POSTGRADUATE PROSPECTUS - MA Interactive Multimedia
REGULATION
1. Aims
The Masters in Interactive Multimedia aims to develop the necessary practical and analytical skills for a career in Interactive Multimedia Design. The course builds on the expertise of the Department of Multimedia and Graphic Arts to provide its students with a multidisciplinary coverage of the area of Interactive Multimedia Design. The program is intended both for students with computer programming expertise but also for students who might be coming from a more Art and Design background. In this way the course acts as a bridge in covering the technical, artistic, design and theoretical issues that affect the effective and efficient design of Interactive Multimedia.
The program produces graduates with immediately marketable skills in creative design, technology, and theory relevant to Interactive Multimedia.
Upon graduation, students will have excellent knowledge and skills for/in: ● Analyzing requirements for the design of Interactive Multimedia systems ● Advanced interaction design for Multimedia
● Designing effective and user friendly user interfaces
● Conducting usability and accessibility evaluations of Multimedia ● Undertaking and leading creative design activities
● Designing interactive multimedia for specific application domains (e.g. Learning, Animation, Advertising)
● The use of a widely used multimedia authoring 2. Rationale for this program
Advanced graduate studies in Multimedia Design are in demand by the Cyprus market. This demand is augmented by the increased attention, in the design and delivery of effective and efficient interactive multimedia systems (e.g. web design, computer game design, animation and film production etc.).
3. Entrance Criteria
A degree in a related field with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 6.5/10, or equivalent, from a recognized and accredited university.
Excellent knowledge of English. Graduates from a non-English speaking University may be required to produce evidence to prove their proficiency in English Language.
As part of the application procedure candidates need to submit an application, a CV, official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended, a personal statement about their goals and interests, and two letters of recommendations. Applications are assessed by the Graduate Program Committee of the Department. Applicants may be invited for an interview as part of the admissions procedure. Applicants whose undergraduate degree was not directly related to the topic of the Master may be required to attend and pass specific undergraduate courses offered by the Department in order to be eligible to enroll in the post-graduate program.
4. Course Structure
For successful completion of the Master program in Interactive Multimedia the candidate must complete 90 ECTS, including the master's dissertation which is equivalent to 30 ECTS. Finally, for successfully acquiring the degree, students must also successfully complete the Master's Dissertation.
TERM 1 COURSES
Code Module ECTS
MGA 511 Human-Computer Interaction 7.5
MGA 512 Interactive Multimedia Design I 7.5
MGA520 Applications of three dimensional modeling 7.5
Elective course 7.5
Total 30
Elective courses:
MGA 502 Graphic Communication and Project Management
MGA 518 Game design
TERM 2 COURSES
Code Module ECTS
MGA 515 Interactive Multimedia Design II 7,5
MGA 516 Designing for the web 7,5
MGA 519 Virtual Reality 7,5
Elective course 7,5
Total 30
Elective courses:
MGA 517 Online communities and social media
MGA 523 Collaborative learning
MGA 503 Typography and Information Design
MGA 504 Advertising and Graphic Communication
MGA 505 Semiotics and Graphic Communication
MGA 506 Digital Applications of Graphic Communication
DISSERTATION
Code Module ECTS
MGA 580 Dissertation 30
5. Course descriptions
MGA 511: Human-Computer Interaction (7.5 ECTS)
This course aims to introduce the importance of usability in interactive systems, explain the key concepts and theoretical foundations of the field of Human Computer Interaction (HCI) and provide students with HCI techniques for the design and evaluation of interactive systems. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: Demonstrate detailed understanding of the importance of usability and the consequences of poor usability for interactive systems ; Identify the theoretical foundations in cognitive psychology for human-computer interaction; Critically evaluate a user-centered design process for interactive systems, including analysis, design and evaluation activities; Illustrate and exemplify a professional awareness of the issues involved and potential approaches to be adopted in
designing for diverse users; Interpret and apply a range of techniques for supporting the design process such as prototyping and design rationale; Compare and contrast user interface technologies; Design and conduct data collection using a range of techniques; Conduct effective usability evaluation using both user-based and expert-based evaluation techniques; Apply accurately and effectively an iterative, user-centered design process involving task analysis, user and stakeholder analysis, contextual analysis, requirement specification, conceptual and detailed design activities; Interpret HCI principles and guidelines, apply them to a variety of situations.
MGA 523: Collaborative learning (7.5 ECTS)
In today’s world collaboration is an increasingly highly valued but poorly understood process. This course introduces students to the theoretical foundations of collaboration, focusing on collaborative learning. Through exposure to readings and the examination of real-world scenario students examine issues such as the cognitive foundations of collaborative learning, the construction of shared knowledge, group dynamics, conditions for effective collaboration, etc. The second half of the course focuses on computer-supported collaborative learning and examines the state-of-the-art using the theoretical background introduced during the first half of the course.
MGA 512: Interactive Multimedia Design I (7.5 ECTS)
This course is a post-graduate introduction to Interactive Multimedia Design. Students learn the basic concepts of multimedia, and the hardware and software involved. The course examines all of the multimedia elements (text, graphics, 2D and 3D animation, video and sound). Societal issues and the impact of multimedia applications in our lives are discussed. In addition, technologies and techniques for planning and designing interactive multimedia applications are covered. As part of the assessment the students have to design multimedia projects.
MGA 515: Interactive Multimedia Design II (7.5 ECTS)
As a continuation to Interactive Multimedia Design I, this course concentrates on the use of multimedia software to create interactive multimedia applications. The theoretical foundations gained in the prerequisite course are put into practice. The issues involved in designing and developing interactive multimedia applications are examined. State-of-the-art authoring tools are employed by the students, who have to design interactive multimedia applications for CD-ROM, DVD, Digital TV and the World Wide Web.
MGA 516: Designing for the web (7.5 ECTS)
This course focuses on the web application development from the web designer’s perspective. Topics to be covered include an overview of the Internet and web technologies, principles of web design, cascading styling sheets, use of databases for dynamic content and content management systems. Students produce a website that incorporates the lessons learned in the class to demonstrate their ability and competence in implementing the techniques, skills and knowledge they acquired.
MGA 517: Online communities and social media (7.5 ECTS)
This course explores the theoretical and practical applications of online communities and social media tools (including blogs, wikis, podcasts, forums, and social networking sites). Various online communities are examined along with relevant literature in social psychology to understand the social impact of spending part of our lives online. These are used as a basis for design where students implement and evaluate fully-functional online communities and tools to support them.
MGA 519: Virtual reality (7.5 ECTS)
This course will deal with virtual reality as a modern form of design of interactive multimedia applications in various fields. Students will gain theoretical and practical knowledge of the principles, design methodologies, systems capabilities and limitations of virtual reality. The course is divided into three sections. The first section consists of a historical overview of the evolution of virtual reality and presents concepts, hardware, software and methodologies associated with the development of virtual reality applications. In the second section of the course issues related to human perception in virtual environments are discussed. In the third part of the course examples of applications of virtual reality, are examined as to their effectiveness. During their assessment, students will design and evaluate interactive virtual reality systems.
MGA 520: Applications of three-dimensional modeling (7.5 ECTS)
The course begins with a theoretical and practical approach to learning basic principles on the three-dimensional digital space, the construction of three dimensional models and the animation. The theoretical approach is achieved by presenting the basic principles of modeling and animation in real time environments (eg, low polygon count, proper rigging, animation cycles), and visual material for the investigation and analysis of the production process. The practical approach consists of applying various techniques and familiarizing with the use of the
Autodesk Maya software, the construction of three-dimensional characters and spaces, the construction of selected animation cycles and the introduction to Unity software.
MGA 541: Research methods (7.5 ECTS)
In order to work effectively both in the academic and workplace environment, students must be able to communicate appropriately and perform research in a rational and accountable manner. This requires both an understanding of the frameworks within which we communicate and gain knowledge and their legal and ethical dimensions, as well as the particular skills and techniques that make that possible. It also requires an active understanding of a range of professional issues. As a general graduate introduction to research methods, this course is designed to offer knowledge and cultivate skills necessary for designing and implementing common research projects. The course includes review of the basic components of the scientific method with emphasis on the process of conceptualization-operationalization as well as on the most widely used measurement methods. Elementary to intermediate quantitative and qualitative data analysis are also included.
6. Faculty
Panayiotis Zaphiris (Associate Professor – Program coordinator) - Panayiotis Zaphiris is an Associate Professor in the Department of Multimedia and Graphic Arts. Panayiotis has a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction from Wayne State University, USA. He also has an MSc in Systems Engineering and a BSc in Electrical Engineering both from University of Maryland, College Park, USA. He has worked for a number of years at the Centre for HCI Design of City University London where he reached the rank of Reader in HCI. His research areas are in the area of Human Computer Interaction, Social Computing and Inclusive Design with an emphasis on the design of interactive systems for people with disabilities.
Andreas Lanitis (Associate Professor) -Andreas Lanitis received the degree of B.Eng in Electronic Engineering (1991) and PhD in Image Processing and Computer Vision (1995), both from the University of Manchester, UK. Subsequently he carried out research in the Division of Imaging Science and Biomedical Engineering, University of Manchester. Between 1997 and 2007 he worked at the School of Sciences and Engineering, Cyprus College. His research interests include the generation of statistical appearance models and their use in image interpretation, coding and synthesis applications.
Andrew Laghos (Lecturer)
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Andrew Laghos holds a PhD from the Centre for Human Computer Interaction Design of City University (London) with specialisation in e-learning, Multimedia and Social Networks. He holds an MSc in Interactive Multimedia from MiddlesexUniversity (London), a BSc in Computer Science from Webster University (USA) and a certificate in Website Design and Development from the same university. His research interests include: Online Communities and Social Networks; Multimedia; Music; Human Computer Interaction; and, communication via the web.
Charalambos Poullis (Lecturer) - He received his B.Sc. in Computing Information Systems
from the University of Manchester, UK in 2001, his M.Sc. in Computer Science with specialization in Multimedia and Creative Technologies from the University of Southern California (USC) in 2003 and his PhD in Computer Science from USC in 2008. His area of expertise is in computer vision, computer graphics, virtual reality and in particular large-scale modeling, photorealistic rendering and 3D visualization methodologies. He is a member of the ACM and IEEE and has served as a reviewer in several conferences and journals. He currently holds a Lecturer position with the Department of Multimedia and Graphic Arts at the Cyprus University of Technology where he also serves as the Scientific Coordinator of the Immersive and Creative Technologies (ICT) lab.
Andri Ioannou (Lecturer) - Andri Ioannou is a Lecturer in the Department of Multimedia and Graphic Arts. She has a PhD in Educational Technology from the University of Connecticut (USA) and a BSc in Computer Science from the University of Cyprus. Her research interests include the design, development, and evaluation of online computer-supported collaborative learning environments, the use of Web 2.0 technologies to promote student collaboration and knowledge construction in online environments, the development of interactive multimedia content for web-based instruction, and the integration of technology in education.
Despina Michael (Lecturer) - Despina is a Lecturer at Multimedia and Graphic Arts Department at Cyprus University of Technology and the scientific coordinator of Microsoft Computer Games and Emerging Technologies (GET) Research Lab. She has been a post doc researcher at Event-lab (2011), University of Barcelona that is specialized on experiments within Virtual Reality systems. She also held a position of Lecturer (2009-2011) at private tertiary education. Prior that she was a research associate (2002-2009) at Computer Graphics and Virtual Reality Lab at the Computer Science Department, University of Cyprus from where she received her PhD in Computer Graphics in 2010. She has received several awards and distinctions included Anita Borg Scholarship awarded by Google (2008). Her research interests are focus on Computer Graphics (rendering, computer games, interactive applications) and Virtual Reality (virtual worlds, immersive environments, haptic devices, kinects). She has been involved in several projects on these topics and published her work in refereed journals and conferences of these areas. She has served as a reviewer for scientific publications, and has been a member of program and organization committees of scientific conferences.
Nicos Synnos (Special Teaching Staff) - Nicos Synnos is a Special Teaching Staff in the Multimedia and Graphic Arts Department. He holds a Master’s in Visual Communication with concentration on Cartoon Imagery and Animation from BIAD, Birmingham City University (former UCE) and a BA(Hons) in Visual Communication – Graphic Design from the University of Wolverhampton and California State University in Long Beach. He worked in the film, television and internet industries in New York and London and formed “toonachunks” an experimental film and animation studio in Cyprus. As an Animator /Director he participated in several film festivals in Europe, U.S.A. and Canada. He is a member of the organizing body of two international film festivals in Cyprus (Nicosia Documentary Festival and Countryside Animation and Documentary Festival). Between 2001 and 2009 he taught graphic & advertising design subjects, photography and animation at Frederick Institute of Technology. His research interest focuses in experimental filmmaking and the creative process and results, from the use of primitive (camera less) and digital animation techniques, along with alternative projection technologies (holographic and stereoscopic).
Doros Polydorou (Visiting lecturer) - Doros is a multi-disciplinary hybrid, combining both art and technology skills which he believes are necessary in order to survive in the new media world. He studied Multimedia Design and Technology and was awarded a BSc from the University of Kent and an MSc in Computer Animation from the same university. Continuing, he moved to London where he started studying under Prof. Johannes Birringer, writer, choreographer and director of Digital Media in the School of Arts, Brunel University. He has completed his PhD in Digital Performance, where after four years lost in the chasm between the artists and the scientists has developed Emmeleia : A platform that can incorporate interactive real time 3d visuals in a stage performance or installation. It is a platform made for artists and is using a camera vision system, sensor technology and a game engine. During this time he did extensive work on Game Engines, Arduino boards, Processing, wireless sensors, Max/Msp and camera vision systems. He has worked on a Vicon Motion Capture system, has taken lessons on Scenography, has debated the value of Interactivity in live stage performances and has understood the importance of aesthetics. He has worked with theorists, dancers, with live music composers, sound engineers, costume designers, stage designers and an assemble of other visual artists. He has traveled for shows to Germany, Tokyo, Slovenia and Singapore, where he was also based and worked for the last 3 years. His research interests include Interactive 3d Graphics and their use in New Media, the role of the phenomenal body in digital media, cross-realm spatial embodiment and the stage scenography of the virtual.
7. Teaching facilities and resources
The department has its own labs for teaching Multimedia, Design, Animation, Graphics, Photography, Programming, and Web Applications Development. The department of Multimedia and Graphic Arts currently has eight labs (Language and Graphic Communication Lab, Art History and Theory Lab, Immersive and Creative Technologies Lab, Microsoft Computer Games and Entertainment Technologies Research Lab, Visual Sociology and Museum Studies Lab, Cyprus Interaction Lab, Networked Learning Technologies in Art and Design Lab, Semiotics and Visual Communication Lab) encompassing Macs equipped with state of the art software in multimedia design and animation. The department also has six teaching labs (Art and Design Lab, Graphic Arts Lab, Multimedia Lab, Interaction and Technology Lab, New Animation Lab, New Photography Lab).
8. Candidates selection process
Each year, the Department proclaims an announcement on its website at least two (2) months before the closing date for applications, related to the Graduate Program, whose launch is scheduled for the next academic year or semester.
The selection criteria are rigorous, mainly focusing on the students’ qualifications; an interview is regularly conducted to ascertain the competence of the students. The selection process is watertight.
Application Form Curriculum Vitae (CV).
Copies of university degrees or a statement of expected graduation in the month preceding enrolment in the postgraduate program.
Transcript/s as appropriate.
A short statement (maximum two pages) of the student's research goals and interests. Three signed letters of recommendation in sealed envelopes.
The criteria for the evaluation of the candidates are his/her academic and research background, the recommendation letters, and any additional qualifications he/she specifies in the application. Familiarity with the English language is strongly recommended.
The selection of candidates for M.Sc. is performed in two phases:
(b) The second phase (interview): candidates who have been selected from the first stage are invited to interview.
9. Requirements for obtaining the Master Degree
For successful completion of the Master program in Interactive Multimedia the candidate must complete 90 ECTS, including the master's dissertation which is equivalent to 30 ECTS. Finally, for successfully acquiring the degree, students must also successfully complete the Master's Dissertation.
The program is offered on a full or part-time basis and students must attend a minimum of three semesters and a maximum of six semesters. The Master's dissertation can be initiated only after the successful completion of the didactic portion of the program or after approval of the Department.
