Descriptions of Special Topics for Fall 2003 - CSC 495

Research Projects in Intelligent Interactive Entertainment is a projects-oriented course intended to give upper division undergraduates in computer science and related disciplines exposure to a research projects environment. Students work in teams on an ongoing research effort (the mimesis project), applying leading-edge research results to a focused, engaging application in interactive entertainment technology.

The focus of the course is the creation of an intelligent interactive 3D virtual environment for entertainment and/or education. Students will conduct a range of project efforts depending on the backgrounds of the students and the needs of the project each semester. The course involves a combination of lecture and project work. The initial lectures will describe the software tools and environments that you'll need to use for this course. Subsequent work involves one-on-one meetings, group meetings and re search group discussions. Familiarity with game development and/or AI and Common Lisp programming is especially helpful, though not always required.

Enrollment is by consent of instructor only (email young@csc.ncsu.edu).

CSC495M - Graphics for Game Design - Dr. C. Healey

This class will provide an introduction to computer graphics, with a specific emphasis on the use of graphics techniques in computer gaming. The assignments will combine to form a recreation of a simple video game from the 1980s arcade era. All instruction will be in C/C++, with OpenGL being taught as the graphics API. Students are expected to have strong programming skills, a good understanding of C or C++, plus a thorough understanding of linear algebra and single-variable calculus.

Note: This course is restricted to students in the computer science honors program, or with permission from the instructor.

CSC495N - Information Systems Security - Dr. Ning

A theoretical study of security policies, models, and mechanisms for secrecy, integrity, and availability. Topics include basic cryptography and its applications; operating system models and mechanisms for mandatory and discretionary access controls; data models, concepts, and mechanisms for database security; security in computer networks and distributed systems; and control and prevention of viruses and other rogue programs.

CSC495R - Sensor Systems - Dr. Fornaro

One possibility for the next major paradigm of Computer science grows out of the concept of pervasive computing. Simply put, pervasive computing is computing that is small (barely visible), inexpensive (to the point of disposable) and ubiquitous (seemingly everywhere). Some pervasive architectures are built around ad hoc sensor networks that communicate via wireless, short-range radio. Several examples of such architectures are already on the market. One of these, Berkeley " Motes" (developed by the University of California at Berkeley), is the subject of this course. The software application of interest for this course will be to develop a new system for tracking endangered wildlife species (namely, elephants in Africa and red wolves in eastern North Carolina). The requirements of such a system will be developed in concert with personnel from the North Carolina Zoological Park (NC Zoo).

Topics to be covered include the hardware and software architecture of motes and the design and implementation of prototype elements of a new wildlife tracking system Programming required.

Prerequisite: CSC 246