creative technology
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new(s)
workshop(s)
project(s)
CA1
CA2
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CA4
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interactive visualization
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serious games
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course outline(s) -- nm1: web technology
In this part a more detailed discussion will be provided
of
topics,
learning goals,
materials used, and the
actual
structure of the course, as well as a sketch
of the
assignments given. Also
references to releveant
literature is provided, including
online resources.
At the end,
advice for students following the course
will be given, as well as
hints for the instructor(s).
course topic(s)
The NM1 course will cover a great variety of topics.
Although the main focus of the course is to bring
about the skills needed to effectively use the web
in later projects and applications, we will also deal
with the web as a societal phenomenon, as an
element of our daily life.
topic(s)
- web languages for markup, styling and interaction
- elementary web technology authoring tools
- client-side vs server side solutions
- basic scripting, styling and interaction design
- separating content, form, style, behavior and interaction
- elements of web 2.0 business model(s)
- analysis of (commercial) web-sites and portals
- privacy and security -- web applications as attack surfaces

Recently, issues of privacy, security and trust
gain increaing attention.
Also from a technical perspective, some knowledge
about
hacking the web is worthwhile
for understanding the potential and dangers
in deploying the web as a computing platform.
learning terget(s)
The NM1 course is meant to bring competence(s) and skill(s)
at varioys levels.
In addition, references will be made to literature
for further theoretical study.
Small projects will further give the experience
needed for using web technology in an effective manner.
NM1 target(s)
- skill(s) -- scripting, styling, configuration
- knowledge -- html, javascript, css, xml, php
- theory -- basic(s) of web 2.0
- experience(s) -- small scale multi-language web application development
- attitude -- understanding, craftmanship, discovery

Apart from practical skills, the course aims at
an intuitive understanding of the complexity of the web
as a platform for communication and services.
To prfit from the course, must have a sufficient degree of
curiosity and lust for discovery.
lesson material(s)
Although there are many good books available, the is
also a wealth of material online, which should suffice
for a first introductory course.
web technology -- content, form, style, dynamics

In the course, we will take an
example-based approach
to learning, that is by showing a selection of examples
that demonstrate essential features of web-technology.
A dissection, or discussion of these examples will help the
students in understanding the most salient features.
course structure -- session(s)
Although the course is essentially
project-based,
and to a great extent relies on the students' activity
in completing the assignments,
there will be a number of lectures, to assist the student
in the assignments, and in understanding both the technical
and societal context of web applications.
course structure
- introduction of language(s), tool(s) & technology
- scripting -- basic assignment(s)
- web standard(s) -- client-side
- styling -- basic assignment(s)
- web standard(s) -- server-side
- interaction -- basic assignemnt(s)
- advanced topic(s) -- ajax, dhtml, plugin(s), addon(s)
- presentation of final assignment(s)

The structure presented here is only indicative,
and may differs from the actual sequence of topics
treated in the lectures.
In particular topics such as privacy and security,
and societal issues, will be dealt with as items
in the lecture, also dependent on actual news items
and developments.
assignment(s)
There will a small number of assignemts, to be made by
the students individually.
The goal of these assignments is to provide a structure
that assists the students in exploring the technology.
Basic assignemnts (may) include:
basic(s) -- web technology
- style -- adapt three basic example(s) in style and functionality
- form -- construct a simple calculator or converter in a domain of choice
- chaos -- create the worst, that is visually confusing, web page possible, in an aesthetic way though
- portal -- make a small information site about some topic of choice
- mimic -- evaluate and mimic, e.g. from best of the web

For the final assignment(s) of the course, students are
allowed to work indidually, or in groups of two or three
(maximally) students.
Work done in groups must be proportionally more challenging
and complex.
Students can make a choice out of (among possibly others):
final(s) -- web technology

In effect, students will be encouraged to follow their
own ideas, in for example implementing a game using
web technology, or a deep exploration in style,
corresponding with (parallel) course(s) in design.
reference(s)
There are many books dealing in one way or another with
web technology.
- JavaScript: The Definitive Guide by David Flanagan -- (amazon)
- CSS: The Definitive Guide
by Eric Meyer -- (amazon)
- Professional Web 2.0 Programming (Wrox Professional Guides)
by Eric van der Vlist, Danny Ayers, Erik Bruchez, Joe Fawcett, Alessandro Vernet -- (amazon)
- business model(s) -- www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/oreilly/tim/news/2005/09/30/what-is-web-20.html
- Webbots, Spiders, and Screen Scrapers: A Guide to Developing Internet Agents with PHP/CURL by Michael Schrenk -- amazon)
- The Web Application Hacker's Handbook: Discovering and Exploiting Security Flaws, by Dafydd Stuttard amd Marcus Pinto --
amazon)
- A. Eliëns, topical media & game development -- media.eliens.net

A wealth of material and references can be found at my
topical media & game development site, including
tutorials and examples.
online resource(s)
There is a great, tha is massive, number of online resources,
about web technology, including treatments about technology,
solutions to HCI issues, style and semantics.

For your basic as well as final assignment(s), the following resources might be useful:
example(s)

For the final assignment, look for example at the following health site(s)
health

For additional information look at
create/resource-web.html.
[]
readme
new(s)
workshop(s)
project(s)
CA1
CA2
CA3
CA4
CA5
course(s)
interactive visualization
/
serious games
resource(s)
_
/
.
(C) Æliens
09/09/09
creativetechnology.eu