Next-Generation Applications - Interactive curriculae of TU Ilmenau

Interest in technology driven applications. Willingness to discuss and present in English. Knowledge of programming is not required but offers by far additional opportunities for experiments. Literature (as far as required) to be announced at the first appointment. This course is primarily for master students of media and communication science and open for participants from other degree programs.

• New types of applications enabled by new technologies and influencing our daily life
• Experimental studies on the acceptance, usage, implications, ethical aspects, etc.
• Design and realization of new types of applications or application scenarios (including games)
• Presentation of research and results (oral and in writing)
• Group discussion and experiments

 Next-generation applications, often based on new technologies, provide new opportunities. While some possibilities are obvious and establish immediately, others only evolve after some time. However, in a networked global system such applications also often infer with ethical and privacy issues, often neglected in favor of new opportunities.

This specialization seminar typically focuses around a certain type or a new usage of applications enabled by recent technologies. Participants of the seminar try to develop a deep understanding of the technological aspects involved and investigate into an individual research topic related to them. This allows them to examine general trends and perspectives, types of usage, implications, ethical aspects involved, privacy issues, and user acceptance, but also to create their own (novel) application concepts and ideas. While research may be based or include typical methodologies used in communication science, students are supposed to conduct experiments using the applications and technologies researched and to create their own (mock-up) videos. Ideally, such research finally is accompanied by an application prototype (which may be just a mock-up or interface prototype and also may include games). The individual research topics, the related work, and the methods selected will be presented and discussed with other participants throughout the seminar. The research will result in a research paper. Students delivering excellent research are encouraged and supported to submit their work to international workshop and conferences.

The particular topic will be different in each seminar and is presented at the beginning of each term.

In summer term 2021 our seminar topic is:

Artificial Intelligence

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Due to the Corona pandemic this course will be start on 3 May 2021!

Artificial intelligence (AI) is spreading increasingly to all areas of life. It allows us to talk to our smart speakers and it starts driving our cars independently. It translates texts between languages (like this one!), it even helps us to develop new drugs or treat patients better. While many previously unimaginable things suddenly come within reach using AI, this development is also accompanied by new dangers. Preventive crime prevention as first shown in the science fiction movie Minority Report is suddenly no longer fiction but reality, with all its drawbacks! Also, whether a customer will repay a loan or a life insurance policy will become due, in many cases today it is no longer judged by a person, but by an AI. Furthermore, AI allows the exchange of spoken words and/or faces in videos (so-called deep fakes). In many cases this is already no longer recognizable for the observer.

How will AI affect the different areas of our lives?  To what extent can we trust an AI or its assessments? Which dangers and opportunities are to be expected? To what extent is AI possibly already being used without our knowledge?

In this specialization seminar students will have the opportunity to investigate into these and many other questions, examine trends and create their own concepts and ideas. The individual research topics and the methods selected will be presented and discussed with other participants.

moodle: https://moodle2.tu-ilmenau.de/enrol/index.php?id=619

The course takes place online. Self-enrolment (student)

• Report on selected research topic (scientific short paper, 4-6 pages, conference style)
• Presentations of the research topic (intermediate and final presentations) 
• Experimental study (has to apply fake videos) and/or new deep fake applications (design, concept, or prototype)
• Peer reviews of scientific papers of other participants
• Further possible contribution: deep fake video (as basis for further studies)

• Amount of participation in group discussions as part of a regular seminar attendance (10%)
• Quality of the oral presentations of intermediate and final results (20%)
• Quality of research (experimental study, application design and/or realization) and scientific paper (50%)
• Quality of peer reviews (20%)
• Videos, prototypes, etc. (optional, up to 20% bonus)

Dieses Modul enthält mindestens eine alternative semesterbegleitende Abschlussleistung. Bitte beachten Sie, dass diese in der Regel schon zu Beginn des Semesters, in dem diese angeboten wird, angemeldet werden muss.
Über die Details und Zeiträume dazu werden Sie vom Lehrenden und/oder dem Prüfungsamt informiert. Fragen Sie gegebenenfalls unbedingt beim Lehrenden nach.

This module contains at least one alternative exam part. Please note that this must usually be registered at the beginning of the semester in which it is offered.
The lecturer and/or the examination office will inform you about the details and time periods. If necessary, be sure to ask the lecturer.