GMU:Critical XR Lab

Lecturer: Jörg Brinkmann
Credits: 6 ECTS, 4 SWS
Date: Thursdays, 15:15 bis 18:30
Venue: Digital Bauhaus Lab
First Date: Thursday, 14.04.2022, 15:15

Description

Critical XR Lab is a beginner module that offers an Introduction to the Unity game engine. The course will be taught in the Digital Bauhaus Lab, where participants will be able to experiment with different virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies and concepts.

The course will be taught in two phases:
In phase one participants will be introduced to an overview of the Unity interface and different techniques (Lights, Skyboxes, Prefabs, Timeline, Animation) and technologies (VR headsets, 360 video, AR apps). The learning phase will be accompanied by lectures and discussions that are focused on finding strategies for dealing with the possibilities and challenges of working artistically with Game Engines and VR/AR technologies. At the end of phase one, students will have created an experience with Unity.

In phase two students are challenged to reflect, discuss, rethink and rework their Unity experience, based on individual research and experienced insights. The course emphasises on artistic and opposing ways of working with XR concepts. It’s aim is to establish individual approaches to VR/AR; challenging new mediums that offer artists new possibilities for expression and intercultural communication.

Recommended Requirements

No previous knowledge of Unity or other 3D software is needed, but applicants should have access to a laptop and headphones.

Criteria for passing

In order to successfully participate you will have to develop and document your own project on the GMU Wiki. Also, complete the exercises and comply with the submission deadlines

Communication throughout the semester

The GMU-Wiki
Here you can find all the info about our class and also present your work linked under your name
Please create your account under this link with your University email adress:
https://www.uni-weimar.de/kunst-und-gestaltung/wiki/Special:CreateAccount

Telegram
CriticalVR1 will be our collective chatroom
Please download Telegram and join for group discussions:
https://t.me/+G4cvKV2cHyfhy2z9

Student works (after login, please add your name and create a page)

• Lena Taßler
• Lukas Millius
• Nico Brockmann

Syllabus

VR TOOLBOX

Software

• Unity 3D - cross-platform game engine (proprietary)
• Blender - 3D modeller with many features (open source)
• Autodesk FBX Converter – convert OBJ, DAE, and 3DS files to or from multiple versions of the FBX format (proprietary)
• MeshLab - system for processing and editing 3D triangular meshes (open source)
• Meshroom - Photogrammetric Computer Vision framework for 3D Reconstruction and Camera Tracking (open source)
• MakeHuman tool for making 3D characters (open source)
• Meshmixer - "Swiss Army Knife" for 3D meshes (proprietary)
• Open Broadcaster Software - streaming and recording program (open source)

Online Tools

• Adobe Mixamo - Rapidly create, rig and animate unique characters
• NormalMap-Online - create a normalmaps directly inside your browser
• Sources/Sounds - where to get audio recordings
• Abstract/Technical/Synthetic Sounds (under Packs are several Free ones)

3D Models (for download and use)

• http://www.myminifactory.com
• http://www.sketchfab.com
• http://www.thingiverse.com
• http://www.turbosquid.com
• http://www.lincoln3dscans.co.uk
• https://3dmodelhaven.com

Unity 3D Tutorials

• Tutorials from the Unity 3D page
• Brackeys Unity 3D Tutorials

Unity 3D Assets

• Standard Assets
• Free HDR Skyboxes

Blender Tutorials

• Blender Beginner Series(new) by Blender Guru
• Interface and Navigation
• Modeling - Creating a kitchen (ignore part 2)
• Modeling - Modeling a simple character
• Materials - Basic properties of materials
• Texturing - Applying textures to an object
• Rigging - Rigging a character
• Animation - 12 Principles of Animation
• Animation - Animating a bouncing ball
• Different (aesthetically) interesting Tutorials for Blender (2.8)