CS291A – Mixed and Augmented Reality

Assignment 4 :  Project Idea Writeup and Technology Exploration 

Due Date: Wed., Feb. 9

Change Log:
Thu., Jan. 27: original post, exact submission format still TBD  
Thu, Feb. 3: clarification for Part 2, deadline extension to Feb. 9

This two-part assignment will get you right into the middle of your quarter project work. 

Part 1: Project Idea Writeup

Everyone needs to submit a short (1-2 page) project proposal, but if you have already formed a group, you can all submit the same document. See also the general considerations for the quarter project! Please list the devices and APIs your planning to work with. Mention all group members and their specific interests in and planned contributions to the project. None of this is binding, but subject to refinement and iterations with the instructor hopefully being able to give helpful feedback.

Part 2: Technology Exploration

For this part, every group member individually needs to perform and document technology explorations towards their project idea. For example, you can experiment with different display, tracking, interaction, or dataset (for machine learning endeavors) options.The technology elements that you try out in this part of the assignment do not need to make it into your final project agenda - this part specifically gives you license to experiment with different options, but you have to document your experiments and exploratory implementation progress.

This does not yet constitute a Minimum Viable Product (MVP, that is the next step). Instead, this picks up where HW1 left off, takes your improved and broadened perspective into account, and lets you test various technologies and/or data for suitability for your project needs.

This part specifically involves hands-on installation and implementation effort and the insights from it should directly lead into your MVP.

Clarification (Thu, Feb. 3): Every student (regardless of size of group) needs to document at least two explorations in one or more areas (platform/SDK, display, tracking, interaction, dataset, or potential approaches to research-specific questions). These explorations manifest themselves in practical experiments and reflection. The following Sections are recommended for your documentation, but you can deviate from it, if you have good reasons. The important thing is the fit and value to your project:

• Type of exploration: describe your activity and its place in the space of Mixed and Augmented Reality. These could be a test installation/implementation of a basic technology, a comparison of two approaches, an evaluation or analysis of any kind, etc.
• Connection to your project: how/why does the exploration support your project, what decision does it inform?
• Related work: please list related work that you found that provides background or insight into your exploration
• Outcome of your exploration: demonstrate and document carefully with visual/multimedia materials
• Reflection: List at least one consequence/conclusion for the future path of your project planning
  

Submission

On Gauchospace, one PDF per Part. Submission deadline is 11:59.59pm on Wed., Feb. 9th.