Introducing Game Development into the University Curriculum

Integrating computer games development into computer science curriculum is gaining acceptance. However, the question is how this should be done. In our course on computer game development we present all necessary steps that a game project has to address, from design to publication and marketing, from the theoretical to the practical point of view. The goal is that each student makes a casual game for Apple iOS platform and possibly publishes it. The games are built on our xni framework for iOS, which is a subset of Microsoft’s xna. We take an iterative incremental approach to teaching game development, where we discuss a number of selected topics from various categories, such as gameplay design, graphics and artificial intelligence, each week. Thereafter the students receive mandatory and non-mandatory assignments that force them to add functionality to their game and, thus, steadily progress towards their goal. At the end of the course more than 20 % of all projects were ready for the Apple App Store, which, together with student pools saying that the course was one of the best executed courses they attended, confirms the viability of the suggested scheme

Visual model of harmonic relationships of simultaneous tones in music based on psychoacoustic model of sound perception

It happens quite often that someone sits down in front of a piano or takes another instrument and tries to play for the first time, but eventually quits trying after first few unsuccessful attempts. Random presses of the piano keys can become pleasant music only with a very small probability. Easy melodies are manageable, but what chords can accompany the melody and when to play them, what is tonality, what is for example modulation? These are concepts that most students are taught during their education in music schools. How can we bring music theory closer to those, who have not attended a music school or have not received musical education? Can music be visualized to make it easier to understand? Can we, like we can see that red and orange are similar, visualize two chords in such a way that we can say that they are similar? In this thesis I will present a novel model of visual representation of harmony in music. The model is based on tone perception, aimed to enable easier analysis of music, easier understanding of harmonic structure of music and can consequently complement traditional musical education. To demonstrate and test the model we developed a prototype application and integrated the model into a digital piano keyboard

Visual model of harmonic relationships of simultaneous tones in music based on psychoacoustic model of sound perception

It happens quite often that someone sits down in front of a piano or takes another instrument and tries to play for the first time, but eventually quits trying after first few unsuccessful attempts. Random presses of the piano keys can become pleasant music only with a very small probability. Easy melodies are manageable, but what chords can accompany the melody and when to play them, what is tonality, what is for example modulation? These are concepts that most students are taught during their education in music schools. How can we bring music theory closer to those, who have not attended a music school or have not received musical education? Can music be visualized to make it easier to understand? Can we, like we can see that red and orange are similar, visualize two chords in such a way that we can say that they are similar? In this thesis I will present a novel model of visual representation of harmony in music. The model is based on tone perception, aimed to enable easier analysis of music, easier understanding of harmonic structure of music and can consequently complement traditional musical education. To demonstrate and test the model we developed a prototype application and integrated the model into a digital piano keyboard

Computer aided method for colour calibration and analysis of digital rock photographs

The methods used in geology to determine colour and colour coverage are expensive, time consuming, and/ or subjective. Estimates of colour coverage can only be approximate since they are based on rough comparison- based measuring etalons and subjective estimation, which is dependent upon the skill and experience of the person performing the estimation. We present a method which accelerates, simpli es, and objecti es these tasks using a computer application. It automatically calibrates the colours of a digital photo, and enables the user to read colour values and coverage, even after returning from eld work. Colour identi cation is based on the Munsell colour system. For the purposes of colour calibration we use the X-Rite ColorChecker Passport colour chart placed onto the photographed scene. Our computer application detects the ColorChecker colour chart, and nds a colour space transformation to calibrate the colour in the photo. The user can then use the application to read colours within selected points or regions of the photo. The results of the computerised colour calibration were compared to the reference values of the ColorChecker chart. The values slightly deviate from the exact values, but the deviation is around the limit of human capability for visual comparison. We have devised an experiment, which compares the precision of the computerised colour analysis and manual colour analysis performed on a variety of rock samples with the help of geology students using Munsell Rock-color Chart. The analysis showed that the precision of manual comparative identi cation on multi- coloured samples is somewhat problematic, since the choice of representative colours and observation points for a certain part of a sample are subjective. The computer based method has the edge in veri ability and repeatability of the analysis since the application the original photo to be saved with colour calibration, and tagging of colour- analysed points and regions

Izboljšan model za napoved S-N krivulj in njihovih raztrosov

In this article an improved neural network model is presented that allows us to predict the scattered S-N curves. The model is capable of predicting the S-N curve in its high-cycle and very-high-cycle fatigue domains by considering also the increased scatter of the fatigue-life data below the knee point of the S-N curve. The scatter of the fatigue-life data for an arbitrary amplitude-stress level is modelled with a two-parametric Weibull%s probability density function, the parameters of which are varied as a function of the amplitude-stress level. The parameters of the S-N curve trend and its scatter distribution are not fixed, but depend on the parameters of the production process via a serial-hybrid neural network. The article presents the theoretical background and the application in the case of real experimental fatigue data for 51CrV4 spring steel manufactured with two different manufacturing technologies and two different heat treatments

Educational possibilities of the project Colour visualization of music

We propose a system of colour visualization of music based on a system of colour signs, which are connected to musical tones. Tones, which are in harmonic relationships, are represented by related colours. First, we outline the foundations on which the system of colour signs is based – the mathematical model of harmony. We discuss several possibilities of visual representation of expressive elements of music – melody, composition, rhythm and harmony. These relationships enabled us to develop a computer program that employs these elements for visualization. The program mimics human perception in which the parts are determined by the perception of the whole. Furthermore, the program enables the development of tools that can enhance music understanding during listening or performing. Music performance can acquire a new quality with the use of interactive coloured musical instruments, which by using colours show the performer different possibilities for forming musical harmonies and thereby change the composing of music into a game and attractive colour-aural journey. Here we stumble upon a challenge for educational science and methodology: how to use such upcoming multimedia tools. These tools would bring the processes of learning and playing a game closer together since playing games is a child’s most natural form of functioning. Furthermore, in the area of artistic creation we can once again establish a balance between our logical and intuitive nature