INFO:

CVE:

The Panopticon project was partially funded by Continuing Vocational Education (CVE) to encourage activities that contribute to the updating of employment-related skills and knowledge to meet the needs of employers and employees.

The Panopticon project received funding through the 1998/99 round of applications which are particularly aimed at developing training in collaboration with professional bodies/institutions and meeting the lifetime learning needs of people at work.

The University CVE funds are managed by Joan Taylor, Training & External Developments, Centre for Innovation & External Developments, in the Department For Business Development.

The following is an extract from the original (and mildly over ambitious) CVE bid by the Interactive Media Group.

The Panopticon Project:

The Panopticon project aims to establish an online collaborative learning environment to assist employees of the 'New Media' industries (including; digital TV, Interactive Media developers, electronic publishing, etc) enrolled on short courses run by the Interactive Media Group in the School of Computing.

The project will deliver a number of OnLine Virtual Reality Environments and software tools that will allow students to create their own learning environments. These Virtual Environments will allow staff in the Interactive Media Group to deliver short courses, and students to develop practical design skills. This system differs from most OnLine learning environments in that it allows students to directly manipulate the multimedia and programming elements that are the subject of their course. The courses are aimed at highly skilled design practitioners.

The project will underpin the delivery of short courses and enable students to participate in a variety of ways: full time, week release, day release and/or fully online. The short courses will be validated as modules on the MSc in Interactive Media Design (temporary name) being developed by the Interactive Media Group within the School of Computing. The project will develop an online mechanism for the delivery of New Media knowledge, both theoretical and practical, and will offer access to:

an academic community;
a neutral ground and extended studio environment for developing project work;
a collaborative design environment;
tutoring and monitoring;
the critique of theory and practice;
online assessment;
an appropriate method of study considering the subject of the programme.

The spread of courses aims to take advantage of, and further develop, the body of 'Interactive New Media' knowledge generated through the BSc (Hons) MediaLab Arts Programme established in 1992. The MSc will provide members of the New Media community with the opportunity to enhance critical employment related skills, a vital requirement in a sector which is so volatile and dynamic.

Objectives of the project - anticipated outcomes:

The project will progress in parallel with the development of the MSc in Interactive Media Design.

Consultation period with key organisations to further clarify specific industrial needs. October - November -
Develop MSc modules/short courses by December 1998 in the areas of:
New Media Design: Web, CD authoring, new media publishing, digital TV etc
Integrated Digital Media: integrated programming, embedded systems, intelligent systems, artificial life, etc
Digital Environments: Virtual reality, digital media environments, etc.
Managing Digital Media: digital media production methods, etc
Psychology of Interaction: psychological and neurobiological theory and practice underlying interactive media design.
Contemporary 'Cyber' theory: exploring the impact of new technologies on cultural and social activities

Simultaneously identify and map out the elements suitable for delivery through the online mechanism.

Develop a Product Definition Plan and overall design of the system, which explores the overall strategy for linking elements of the above courses to the delivery mechanism. October-January
Develop technical engine for each component of the system. October-July oProduction and implementation of each element. December-July
Testing Phase 1: Explore the design of the system through close collaboration with key organiations to ensure the delivery mechanism is technically suitable. January-March

Testing Phase 2: Explore the design of the system through close collaboration with key organiations to ensure the content matches technically capabilities of the system. April-May

Production of working system for at least one VR environment. May-June

Evaluation of the system through close collaboration with key organisations. May-July

Production of tools to allow students to generate their own environments. July

Reasons for the project:

The Interactive Media Group has had a considerable number of enquiries to enroll on MSc/MPhil programmes. Some of these have come directly from companies wishing to develop staff skills. The Interactive Media Group wishes to take advantage of it's close links with the New media industry by facilitating these requests. It is clear that a number of 'Multimedia' MA's and MSc's have been started in other academic institutions with a lesser pedigree in the field.

The group's direct experience of the market based on its close relationship with a number of key organisations is that there is a considerable need to ensure staff are kept up to date.

The online delivery of the short courses is the most attractive component of the proposed programme. The majority of companies are London based and would be unable to spare staff for prolonged periods. The Interactive Media Group has already explored the mechanisms described here through projects such as:
Silicon Graphics sponsored distance learning experiment, and a number of academic institutions through the WIRE (Why ISDN Resources in Education)/MEDIASPACE PROJECT satellite/ISDN transmissions funded by the European Association of Distance Teaching Universities.

The Group is also actively involved in a Teaching Company Scheme (Programme No. 2239) with Insight (Management Training) to develop online educational/training material.

Although there is no 'professional body' overseeing the New Media industry, the Interactive Media Group is well connected with the New Media community, regionally, nationally and internationally, through its representation on the boards of professional association and its relationship through consortia and partnerships. These include:
directorship of SWIM (South West Interactive Media Assoc),DA2 (Digital Arts Development Agency);
Committee membership BCS EMPSG (Electronic and Multimedia Special Interest Group) and Member of Educational Forum, American Chamber of Commerce (UK) ;
board of judges at: EUROPRIX98 Multimedia Awards, Austria;
and contribution to BAFTA Interactive multimedia Awards panel;
organising international forums Interstices summer 1998 UK, and Invencao Thinking the Next Millennium, August 1999 (IITAU - CAiiA/STAR - ISEA - LEONARDO/ISAST );
as well as exhibiting at Milia, Cannes, and a variety of international conferences on New Media.

The project will also be used to enhance the online activities of PhD students enrolled on the CAiiA-STAR integrated research programme. This programme has already attracted PhD students from around the world. The majority are mid-career new media practitioners/educators wishing to take advantage of the online facilities offered by the programme, even though they are relatively technically primitive.

Project methodology;

The Project seeks to employ one full time Research Fellow to work as the Creative Production Manager. The project also seeks funds to buy out members of the Interactive Media Team for relevant sections of the production cycle.

The production methods employed by the Group have been developed through first hand experience of industrial commercial projects and collaborative research and production projects. They have been articulated through PhD research and the ongoing Teaching Company Scheme. There are two specific methods being employed:

a) the development of academic programmes/short courses; this is in line with course development methods and will ultimately involve the University validation procedure. The identification of course material and content suitable for delivery through online methods has been an ongoing theme through the development of the BSc (Hons) MediaLab Arts Programme and other research projects.

b) new media production methods. Exploratory and prototyping methods of systems design are well recognised and effective method of systems production where detailed system specification is difficult to define. Using a clearly defined production pathway, denoting optimal decision points for change greatly increases the effectiveness of the project's development. Mok's DADI (Definition, Architecture, Design, Implementation) process is generally recognised as a suitable method for creating a framework on which to plan the development of an interactive media product. Although there is no recognised Ôbest practice' critical pathway, the Interactive Media Group has identified a system which is based on EMG's production pathway and is increasingly being accepted as an appropriate model. It consists of the following phases: Concept. Research. Design Analysis and Interactive Treatment feedback through a prototyping R&D phase generating a general Design Document and an Interactive Script. Production Stage (incorporating; Programming, Audio, Video, Animation, Graphics, etc). Alpha Test. Beta Test. Release. In this case the Testing and Release will be performed online with the project collaborators. In initial phases of this project have already been demonstrated and templates constructed.

Departmental or faculty plans and targets for CVE work:

The project extends the online activities within the Interactive Media Group which is already offering online PhD study. TSL funding has previously been obtained for online support for the BSc (Hons) MediaLab Arts Programme. The School of Computing also supports the Groups online activities through the development of a commercial design and consultancy which is exploring the possibility of moving to the Tamar Science Park. A member of staff has been employed by the School with the specific aim of developing industrial liaisons with the new media industry so that commercial and research collaborations may be fostered. These vocational activities are fundamental elements of the Interactive Media Group's rationale. This is an extension of the Schools 'applied computing ethos'. Other CVE bids originating from the School of Computing also address vocational training issues.

The Faculty of Technology has a history of short courses being delivered as components of MSc Programmes. Its relationship with regional technical manufacturing and service industries is a core concern. Facilitating access to open learning systems for the wider business community is a key element of MSc development.

The project also extends the University's interests in developing Open Learning activities through projects such as RATIO and the satellite transmissions, etc.

CVE Development Plan themes are addressed by the Panopticon Project:

1: CPD. The short courses are targeted at highly skilled individuals working within a volatile and dynamic work environment.

2: SMEs. The majority of new media companies are SMEs, especially those located in the region. The Group's market research also indicates that several courses would be attractive to architecture practices wishing to engage in new media. Non conventional forms of access are essential to companies of this size, many of which are geographically dispersed.

3: Technology Transfer. The impact of New Media on organisations, whether those involved in the generation of content and delivery mechanisms or those wishing to incorporate it in their business, is having a significant effect on job security and the skills necessary for employment.

4: Flexible Learning. The systems proposed here provide a flexible and innovative approach to open learning. The mechanisms being proposed take the current focus on the synchronous and asynchronous delivery of web and satellite tuition to a new level of intimacy. The Virtual Reality environments envisioned here also provide a space and place where students can work collaboratively exploring practical problems as well as the more theoretical aspects currently delivered by web based systems.

5: Marketing. Support and enthusiasm for the project has been obtained from key regional players in the new media industry. By developing this innovative project the interactive Media Group will be accessing the main channels of communication to the region's new media workers.

6: Analysis and Evaluation. The project aims to work closely with the collaborating organisation. The analysis of the required skills and the evaluation of the project outcomes will seek to clarify the requirements of the new media industry. The project aims to overcome geographical factors limiting the University's delivery of training to the new media sector.

Project be management and quality control mechanisms:

A production team consisting of the production managers, designers and editors will be formulated in the initial phases of the project. This will coincide with the MSc programme management team.

Members of the collaborating organisations will play a part in the project team.

Regular meeting of the project team will be held.

The production of a PDP (Product Definition Plan) and other design documentation will allow close monitoring.

The project team will meet to evaluate the key milestones identified by the PDP.

The progress of the project will be made available online to all participants. Project progression can be monitored along with the various stages of the prototype development.

Companies identified as likely clients of the system will be invited to input to several open production/demonstration meetings.

Regular weekly and monthly reports, similar to those used by the Teaching Company Scheme, will be used to document the production cycle.