- Department: Electronic Engineering
- Credit value: 20 credits
- Credit level: H
- Academic year of delivery: 2024-25
- See module specification for other years: 2023-24
This module introduces students to mobile app development, with a special focus on building interactive audio / music apps for iOS devices, and in their marketing and entrepreneurship.
Shared entirely between Y3 BEng / MEng Electronic Engineering with Music Technology Systems and MSc Audio & Music Technology
Occurrence | Teaching period |
---|---|
A | Semester 1 2024-25 |
Subject content aims:
To introduce students to the necessary technology and programming environments to write interactive audio processing based apps for iOS devices such as iPad and iPhone
To enable students to write, debug and test object-oriented software written with the Swift programming language, and to use external software frameworks such as AudioKit
To provide students with an awareness of the standards and requirements for submitting software to an international company
To explore the commercialisation of an interactive audio processing based App and produce a full business plan for it including market research
To explore and analyse the resources required, including finances, so as to exploit a potential market for this new App.
Graduate skills aims:
To develop an appreciation of user-interface design
To develop the skills to produce documentation to accompany software and to advertise the product on the world-wide web
To develop the ability to self-assess programming quality
To develop creativity and use of effective decision making and problem solving techniques
To develop skills in testing, critically evaluating and synthesising new information based on researched information and writing concise business portfolio appropriate for the target audience.
Subject content learning outcomes
After successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
Graduate skills learning outcomes
After successful completion of this module, students will be able to:
App development and coding:
The Apple development environment
Existing and previous audio apps
The XCode IDE
The Swift Programming language
Object-oriented programming
Model-View-Controller code design paradigm
AudioKit library for synthesis
Storyboard user-interface design
Swift-UI alternative code-based interface design
Audio File playback in AudioKit and Apple’s frameworks
User-interface design for apps (inc Apple’s HIG guidelines)
Audio effects processing using AudioKit
SpriteKit interactive graphical library
How AudioKit works - the iOS coding infrastructure
Preparing apps for the App Store
Alternative frameworks for games, augmented reality, location & motion, etc.
Introduction to Objective-C (for context and legacy coding).
App commercialization and market exploitation:
Basics of Entrepreneurship
Managing and Marketing Innovation
SimVenture Validate - Concept Testing tool
Business Portfolio including customer segmentation, value proposition and resources
Detailed Financial Analysis for a business concept
Market Testing and data analysis
Task | % of module mark |
---|---|
Essay/coursework | 25 |
Essay/coursework | 75 |
None
There are 2 main parts to the assessment:
App development and documentation (ADH) - worth 75% of the module mark
Students are tasked with creating a sound-processing/generation App that will work on an iPad. The app must be self-documenting (i.e., users should require no external instructions). We ask for a demonstration video of your App working, a text file (or PDF) of app information as if for the App Store, and a short report summarising your App’s design, features, and future development.
App Marketing Portfolio (BB) - worth 25% of the module mark
To explore the commercial aspects of your App, you will be using an online simulation tool called ‘SimVenture Validate’ which allows you to analyse and create a detailed business portfolio. Is there a market for your App? How will you generate revenue and make your App commercially successful? As part of your App Marketing Portfolio, you will be exploring some of these critical areas in business including market testing.
Task | % of module mark |
---|---|
Essay/coursework | 75 |
Essay/coursework | 25 |
'Feedback’ at a university level can be understood as any part of the learning process which is designed to guide your progress through your degree programme. We aim to help you reflect on your own learning and help you feel more clear about your progress through clarifying what is expected of you in both formative and summative assessments. A comprehensive guide to feedback and to forms of feedback is available in the Guide to Assessment Standards, Marking and Feedback.
The School of PET aims to provide some form of feedback on all formative and summative assessments that are carried out during the degree programme. In general, feedback on any written work/assignments undertaken will be sufficient so as to indicate the nature of the changes needed in order to improve the work. The School will endeavour to return all exam feedback within the timescale set out in the University's Policy on Assessment Feedback Turnaround Time. The School would normally expect to adhere to the times given, however, it is possible that exceptional circumstances may delay feedback. The School will endeavour to keep such delays to a minimum. Please note that any marks released are subject to ratification by the Board of Examiners and Senate. Meetings at the start/end of each term provide you with an opportunity to discuss and reflect with your supervisor on your overall performance to date.
Formative Feedback
Regular labs allow you to engage with the programming material and receive verbal help and feedback on your coding and design.
Weekly quizzes on the module Wiki page help you to gain feedback on your understanding of the key module material covered in the lectures.
Emails to the Module Coordinator with Questions / Comments will be answered as soon as possible.
Questions can also be submitted at any time via the Question Box on the module Wiki page.
A draft version of your assignment can be submitted to the module coordinator by the end of term, who will confirm whether this is all in the correct format, along with some general written feedback comments, and a series of recommendations for improvement.
Summative Feedback
You will receive a customised feedback sheet, showing the mark breakdown in each of the key areas being assessed (Programming Quality; Product Design; Report and Video quality) along with personalised feedback and suggestions for improvement. The comments not only explain how well you have met the learning objectives, but also give you feedback against industrial standards (i.e. the Apple App Store submission requirements) which should help with your future career.
As the technology is changing rapidly, along with the most relevant documentation, a web-site will be provided with links to the latest code documentation and 3rd party tutorials. |