: 7 days (in order to receive feedback on time for the next iteration)

Late Penalty: A penalty of 1 grade for each 24 hour period from time submission is due will apply for up to 7 days. After 7 days you will receive a mark of 0.

Testing Sessions

Maximum Extension: No extensions permitted for this assessment. If there are exceptional circumstances an exemption may be approved and may involve submitting/discussing your work as it stands. Exemptions must be requested as an extension with a note specifying exemption via my.UQ.

Late Penalty: 100% Late Penalty (no grace period) if students are not present for testing sessions.

Interactive Prototype 2

• Hurdle
• Identity Verified

Mode

Activity/ Performance, Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia, Written

Category

Computer Code, Paper/ Report/ Annotation

Weight

30%

Due date

Testing in allocated Session 12/09/2024

Report due by 3PM 16/09/2024

Testing material (prototype code, video/photos, low-fidelity prototypes) is due to be submitted by the end of the day of testing session.

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Task description

Hurdle requirements

Submission guidelines

Testing in practical sessions, files to Blackboard as per individual prototype briefs.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Reports

Maximum Extension: 7 days (in order to receive feedback on time for the next iteration)

Late Penalty: A penalty of 1 grade for each 24 hour period from time submission is due will apply for up to 7 days. After 7 days you will receive a mark of 0.

Testing Sessions

Maximum Extension: No extensions permitted for this assessment. If there are exceptional circumstances an exemption may be approved and may involve submitting/discussing your work as it stands. Exemptions must be requested as an extension with a note specifying exemption via my.UQ.

Late Penalty: 100% Late Penalty (no grace period) if students are not present for testing sessions.

Interactive Prototype 3

• Identity Verified

Mode

Activity/ Performance, Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia, Written

Category

Computer Code, Essay/ Critique

Weight

30%

Due date

Testing in allocated session 10/10/2024

Report due by 3pm 18/10/2024

Testing material (prototype code, video/photos, low-fidelity prototypes) is due to be submitted by the end of the day of testing session.

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Task description

Submission guidelines

Testing in practical sessions, files to Blackboard as per individual prototype briefs.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Reports

Maximum Extension: 7 days (in order to receive feedback on time for the next iteration)

Late Penalty: A penalty of 1 grade for each 24 hour period from time submission is due will apply for up to 7 days. After 7 days you will receive a mark of 0.

Testing Sessions

Maximum Extension: No extensions permitted for this assessment. If there are exceptional circumstances an exemption may be approved and may involve submitting/discussing your work as it stands. Exemptions must be requested as an extension with a note specifying exemption via my.UQ.

Late Penalty: 100% Late Penalty (no grace period) if students are not present for testing sessions.

XR Prototyping Challenge

Mode

Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia, Written

Category

Essay/ Critique, Portfolio, Reflection

Weight

10%

Due date

25/10/2024 4:00 pm

Learning outcomes

L01, L03, L04, L05

Task description

Submission guidelines

Through Turnitin

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Late submission

A penalty of 1 grade for each 24 hour period from time submission is due will apply for up to 7 days. After 7 days you will receive a mark of 0.

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Additional course grading information

A qualitative grading system is used in this course, whereby you will receive qualitative feedback on your work. Grades for assessment in this course will identify your work as being of a particular standard that fall within a meaningful UQ grade band:

• High Distinction (7)
• Distinction (6)
• Credit (5)
• Pass (4)
• Fail (1 – 3)

Within each category, there may be a further qualifier of + or - to indicate that the work is at the upper or lower bounds of the category. For example, if work is assessed at the level of Distinction then it has been assessed overall to meet the quality described by the Distinction grade descriptor. Distinction- means that the work is assessed at Distinction level, but it is at the lower bound having just satisfied the requirements for Distinction. Distinction+ means that the work is assessed at Distinction, but while it is at the upper bound of this grade, it is missing key aspects that would lead it to be assessed at the next grade up.

Qualitative grading is the only method used in this course to grade work but in order to calculate a grade, each qualitative descriptor is coded to a numerical digit from 0 – 15 (see below). There are no % used in any calculation and the coding system does not correspond to a % value.

The qualitative grades in this course map to UQ Grade bands as follows:

• High Distinction+ (15) --> High Distinction (7)
• High Distinction (14) --> High Distinction (7)
• High Distinction- (13) --> High Distinction (7)
• Distinction+ (12) --> Distinction (6)
• Distinction (11) --> Distinction (6)
• Distinction- (10) --> Distinction (6)
• Credit+ (9) --> Credit (5)
• Credit (8) --> Credit (5)
• Credit- (7) --> Credit (5)
• Pass+ (6) --> Pass (4)
• Pass (5) --> Pass (4)
• Pass- (4) --> Pass (4)
• Fail+ (3) --> Fail (3)
• Fail (2) --> Fail (2)
• Fail- (1) --> Fail (1)
• X --> 0

The final grade for an assignment is calculated by assigning the qualitative grade its corresponding digit from the coding system and the weighting in a formula to arrive at a final grade. The Course Coordinator reserves the right to moderate grades. The final grade for the course uses the same principle (see table below for examples).

Example 1:

• Prototype 1: Pass+ (6)
• Prototype 2: Pass (5)
• Prototype 3: Pass- (4)
• Challenge: Credit- (7)
• Initial Grade Calculation: (6*0.3) + (5*0.3) + (4*0.3) + (7*0.1) = 5.2
• Final UQ Grade: Pass (4)

Example 2:

• Prototype 1: Credit- (7)
• Prototype 2: Credit (8)
• Prototype 3: Credit- (7)
• Challenge: Pass- (4)
• Initial Grade Calculation: (7*0.3) + (8*0.3) + (7*0.3) + (4*0.1) = 7
• Final UQ Grade: Credit (5)

Example 3:

• Prototype 1: Distinction- (10)
• Prototype 2: High Distinction (14)
• Prototype 3: Credit (8)
• Challenge: Distinction+ (12)
• Initial Grade Calculation: (10*0.3) + (14*0.3) + (8*0.3) + (12*0.1) = 10.8
• Final UQ Grade: Distinction (6)

Example 4:

• Prototype 1: High Distinction- (13)
• Prototype 2: High Distinction (14)
• Prototype 3: Distinction+ (12)
• Challenge: Credit (8)
• Initial Grade Calculation: (13*0.3) + (14*0.3) + (12*0.3) + (8*0.1) = 12.5
• Final UQ Grade: High Distinction (7)

Example 5:

• Prototype 1: Fail+ (3)
• Prototype 2: High Distinction (14)
• Prototype 3: Distinction+ (12)
• Challenge: Distinction+ (12)
• Initial Grade Calculation: (3*0.3) + (14*0.3) + (12*0.3) + (12*0.1) = 9
• Final UQ Grade: Fail (3)*

* Final grade capped at 3 due to failing Prototype 1. Passing/Failing assignments, additional information: Failing Prototype 1 or 2 means the final grade for the course is capped at a 3.

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is not available for some items in this course.

If you receive a grade of 3 in this course, then you will only be eligible for supplementary assessment if you have at least a passing grade for Prototype I and Prototype II.

The supplementary assessment in this course is in written form. Eligible students will have to submit their assessments by the date provided once approved.

Approved students are expected to be available to work on and submit the supplementary exam during the University’s Deferred and Supplementary examination period. Once approved, supplementary assessment cannot be rescinded by the student.

Additional assessment information

Having Troubles?

If you are having difficulties with any aspect of the course material you should seek help. Speak to the course teaching staff.

If external circumstances are affecting your ability to work on the course, you should seek help as soon as possible. The University and UQ Union have organisations and staff who are able to help, for example, UQ Student Services are able to help with study and exam skills, tertiary learning skills, writing skills, financial assistance, personal issues, and disability services (among other things).

Complaints and criticisms should be directed in the first instance to the course coordinator. If you are not satisfied with the outcome, you may bring the matter to the attention of the School of EECS Director of Teaching and Learning.

Use of AI

This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct

Learning resources

You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.

Library resources

Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.

Additional learning resources information

The course has a Blackboard site where static course information can be found - assessment briefs, contact activities & grades.

There is also an Ed Discussion for course announcements, discussions and sharing of interesting resources related to class activitiesﾠ- details will be distributed in class.

Contacts will be recorded, however due to the nature of the session discussions and activities may not be captured clearly. And as such, recordings should not be used as a substitute for active participation.

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

Policies and procedures

University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:

• Student Code of Conduct Policy
• Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
• Assessment Procedure
• Examinations Procedure
• Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.

School guidelines

Your school has additional guidelines you'll need to follow for this course:

• EECS School Guidelines for Students