The course is now finished - thank you for your efforts! Links to some completed assignments are available on the course home page.
Instructions for the assignment are now available.
The author organises an intensive course about SVG (1cu) in the spring 2008. The lectures will
be given during March 7th - March 13th. The course is open for both Finnish and English speaking
students.
(Note: This is the English equivalent of the
"SVG tiiviskurssi"
lectured in winter 2006.)
The deadline for registering for the course is March 3rd 2008 (Monday). Please register by
sending
email to ossi.nykanen@tut.fi with the
Subject field [svg08] Registration. Welcome!
Abstract: Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) is an XML-based technology recommended by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). SVG enables implementing impressive and easily processed computer graphics. With SVG, it is possible to implement, e.g., diagrams and technical drawings, demonstrations, presentations, maps, games, comics, advertisement or entire user interfaces. SVG offers vector, text, and bitmap images, enhanced with effects typically found in image manipulation software such as masks and filters. It is also possible to declare animations and implement interactive applications. Mobile applications are developed with the respective SVG mobile profiles.
Objective of the course: The objective is to introduce the SVG technology and the related specifications. After taking the course, the student knows the basic features of the technology and can implement simple applications.
Requirements: The course is formally organised in terms of MATHM-47506 Workshop of varied topics in hypermedia (1 cu). The assessment is performed according to a simple pass mark "passed/failed (or to be further improved)" system. In order to earn the credit unit, the formal requirement is completing and returning the course assignment in time (via email). Note: this is the only way to pass the course; there is no exam etc.
Recommended preliminaries include MATHM-47150 Structured documents or equivalent. (In short, we more or less assume the basic concepts and techniques related to XML text formats. If you are looking for a crash course about XML, a nice XML Tutorial in English is provided by the W3Schools. Note: We don't really need the XMLHttpRequest, XML Server, nor most of the XML Javascript stuff in this particular course.)
Please note that only the dates have been fixed; the exact topics may vary/be moved when necessary.
Notice also that lectures are given in different rooms in different times in different days. Further, the location(s) may still change!
Useful reading:
Instructions for writing a small assignment will be given during the lectures. In order to earn credit unit for the course, the assignment must be returned no later than April 6th via email.
The formal requirement for passing the course is completing in timely fashion the assignment. As suspected, the assignment is about implementing a small SVG application. Each student should make and return assignment of his/her own, i.e., the assignment is not a group project. It might of course be useful to share thoughts and ideas in informal study groups.
There are three generic topics for the assignment (choose one):
The assignment may be implemented in either SVG 1.1 (Full) or with the SVG 1.1 Tiny mobile profile.
It is obviously wise to choose a topic that the student feels is interesting, instructional, useful, and fun. The assignments must of course be implemented in good taste.
The technical requirement is that the complete assignment must work either with the Adobe SVG Viewer plugin or with the Mozilla Firefox 2.0.0.12 browser or later. (If students prefer working with some other products, it should be reported in the returning email and the students must test the assignment with the above applications so that the assignment can be reviewed at least conceptually with the above applications.)
The assignment must be freely publishable without any licensing fee, restrictions for reuse, etc. In particular, assignments may be fully or partially published, uploaded for reused etc. from this website. (If a student wishes to remain anonymous, it is recommended that the application does not include author details etc. Authors wishing to retain credits should include an appropriate disclaimer to the source code.)
Commercial demonstrates a (potentially imaginary) product, service, etc. in a persuading manner. The formal minimal requirements for the commercial are now:
A useful commercial might demonstrate using the new improved version of an old product.
Diagram is an abstract representation of some real phenomenon. The formal minimal requirements for the diagram are now:
Game is an application that is mostly used for entertainment. The formal minimal requirements for the game are now:
A useful game might teach completing some useful task, or illustrate the consequences of different playing strategies.
The assignment is meant to be instructive in terms of an interesting and fun SVG example application. In particular, the formal requirements are rather minimal: Students are nevertheless encouraged to implement a complete (albeit small) application with the idea that they actively learn SVG along the road. (It is estimated that implementing the assignment should not take more than few days.)
Note: When ideas about the exact topic of the assignment mature, it is worth to consider the following questions:
In order to earn credit unit for the course, the student must return the assignment no later than April 6th via email. A complete assignment is returned with a single email to ossi.nykanen@tut.fi. The email must have the following structure (Cut and Paste and modify appropriately):
SUBJECT: [svg08] Returning the assignment CONTENTS: Student: John Doe (student identification number: 123456) a) Please find attached my assignment (including a copy of this email), as a zip package. b) A short description about the work: ... c) A trial version of the assignment is also available in the Web, in the following location (at least for a month from today): http://... d) W3C Markup Validation Service validates my SVG ok: [X] YES e) A brief description why the minimal requirements for the assignment are fulfilled: ... f) Other comments and feedback (voluntary): ...
Note: the following applications may not be available, or might not work properly with all SVG applications. The applications were briefly validated on April 7th, 2008. The organiser of the course takes no responsibility of the content.
The course includes lectures in English, based on the related technical specifications available in the Internet. It is not necessary to buy a book for this course. (The book Nykänen, O. 2007. SVG - skaalautuva vektorigrafiikka, Jyväskylä. Docendo Finland Oy, provides recommended reading in Finnish, though.)
The lecturer of the course is Ossi Nykänen:
In association with the W3C Finnish Office (see W3C Suomen toimisto).
