About this Class

Emerging Web with Prof. Peter Ohring and Brooke Singer
New Media at Purchase College, SUNY
Mon & Thur, 12:30-2:10

One of the more exciting developments online is the role of data exchange and visualization that is taking place both on an individual level and within large communities. One tool that is currently popular for creating data-driven work is XML, a customizable, markup language that allows for easy sharing and manipulation of information across the web. XML dialects such as RSS–the technology underlying numerous blogs and news feeders–and SVG, a markup language for graphics that is becoming the standard on cell phones and PDAs, are two such examples.

Here are a few examples of work along these lines. More examples will be available via this class blog as the semester continues.
PdPal (http://www.pdpal.com/)
TenbyTen (http://www.tenbyten.org/10×10.html)
Fallujah (http://www.takeo.org/nspace/ns011/)
Flickr Graph (http://www.marumushi.com/apps/flickrgraph/).

In this course students will work collaboratively to develop applications that put XML to work and explore what is possible with some of these newer web technologies. In addition, we will take a step back to think more abstractly about data structures and interaction within the physical, built environment to inform our web design choices. Discussions will focus around weekly readings that will enable students to think critically about work of this genre and serve to generate ideas for class projects.

Within the context of this class, you will work towards building collaborations with classmates who may or may not have different interests and skill sets than you, and as a class we will model how such groups can successfully function. Teams will produce projects that extend far beyond any one individual’s potential and teach the necessary lessons and benefits of group work.