DAI227 Rethinking Digital Visual Media

Spring 2008 Term Paper Topic Guide

TERM PAPER TOPIC
Each student must turn in a provisional term paper topic on March 5th. Use this guide
as a starting point to develop your term paper topic but note that the rough ideas listed at
the end of this document do not constitute a term paper topic. Also, I am open to topics
that are not on this list. At any point in your process, if you have questions – contact me
immediately so we can discuss your ideas. The sooner you start this process, the more
time you have to work on your paper and ultimately, the better the end result can be.

Your provisional term paper topic must be typed or computer printed; handwritten entries
will not be accepted. Email submissions will not be accepted. In addition to turning in a
single hardcopy of the paper topic, you need to turn in this document via the iLearn
system by 3/5 at midnight. The provisional term paper topic must fit on a single page
and must include the following elements:

• Your Name & Email address

• Provisional Paper Title
• Paper Abstract (1 paragraph summary of your paper topic)
• At least 3 specific non-web sources that you intend to reference.
• At least 1 specific web-based source that you intend to reference
- note: make sure that your specific sources are cited using MLA style.

TOPIC APPROVAL & CHANGES

• I will return all topic proposals with an indication of whether your topic has been
approved or not. If your topic has not been approved, you will need to re-submit a
revised or completely new topic. The resubmission process itself can take time,
so it is my suggestion to get this correctly the first time because it can ultimately
eat into the time that you have to research and write the paper in the first place.
• You cannot change your paper topic without approval.
• Absolutely No changes to your paper topic will be approved after spring break.
• I reserve the right to assign a grade of D or worse to any paper whose topic has
not been approved or which has changed without approval.

NOTES ON THE TERM PAPER

• Your term paper will consist of a concisely argued, well-researched essay of 8-10
pages not including end notes, references, illustrations or bibliography. Papers must be
typed or computer printed, double-spaced, 12-point font with numbered pages. (this
means the word count of your paper will be within the range of 2500 – 3500 words not
including citations, references, end notes or bibliography)

• Papers will be graded on composition as well as content, with higher marks given for
clear organization, good critical thinking, strong evidence, thorough research, decisive
conclusions, and engaging style. Additionally, your term paper is expected to evidence
use of traditional as well as web research resources.

• Students are encouraged to discuss topics, outlines and drafts of their papers with the
instructor during office hours or after lectures before turning in your final paper.
• You must turn in 1 printed hardcopy of your paper - Handwritten papers or email
submissions will be not be accepted.

• In addition to turning in 1 printed hardcopy of your paper, you must also turn in an
electronic version of your final paper through the Ilearn system. If you visit the 227 web
page through Ilearn, you will find the term-paper assignment available to you as of
today. Ilearn will allow you to upload a word document, or cut and paste your paper into
its interface. YOU are responsible for making sure that you turn in an electronic version
of your paper through the Ilearn system – again, email submissions will not be accepted.

• In order for your paper to be turned in on time you must turn in 1 printed hardcopiy on
April 23rd – and by April 23rd at midnight, you must have turned in an electronic version of
your paper via the Ilearn system.

• Do not use a binder. A single staple in the upper right corner will suffice.

• Do not use a title page. Refer to the MLA Handbook for guidelines on how and where
to place your name, course name, instructor name, date and paper title.

• Use MLA Citation Style for all referencing. If you are going to use a different system,
check with me. If you do not know what MLA Style is, you should take a look at the MLA
resources linked from the class web site.

Due Date
Papers are due on April 23rd.

Late Papers
Late papers will automatically receive a grade of D or worse, depending on the content
of the paper.

Regarding Plagiarism
Plagiarism is a form of cheating or fraud; it occurs when a student misrepresents the
work of another as his or her own. Plagiarism may consist of using the ideas, sentences,
paragraphs, or the whole text of another without appropriate acknowledgment, but it also
includes employing or allowing another person to write or substantially alter work that a
student then submits as his or her own. Any assignment found to be plagiarized will be
given an "F" grade. All instances of plagiarism will be reported to the Dean of the
College, and may be reported to the University Judicial Affairs Officer for further action.

DMCA Wearable Computing Total Information Awareness

Computer Vision Computers in Performance Hypertext

Augmented Reality Piracy Multimedia

Video Game Design Simulation Virtual Reality

Hackers & Crackers Social Engineering BBS

Ubiquitous Computing Modding & Machinima Napster / Kazaa / Limewire

MP3, Ogg Vorbis Portable Audio Devices Flash Mobs

Online Gaming Mobile Computing IGDA / DIGRA

Emulation, Game ROMS MUDS, MOO & MMORPG Messaging Technologies

Motion Capture GPS Voice Recognition

Hypertext Dynabook Semantic Web

ENIAC Link Flight Simulator The Panopticon

Organic Computing “Drive by Wire” New Display Technologies

Remote / tele-operations web enabled vehicles RFID

Wireless Power Distribution Carnivore DARPA

EFF Creative Commons GNU (GNU’s Not Unix)Free

Software Foundation Copyleft Open Source Movement

Teledildonics Game Designers CAVE

Blogging Blast Theory Virtual Identity

Majestic SIMS Ultima, Ultima Online

Spyware / Adware Computer Hijacking Digital Watermarks

Home Console Gaming Arcade / Coin-Op Games VRML

Embedded Computing Photonic Computing Cryptography

Wayback Machine USENET ARPANET

ACM / Siggraph Linux / Unix Xerox PARC

Turing Test, Eliza Hypercard Computer Viruses

Verisign Y2K Problem Digital Typography

VOIP Home Automation PDA’s

Celphones Squaresoft Nintendo

Playstation Xbox TIVO

Homebrew Games Satellite Imaging Privacy

Violence / Sex in Games Atari ARS Electronica

MIT Media Lab Bar Codes Surveillance

Rhizome PGP Telepresence

Online Radio Media Ecology Immersion

RIAA V-Chip New Media

The Global Village Digital Film-making 3D Animation

Real-Time 3D FPS game genre Data Mining

Women in Technology Military-Industrial Complex America’s Army” (the game)

Sensorama Web TV E.A.T.

Bell Labs Ipod / Mp3 / mp3 player OZ Project

Xanadu Project SGML / HTML / XML Navigation

The Internet W3C AOL / Compuserve

Webcams / Jennicam Early Web Browsers Memex

Myst Pixar Sketchpad

Spacewar PONG Superpaint

Raytracing / Radiosity Forensic Animation Virtual Worlds

Avatars, Agency Computer Simulation Data Visualization

game development SMS Bell Labs

cyborg manifesto proce55ing design by numbers

screen typography web2.0 / AJAX mozilla project

Physical Computing Alternative Input Devices Force Feedback

Haptic Feedback Jacquard Loom Turing Machines

Difference Engine Scanners Digital Photography

Media Archeology ARPANET Light Pen / Light Gun

Computer Mouse Touch Screen Visible Language Workshop

Renderman translation Cybernetics

Cyberspace nonlinearity future of book