Project 5: Creating a 3 Dimensional Timeline

Description | Competencies | Steps by Step | Topic Choices | Requirements | Resources

Description of Project 5

Your final project will be to construct a three dimensional "virtual timeline." Each class member will choose a period of time based on important events in computer history. These topics are listed in Topics Choices.

We will be exploring different techniques in creating an illusion of depth on the computer.

What is a timeline?

Competencies:

Students will demonstrate competencies in the following areas:

• General graphic skills demonstrated by:
  • Choosing interesting and informative images and elements
  • Choosing appropriate size of graphics
  • Creating an illusion of depth and space
• General design skills demonstrated by:
  • Placing images and icons in a relevant position
  • Creating appropriate balance between graphics and visual space
  • Using innovative approaches to displaying related visual information for the time period
  • Using light and shadow to convey space
• ClarisWorks drawing skills demonstrated by:
  • Creating a useable perspective grid
  • Saving the grid in pict or bmp format
• Adobe Photoshop skills demonstrated by:
  • Opening the grid and using it as a background
  • Using selection tools to define areas to fill
  • Using gradients to create an illusion of depth and space
  • Using the distort and perspective features to create a realistic 3-dimensional effect
  • Using layers to place and move elements
• Research and search skills demonstrated by:
  • Finding appropriate computer information
  • Evaluating historical events for value and interest
  • Locating related web resources
  • Obtaining copyright permissions

Learning Objectives for this Project:

• to evaluate textual information and how determine how it might best be presented visually
• to choose visuals that have interest and value
• to present information in an original and creative way
• to understand perspective and how to create an illusion of 3-dimensions

Step-By-Step

1. Select and sign up for a topic - an era in computer history.
2. Research your topic era and the important personalities of the period - both in computer history and in the social history.
   1. Read information (online and print-based)
   2. Find illustrations that are representative of your era
   3. Obtain necessary permission to use copyrighted materials
3. Create an annotated bibliography which includes at least 3 web sites that directly pertain to the computer history of your era

Requirements

Project 5: Creating a 3 Dimensional Timeline

This project is due December 15.

The requirements of this project are:

1. Image size: Width must be 550-600 pixels wide and not to exceed 500 pixels high.
2. The image must show the development of your designated topic in a new, innovative and creative way.
3. Supporting information about the life and times of that era must also be represented.
4. The timeline "room or area" must be drawn be the student, but objects inside the space may be from other sources such as the Web. The bibliographic source for the image, however, must be noted in full, and handed in with this project.

   Pleases don't include secondary sources. For example, if a picture is in a book on computer history, it may originally have come from a museum such as the Smithsonian.

Students without correct and appropriate references for their images will not receive a grade for this project.