Vistamix.com and Bitsyclass.org
These are web sites that I created for my Graduate and PhD research. Both are resource sites for instructors who want to teach design based modules as part of a larger curriculum. Vistamix is focused on teaching stop motion animation. Bitsyclass is focused on teaching a game design curriculum based on a simple game development environment. I’ve taught both of these workshops several times through NCSU’s College of Design Design Lab.
PackTV, Wolfbytes Radio and NC State TV
PackTV began as cable-only student run 24 hour TV channel focused on NC State University Sports, particularly varsity and intramural sports that received less coverage. I installed equipment and set up the backend to manage deliver content. I also created training materials for our student employees. PackTV expanded to a Vimeo channel, live stream, Roku and Apple TV apps. We also started NC State TV which features all NC State University content, again available on cable, online and via Roku/AppleTV apps. Finally, I implemented Wolfbytes Radio, which is a 24 hour student run radio station that began as internet only, but has recently expanded to being on-the-air as a WKNC digital radio channel.
journal.ncsu.edu
University funded project to run a small scale implementation of Livejournal. We examined how community based writing tools can enhance a learning experience. It is important to understand that unlike blogs, which are largely parallel endeavors, Livejournal users can create their own internal network of friends. It a good tool to facillate online writing critique and community projects. I was not interested in creating “just another blogging service”, but instead focusing on a tool that may enhance the ability for students to communicate with each other.
iTunes U and Wolfcast
Through a collaboration with Everette Allen and myself, ITD launched a podcasting service for campus called WolfCast. With it’s modest success, I wrote NCSU’s proposal for Apple’s iTunes U project. I was notified that NCSU has been accepted into the program. After several years of success, the project has been retired due to Apple’s change in direction with iTunesU.
Flyspace
Flyspace was a University funded project to build small scale collaborative spaces. I wrote the proposal, and am listed as PI, but this was a collaborative effort of the Talley Student Center, Dickran Parunak (A/V consultant), Sarah Noell (Project Manager) and others. I wanted to work on inexpensive space designs after reading about how small dot.com companies dealt with space issues (they gave up offices and had small meeting rooms instead) and from observing the “studio space” that is a common feature in the Design School. In addition, we developed a room control system that was web browser based, so it could be operated by anyone, including those who were vision or mobility challenged. The room design itself featured wide egress for wheelchair access. It is not a technology showcase, instead an attempt to put a lot of simple tools and the ability to schedule space into the hands of students while being inexpensive.
BioMovies
On the BioMovies project, I was co-author on a 5 year USDA grant in collaboration with Dr. Betty Black, Dr. Hal Heatwole and Dr. Maryanne Feaver. My role was a bit of everything; videographer, digital compressionist, interactivity consultant, graphic designer, programmer, learning theory consultant. I solved many of the technical problems, suggested the modular approach to creating courseware content (now known as “learning objects”) with the idea that K-12 instructors would be able to use all the content we created for free, mixing and matching high quality video and interactive movies. We chose to create much of the interactive content using QuickTime, because at the time it offered high quality video playback and interactivity with a freely available player for both the Windows and Mac platform.
PDA Projects
I had worked on several PDA and mobile technology projects, including a PDA based “instant quizzing” project and a University funded project to use location based information delivery, using a short range wireless hub combined with mobile devices such as Palm Pilots.