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course outline(s) -- nm3: web 2.0 mashups

outline(s) / schedule(s)


content(s)

In this part a more detailed discussion will be provided of topics, learning goals, materials used, and the actual structure of the course, as well as a sketch of the assignments given. Also references to releveant literature is provided, including online resources. At the end, advice for students following the course will be given, as well as hints for the instructor(s).
NM3

course topic(s)
Although the notion of mashup(s) suggests a quick configuration of services, there are many issues that must be taken into account when creating serious mashup(s).

topic(s)


Each of the topics mentioned might require a course on its own. However the goal of the web 2.0 mashup(s) course, is explicitly to let students gain experience in creating mashups, and not to be intimately familiar with the underlying theory and technical issues.
NM3

learning terget(s)
Basic skills involve the use of technology, involving both programming issues, as well as service APIs.

NM3 target(s)


However, not only technical issues are important, but also issues of design and creativty in developing novel (combinations) of services, together with an appealing interface.
NM3

lesson material(s)
Most of the material(s) that are currently available are related to the flex/as3 technologies that we used for our ximpel interactive video platform.

web 2.0 mashup(s) -- inspiration(s)


Apart from the technical material, we also wish to refer to a number of inspirational application(s), which are developed usinga variety of technologies.

inspiration(s) -- (serious) mashups


These inspirations can be taken by the students as a starting point for developing the mashups, prereably in a game context, using their technology of choice.
NM3

course structure


The course does require active participation of the student(s), not only in exploring the technolgy by making the assignments, but also by presenting solutions and problems in class.

session(s)


  1. introduction of mashup technologies
  2. basic assignment(s) -- map(s), flow(s) & diagram(s)
  3. server technologies -- the (W)AMP stack
  4. technical issues -- services & protocols
  5. student presentation of concept final assignment(s)
  6. services -- flickr, amazon, google, etc.
  7. interaction -- model(s) of immersion
  8. presentation of final assignment(s)
The course will take a technology-agnostic approach, favoring concept(s) over implementation(s) or language(s). Neverteheless, most of the examples presented are based on flex/as3.
NM3

assignment(s)


There will a small number of assignemts, to be made by the students individually. The goal of these assignments is to provide a structure that assists the students in exploring the technology. Basic assignemnts (may) include:

basic(s) -- web 2.0 mashup(s)


  1. flow(s) -- presenting time-ordered data
  2. map(s) -- presenting geo-tagged information
  3. diagram(s) -- presenting abstract structure(s)
For the final assignment(s) of the course, students are allowed to work indidually, or in groups of two or three (maximally) students. Work done in groups must be proportionally more challenging and complex. Students can make a choice out of (among possibly others):

final(s) -- web 2.0 mashup(s)


In effect, students will be encouraged to follow their own ideas, in for example implementing a game using visualization technology, giving information and (game-play) feedback in visually compelling ways.
NM3

reference(s)
There are a number of references on mashups for particular APIs, of which a selection is given here. In addition, the student may need more detailed knowledge of how data manupulation and components are dealt with in flex/as3.

reference(s)


  1. Flickr Mashups, by David A. Wilkinson, Wrox -- info)
  2. Amazon.com Mashups, byFrancis Shanahan -- info
  3. del.icio.us Mashups, by Brett O'Connor -- (info)
  4. Web APIs with PHP, by Paul Reinheimer, Wrox -- (info)
  5. Professional Adobe Flex 2 (Programmer to Programmer) by Rich Tretola, Simon Barber, and Renaun Erickson -- (amazon)
  6. Visualizing the Semantic Web: XML-based Internet and Information Visualization by Vladimir Geroimenko -- (amazon)
  7. A. Eliëns, topical media & game development -- media.eliens.net
A wealth of material and references can be found at my topical media & game development site, including tutorials and examples.

online resource(s)
A wealth of technologies is available. Of particular interest, apart from the ready-to-apply (W)AMP stacks, are tutorials on how to use XML in e4x scripting extensions, and the mashup servers of wso2. A new contendet, at the time of writing, on the RIA market is JavaFX, which, covering a wide variety of platforms, including mobile devices, is, given the wide-spread adoption of java, certainly of interest.

resource(s) / NM3


Web service APIs are available in many language environments, including flex/as3, developed by adobe labs.
[] readme new(s) workshop(s) project(s) CA1 CA2 CA3 CA4 CA5 course(s) interactive visualization / serious games resource(s) _ / .

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