COM643 Future Technologies

Learning Outcomes

1. Assess emergent computing and engineering technologies at various stages of research, development and deployment.

2. Identify, critically analyze and debate current and future issues in computing and engineering.

3. Synthesize conflicting opinions regarding emergent and future technologies and their wider social, ethical, legal, political, economic, environmental and demographic drivers and impact.

4. Discuss and make informed predictions regarding the directions taken by various aspects of computer technologies and their application and impact in the short, medium and long-term future.

These Learning Outcomes are mapped to the Assessment Criteria in the rubric below. By achieving a pass mark against the Assessment Criteria, you will be demonstrating these Learning Outcomes.

Introduction

The aim of this assignment is to further your knowledge and awareness of current and future trends with respect to games, media applications and the related technology & industry.

Over the last decade, various development kits and technical innovations in hardware, software and digital content distribution have driven trends in consumer purchasing, developer strategy and general innovation across the industry. Consequently, such changes affect everything from the way that games and applications are designed and consumed, to the hardware and technology they operate on.

Your Task

Working in small groups or individually, you will be required to create an entertaining and informative video presentation that explores emerging technologies. This can be specifically related to game development and production, or it can take the form of any other generic  cutting-edge technology. Each video should have an appropriate scope for the number of members in the team and should focus around a single topic. It is required that all students wishing to explore the same topic area should be working in the same group!

This can include a brief overview and/or history of your topic, but the video needs to emphasise the future and how existing concepts will develop and potentially influence culture and society. You will need to synthesise your content from a variety of sources and opinions and where relevant include speculations based on current thoughts and facts.

Your Task

This video should take the form of something you might expect to see on social media and include:

• Around 10-minute run time for the video per person (minimum 15 minutes, ideally 25- 30 minutes per group)

• Sections of video that show each person of the group.

• Sections of audio from each person of the group.

• Clear, balanced discussions that include obvious advantages, potential disadvantages and dangers of emerging technologies.

• Consider technical, social, environmental, ethical and legal aspects of your chosen topic!

• References to any third-party media (sound, graphics etc). This Assignment will make up 40% of the overall mark for this module.