Mobile Me(dia)
Shawn Van Every Shawn.Van.Every@nyu.edu
Spring 2010
Thursdays 3:30 to 6:00
H79.2690.1
Important Resources:
Syllabus (this page): http://itp.nyu.edu/~sve204/mobilemedia_spring10/
Wiki: https://itp.nyu.edu/~sve204/cgi-bin/pwiki/wiki.pl?Mobile_Media_Class_Wiki
Listserv: http://lists.nyu.edu/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=itp-mobile-media
Description
Mobile devices (phones) have become devices for both the production and consumption of rich media--augmenting their original purpose as one-to-one communication devices. In this course we will explore the technology that enables the consumption and production of media on these devices with an eye towards how that media can be used in conjunction with the devices' original social and communicative purposes. In short, this course will examine social and participatory aspects of mobile media consumption and generation. Students will create projects that utilize the available technology to explore new forms of social media creation and consumption.
In this course will cover Multimedia Messaging, the mobile web, mobile photography, mobile video, live streaming, geocoding and more. We will utilize PHP and HTML (web side) and Android (device side). ICM is a prerequisite.
Administrative:
Office Hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday from 4PM to 5PM
Signup: https://www.itp.nyu.edu/~sve204/cgi-bin/pwiki/wiki.pl?OfficeHours
Grading:
25% Assignments
25% Class Participation/Attendance
20% Final Project
15% Midterm
15% Presentation
Assignments and Blog:
We will have weekly assignments that are relevant to the previous weeks material. Assignments must be documented (descriptions, photos, screen shots, code, thoughts, and so on) on your blog (see below). They are required and turning in an assignment late will adversely affect your grade.
It is expected that everyone in the class will create and maintain a blog for their assignments as well as other related material. You are welcome to reuse an existing blog but please make it clear which entries are for this course (perhaps with a category). If you don't have a domain or feel comfortable installing your own blog software, feel free to utilize the blogging software that ITP has setup here: http://itp.nyu.edu/blogs/.
Be sure to enter your name, preferred email address and the URL to your blog (you can always edit this later) on the class wiki
Listserv:
This class is very participatory in nature and discussions will certainly take place outside of the classroom. The primary vehicle for these discussions (as well as administrative issues) will be the listserv. You are required to signup.
Presentations:
Each week (starting the 3rd week of class) we will have student presentations. I will randomly divide up the class and schedule the presentation dates. The topic of the presentations should be a new or somewhat new mobile media technology (hardware, software or service) that relates to the previous topics in the class. The presentations should cover what the technology/service is, what is novel about it, how are people using it and so on.
Final Projects
Class will culminate with final group projects. Being that this is a group project, it will be difficult to work on a thesis project as the final project for this class. Combinations with other classes that you are taking (aside from thesis) are encouraged.
Class Participation
This class will be highly participatory, you are expected to contribute to discussions and give feedback to other students. This (along with attendance) is 25% of your overall grade.
Attendance:
Mandatory, unexcused absences will affect your final grade. If you are going to be absent, please let me know ahead of time if you can.
Tardiness:
Excessive lateness will affect your grade. Don't be late.
Laptops:
Laptop use is prohibited while other students are presenting or during discussion. While I am lecturing you may use them for note taking or class related work. In other words, respect your fellow students and don't check your email.
Reading:
There will be assigned periodic readings. Generally they will be online though occasionally I may hand out a hard copy. These readings are required and are very valuable in class discussions.
Websites:
There are quite a few blogs and other websites that track the wireless industry. These along with what we collectively find (use the del.icio.us tag mobilemedia) are good starting points:
SmartMobs
MobileCrunch
textually.org
Weekly Rundown:
Week 1
Introductions: Discussion, Syllabus, Examples, Phones, Carriers, SMS
Notes
Homework:
Do Reading: Chapter 7 of The Mobile Revolution: The Making of Mobile Services Worldwide by Dan Steinbock
Find SMS based interactions or campaigns that you think are interesting. Add them to the wiki for class discussion.
Describe an SMS based application that would be helpful to have at ITP
Make sure you enter your name, email and blog on the class wiki
Week 2
PHP/MySQL, SMS and (maybe) MMS Parsing
Notes
Homework:
Create an SMS or MMS based project for a particular purpose (perhaps working off your ideas for how SMS might be used to benefit the ITP community). Open it up for others to use, pay attention to what works and what doesn't.
Document your work on your blog
Week 3
Mobile Web
Notes
Homework:
Extend your project from last week (starting anew is fine as well) to integrate MMS/Email media submissions.
Week 4
Catch Up!
See Week 3 Notes
Homework:
Come up with a midterm project idea, talk with potential collaborators. Document and describe the idea on your blog and prepare to discuss it in class next week. Your documentation/description should include what the idea is, why you want to do it and a diagram of how it will work (wireframes, napkin drawings, etc..).
Week 5
Leveraging Existing Services
Notes
Midterm Discussion
Homework:
Midterms Due Next Week
Week 6
Midterm Presentations
Homework:
Document your midterm and put a link on the Midterm Presentation Wiki page
Download the Android SDK and Eclipse
Week 7
CLASS RESCHEDULED - TUESDAY MARCH 2 IN ROOM 447 AT 9:30 AM
Application Development: Android
Notes
Using PhoneGap, create a phone based "web" application that integrates with an earlier project (photo upload, MMS sending or something else).
Week 8
Application Development: Android
Notes
Week 9
Application Development: Android
Android SMS Notes
Android Still Camera Notes
Send SMS with Intent Example
Fun with SMS Example
Intent Tester Example
Picture with Intent Example
Full Snapshot Example
Homework: Build something of your choosing that incorporates SMS or picture taking capabilities.
Week 10
Application Development: Android
Final Project Discussion
Android Web View Notes
WebIntent.zip
WebviewExample.zip
WebviewLocal.zip
Homework: Come up with final project ideas. Be prepared to discuss in class. What is the idea and why do you want to do it? Prepare a short page or post.
Week 11
Application Development: Android
Final Project Ideas
Media Player Intent Example
Video Capture Intent Example
Camcorder Example
Homework: Create final project plan and get a start. Draw diagrams, do wireframes, start development.
Week 12
Final Project Work in Progress, Additional Topics
GetTweets Example
Procedural Layout Example
Http Client Example
Week 13
Workshop, Additional Topics
All Mixed Up - Example showing how to mix normal layout code with procedural layout code
Activity To Activity - Example showing passing data from one Activity to another
Camera Plus Meta - Example showing sending data from one activity to another building off of the snapshot example
Homework: Sign up for final presentation slot on Wiki
Week 14
Final Project Presentations
Expect Guests