Cynematik • Cyndi Greening

I’ve spent the last two days at Purdue University and it has been very exciting and interesting for me! Purdue is a big research school so much of what the faculty (and students) do is rooted in some sort of research.

So, today, I had the opportunity to look at several student projects and listen to the sorts of things they were researching. One team was working on a Spina Bifida “Serious Game” … that’s an entertaining game that educates and informs the user about something significant (like a birth defect). The team consisted of two illustrators, two Flash animators/scripters and a project manager with a strong CS foundation. They could clearly state what they were researching, what the goals of the game were and how they intended to complete the project. With end-users expected to be in the 5-to-8 age range, the game has a sort of Dora the Explorer feel to it.

Another group was working on a short film that incorporated 2D and 3D animation that was composited in AfterEffects. The students were researching whether incorporating similar elements to previous Academy Award winning films made their film more or less appealing. I enjoyed watching their production process.

I went to two classes, Dr. LaVerne Abe Harris’ Human Computer Interface Class and Professor Adamo-Villani’s Animation class. Heck, I could not believe how quiet and reserved the Purdue students were. I don’t know if it’s that midwestern “behaving properly” thing or some sort of lingering societal depression over the state of the economy. I just know those folks were reserved. Once they got going and opened up, it was terrific. Lots of excited, committed, fun people working on passion projects that they really care about. Maybe they are more outgoing when they get close to graduation. I sure hope so … they’ll be needing that excitement, energy and passion to secure the best jobs. Maybe they really know how to turn it on in the interview.

The thing I was most impressed with is how serious the students were. Many worked on a variety of research projects in addition to doing their class load. (I went to the Siggraph Banquet this evening. Students, their friends and families were in attendance.) I noticed how many times students would be talking about the things they were working on (or wanting to be working on) and faculty would be advising them about different things that were available for them to participate on. It was neat to see that midwestern work ethic and youthful altruism in full bloom on these students. Their desire to learn and make a difference was palpable. It was impressive and inspiring.

Tomorrow, I’m going to The Envision Center, the research facility on campus. I hear it has a big motion capture facility. Should be fun. Maybe I’ll dance for them.