UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA AT LAFAYETTE. STEP Committee. Technology Fee Application

Transcription

1 1 UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA AT LAFAYETTE STEP Committee Technology Fee Application Hardware Upgrades for Instructional Labs Title Dr. James Etheredge and Frank Ducrest Name (Submitter) Computer Science Program, School of Computing and Informatics Organization Signature of Dean or Administrative Head (REQUIRED)

2 2 Title: Hardware Upgrades for Instructional Labs Date: Thursday, January 15, 2015 Name (Contact Person): Dr. James Etheredge Address: OLVR Hall Room 219 Phone Number: Department/College/Org: Computer Science Program, School of Computing and Informatics Name (Contact Person): Frank Ducrest Address: OLVR 215 Hall Room 215 Phone Number: Department/College/Org: Computer Science Program, School of Computing and Informatics

3 3 ABSTRACT (250 words or less): Students taking classes in Video Game Design and Development, computer graphics and smart devise application development use the Video Game Design and Development computer lab. Classes are taught in this lab and students in those classes are allowed access to the lab to work on their assignments using Cajun Card swipe card security procedures. The computers in the Video Game Design and Development lab are, of necessity, more powerful machines. They have the increased computing power, additional storage, and enhanced graphics rendering capability required to support video game development, computer graphics, smart device application development, and motion capture data processing. Due to the passage of time and the ever increasing demands placed upon them by modern software development environments, many of the machines in this lab are reaching the end of their useful lives as platforms in the computationally demanding environment of the Video Game Design and Development lab With the above in mind, we propose to replace the older machines in the Video Game Design and Development lab with new systems. Those machines would, in turn, be used in special purpose projects for Computer Science undergraduate students.

4 4 Description of Proposal a) Purpose of grant and impact to student body as a whole The purpose of the proposal is to update the computing equipment in the Video Game Design and Development lab. The lab contains 26 machines in all - 25 machines in the lab and one machine in the motion capture lab. In April of 2012 a Board of Regents Enhancement Program Grant (LEQSF( )-ENH-TR-27) allowed for the replacement of 12 of the 26 machines. The remaining 14 machines have been in service since December of The proposal would replace the older machines in the game lab with new machines capable of providing the performance required for video game development. The machines replaced in the game lab will be utilized in special undergraduate projects that require a less demanding computational environment. Video Game Design and Development Lab In the nine years since its inception, the Video Game Design and Development concentration has become the most popular concentration in the Computer Science curriculum. It is estimated that sixty to seventy percent of new students entering the Computer Science program are here primarily because of the game related course offerings. The Video Game Design and Development lab is an integral part of the concentration, providing an advanced facility for the design, implementation and testing of video games. Along with the motion capture lab, the Video Game Design and Development lab has become the featured attraction for almost every technology oriented group that visits the ULL campus. These groups include the Board of Regents, entertainment industry representatives, prospective students, and many groups from local high schools and middle schools. Within the computer science department, the majority of new students enrolling in the program are initially attracted to the department based solely on the Video Game Design and Development concentration. Regularly scheduled courses in game design, computer graphics and smart device application development courses all utilize the Video Game Design and Development lab. These courses serve students in Computer Science, Music, Visual Arts and other disciplines. The program s periodic preview days draw many prospective students interested in the Video Game Design and Development concentration. In order to maintain this level of interest in our program and the gaming concentration, it is necessary to upgrade the Video Game Design and Development lab computers periodically to provide students with the computing power to support current game development software and other tools. Support for the creation and maintenance of appropriate laboratory facilities is critical for the success of the Video Game Design and Development concentration in the Computer Science program. The laboratory also impacts other disciplines and the university in general. The anticipated impact on the student body is as follows: Increased enrollment in the Computer Science and Art departments. Increased use of the current Video Game Design & Development Laboratory, especially by Art and Music students. Increased recruitment potential through tours, presentations, and summer computer gaming workshops offered to high school students throughout the state.

5 5 b) Projected lifetime of enhancement Considering the increased computational demands associated with rapid technological advances and the stress that this puts on the university and the Computer Science program to remain current, 3-4 years would be the expected life of the new systems as components of the Video Game Design and Development lab. c) Person(s) responsible for i) Implementation The Computer Science department system administrator (Frank Ducrest), Dr. James Etheredge and student assistants. ii) Installation The Computer Science department system administrator (Frank Ducrest), Dr. James Etheredge and student assistants. iii) Maintenance The Computer Science department system administrator (Frank Ducrest), Dr. James Etheredge and student assistants. iv) Operation Dr. James Etheredge, Frank Ducrest (the Computer Science department system administrator), student assistants, and the faculty and teaching assistants assigned to classes and other events using the labs. v) Training (with qualifications) Dr. James Etheredge, Frank Ducrest, plus the instructors and teaching assistants assigned to classes and other events using the labs.

6 6 Budget Proposal Length of Implementation: 1 semester to purchase and install, 3 to 6 years of useful life, depending on the item. 1) Equipment $49, Video Game Design and Development lab 14 High-end PCs with dual $3,500 each $49, ) Supplies $0.00 n/a 3) Maintenance $0.00 None. Initial installation will be handled by the system administrator and his student workers. 4) Personnel $0.00 None, as per Maintenance. TOTAL: $49, Timeline The hardware will be ordered within 6 months of recipient of the grant and installed on delivery. The hardware will then be used as an integral part of the labs for classes and projects. Previously funded STEP projects: $30,900 ULL Student Technology Enhancement Program (STEP) Grant G2985B (Fall 2002) Frank Ducrest. Upgrades to general software development lab. 15 workstations and 1 server were replaced in the Computer Science Departmental laboratory classroom. $27,600 ULL Student Technology Enhancement Program (STEP) Grant G2989J (Fall, 2004) Frank Ducrest. Upgrades to general software development lab. Replacement of 16 workstations in the Computer Science Departmental laboratory classroom.

7 7 $99,300 ULL Student Technology Enhancement Program (STEP) Grant G298A9 (Spring 2005) Dr. James Etheredge and Frank Ducrest. Purchase of hardware and software for the Computer Science Department s new laboratory / classroom for Video Game Design and Development. $16,500 ULL Student Technology Enhancement Program (STEP) Grant G298L0 (Spring 2006) Dr. James Etheredge, Dr. Timothy Roden and Frank Ducrest. Purchase of hardware and software for the enhancement of the Computer Science Department s laboratory / classroom for Video Game Design and Development. $99, ULL Student Technology Enhancement Program (STEP) Grant G298N2 (Spring 2006) Dr. James Etheredge and Dr. Timothy Roden, with Dr. Yeon Choi. Establishment of a motion capture lab for the Video Game Design and Development concentration and visual arts. $60,000 ULL Student Technology Enhancement Program (STEP) Grant G29804 (Fall 2008) Dr. James Etheredge and Frank Ducrest. Replacement and upgrades to Video Game Design and Development lab and general software development lab. 32 workstations were purchased and used to replace workstations in both labs. 21 replaced machines in the Video Game Design and Development lab, 11 replaced machines in the general software development lab. $20,000 ULL Student Technology Enhancement Program (STEP) Grant G299E8 (Fall 2014) Frank Ducrest. Virtual desktop for software development education.