Module: CCO5001-20 - Emerging Technologies

Level: 5

Credit Value: 20

Module Tutor: Ron Herrema

Module Tutor Contact Details: r.herrema@bathspa.ac.uk

1. Brief description and aims of module:

Emerging Technologies is a forum for revealing and novel devices and nascent concepts in the field of creative computing. It is a reactive module, designed to address both the most recent consumer gadgets and tomorrow’s technologies in contexts such as entertainment, education, health and wellbeing, art, defence, heritage and business.

The critical analysis component of the module positions emerging technologies within a wider context. It supports discussion and debate around the historical trajectories, market aims, and sociocultural consequences of specific computing innovations. The experimentation component takes the form of a practice-led investigation of several technologies that have entered the marketplace in recent years. Experiments test the creative possibilities of select consumer-grade devices, in addition to considering their usability and programmability.

2. Outline syllabus:

Topics for enquiry adjust year on year in response to commercial trends and technological innovation. General content is indicated below, however specific technologies are inserted into the syllabus as they enter the consumer market.

• What are emerging technologies?

• The Gartner Hype Cycle

• A framework for the critical analysis of emerging technologies

• Emerging technologies that improve health

• Emerging technologies that support creativity

• Emerging technologies that enhance social connectivity

• Emerging technologies that entertain

• Future studies: predicting the technologies of tomorrow

3. Teaching and learning activities:

Class Hours

A combination of discussion/debate forums (for critical analysis) and lab sessions (for experimentation). In-class work includes research tasks, breakout sessions for small group discussion, jigsaw activities, and quizzes. The experiments lab comprises technical demonstrations and short-form development challenges.

Independent Learning

Your independent study time is, in part, allocated to undertaking research around the historical underpinnings and existing applications of emerging technologies. This research may be tasked to individuals or small groups, with the intention that insights gained are presented to peers during seminar sessions.

Assessment Item 1:

• Assessment Type: Course Work

• Description: Emerging Technologies Journal (2,000 words).

• % Weighting: 40%

Assessment Item 2:

• Assessment Type: Course Work

• Description: Experiments Collection. An annotated portfolio of prototype work that exploits emerging technologies

• % Weighting: 60%