Abstract
My technical report discusses the learning experience for CS 3205: Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) in Software Development and proposes a way that the course structure can be enhanced via the application and integration of mobile application development principles, specifically in regards to the course’s final project. The current course structure teaches the basic concepts of HCI with assignments along the way that build up towards the final project: a high-fidelity prototype of an improved-upon user interface that utilizes HCI in its design. The proposition explores expanding upon the final project to be a more tangible product, a working solution that better enforces the concepts learned throughout the semester and is more hands-on, giving students practical experience and providing a deeper understanding of the material in practical usage. My proposition is a gradual modification of the curriculum to introduce mobile application concepts in tandem with HCI concepts to prepare students for a larger-scale final product that brings the prototype to life with a functional application. In a steady ease into a newer curriculum, a pilot semester would serve as a basis to gauge the altered structure with emphasis on student and instructor feedback with subsequent semesters building upon prior until a seamless transition is achieved that feasibly integrates a mobile application-centered final project without creating large gaps in understanding or jumping too far into unfamiliar concepts, while still maintaining a fair pace to learn for students of varying technical backgrounds.
My STS research paper discusses the harmony between video games and music, highlighting the importance of a game’s soundtrack or theme music in strengthening the player’s experience and emotional involvement in gameplay. Music acts as an enhancer; it’s a dynamic element avidly affecting the player in decision making and retention, or aiding the ambiance of the virtual world. For more experienced players, possibly playing a game for the umpteenth time, they may rely on the learned musical cues to already know what move to perform next, what direction to turn, which NPC to interact with to progress with the game. To further explore this topic, I conducted investigative research, primarily analyzing secondary interviews with various composers of a variety of different games to obtain insights from the creators themselves. Additionally, I turned to discourse analysis of discussion posts from online forums to understand both player and developer points of view with authentic commentary of how music interplays with games from people with a genuine passion for the craft. Following my data collection, I found that there was a clear pattern amongst the composers explored, regardless of the type of game they were designing for: repetition handling. Naturally, soundtracks may have a cyclical nature to them, which, if heard over and over within the same gaming session, may become tiresome to hear. In aims to reduce that “listener fatigue”, creators implement certain techniques and make the game still engaging and fresh for the players, highlighting a natural musical flow. Another shared finding across composers is that during the design or ideation stage, they often find their inspiration from in-game material whether it’s character concept art, screen captures that set the environment of the game, or through synching auditory elements with in-game movements and actions. Overall, it’s clear that video game music production is an art; there’s purpose behind each note, each looping layer, each chord progression within the scores that is made possible by both a connection between the creator and player and a connection between visual and auditory decisions.
Across both report topics, there’s a fair overlap, primarily in regards to player, or user, engagement and overall importance of the human aspect. Whether designing an app or the score to a game, the minds behind the creative processes need to put the user at the head of their design in order to create a product that will best resonate with the user, making their interactions and involvement engaging for them. Both app and music creation focus on the user’s personal experiences in determining what features are going to make their product stand out the most, whether it’s the inclusion of a simple button or a subtle chord. They need to figure out how to best take into account the needs of their audiences to keep them engaged and give them a memorable experience.
