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Unit outline_

DECO3009: Designing for Virtual Reality

Semester 1, 2022 [Normal day] - Remote

This unit of study gives students the opportunity to design an interactive system using the emerging technology of virtual reality (VR). The unit focuses on the new kinds of interaction and compelling experiences that are made possible by VR rather than asset creation (modelling, animation, texturing, etc.) or game development. Specifically, students will be encouraged to push the boundaries on the ways people can interact in embodied interactive systems. The unit will introduce students to interaction design theory and principles for immersive environments, such as VR. Students will also learn how to create VR user experience prototypes using software tools, such as Autodesk 3ds Max and Unity.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Design Lab
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
DECO1008 and DECO2200
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Callum Parker, callum.parker@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Peer assessment critique
Test the work of a peer and write a critique
20% STUVAC Report maximum 5 pages
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5
Assignment VR design proposal
Document the design of a VR app.
35% Week 06 Maximum 15 pages excluding references.
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO4 LO5
Assignment VR experience prototype
Creation of a functional VR prototype, video, and technical documentation
45% Week 13 VR prototype, video, and documentation
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

Assessment summary

Brief descriptions of the assessment items here. Please see the design brief for more information.

VR design proposal

The focus of the proposal is on presenting a design for an innovative and compelling experience that’s unique to VR and satisfies the design brief. This could be in the form of a serious game, a data visualisation, an art installation, an interactive story, an educational experience, etc.

The design created in this assessment will need to be implemented in the next assessment.

VR experience prototype

From the knowledge gained through the tutorials and the previous assessment, the primary aim of this assessment is for students to design and develop a VR prototype app. Students will need to use Unity to create a prototype which can run on their own smartphone device (either iOS or Android).

Technical documentation and a demo video that demonstrates the VR experience should also be provided. The demo video should be shot as if you are using it to attract funding to continue the project — use it as an opportunity to explore what could be possible if your prototype were taken further than you were able to in this semester.

Peer assessment critique

The aim of this assignment is to demonstrate your understanding of design principles learned in class through the evaluation of a VR experience developed by your peers.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

Work of outstanding quality, demonstrating mastery of the learning outcomes
assessed. The work shows significant innovation, experimentation, critical
analysis, synthesis, insight, creativity, and/or exceptional skill.

Distinction

75 - 84

Work of excellent quality, demonstrating a sound grasp of the learning outcomes
assessed. The work shows innovation, experimentation, critical analysis,
synthesis, insight, creativity, and/or superior skill.

Credit

65 - 74

Work of good quality, demonstrating more than satisfactory achievement of the
learning outcomes assessed, or work of excellent quality for a majority of the
learning outcomes assessed.

Pass

50 - 64

Work demonstrating satisfactory achievement of the learning outcomes
assessed.

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Penalties for late submission of work and related policies are included in the Resolutions of the University of Sydney School of Architecture, Design and Planning, which are available at http://sydney.edu.au/handbooks/architecture/rules/faculty_resolutions.shtml. It is your responsibility to familiarise yourself with these policies. Applications for special consideration must be lodged online at http://sydney.edu.au/current_students/special_consideration/apply.shtml.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction to the unit and the assessment items Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Introduction activity Tutorial (2 hr) LO3
Week 02 Interaction design and best practices for virtual reality applications Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO4 LO5
Design activity Tutorial (2 hr) LO4
Week 03 Prototyping VR apps and user research methods Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO4 LO5
Create a low-fi VR app prototype Tutorial (2 hr) LO4
Week 04 Immersion and presence Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO5
Measuring immersion and presence Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO5
Week 05 Designing virtual worlds and storytelling Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO4 LO5
Storytelling and environment Tutorial (2 hr) LO4 LO5
Week 06 Prototyping high-fidelity VR apps Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO4
Introduction to Unity Tutorial (2 hr) LO3
Week 07 Novel interactions and sensors Lecture (1 hr) LO3 LO5
Importing assets and optimisation in Unity Tutorial (2 hr) LO3
Week 09 Focus topic 1 Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO5
Advanced Unity Tutorial (2 hr) LO3
Week 10 Focus topic 2 Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO5
Building and exporting VR apps & Animation and sounds Tutorial (2 hr) LO3
Week 11 Focus topic 3 Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO5
Unity focus activity Tutorial (2 hr) LO3
Week 12 Future directions of immersive technologies Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO5
Assessment help Tutorial (2 hr) LO3 LO5
Week 13 Unit recap and assessment advice Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Assessment help Tutorial (2 hr) LO3 LO5

Attendance and class requirements

Please refer to the Resolutions of the University School: http://sydney.edu.au/handbooks/architecture/rules/faculty_resolutions.shtml

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

See Canvas for more information.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. assess and critique the user experience of an immersive application
  • LO2. reflectively document and present process and designed solutions
  • LO3. develop and test immersive software applications and systems that are correct, robust and well-documented
  • LO4. conceptualise and prototype immersive experiences
  • LO5. identify appropriate design principles for designing immersive experiences

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Reducing complexity and ensuring more time spent on gaining deeper knowledge of VR design and development. This was something that came up in the feedback and from our own observations.

Additional costs

A recent iOS or Android smartphone that can run the Google Cardboard app: - iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/google-cardboard/id987962261 - Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.samples.apps.cardboarddemo&hl=en_AU&gl=US A smartphone virtual reality headset – such as a Google Cardboard. They can be purchased from retailers such as Officeworks and online through sites such as eBay. It is recommended you purchase a headset with a touchscreen button for interaction. The headset will be required in class from week 1.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.