course summary:

This course focuses on the aesthetic, design, and implementation of mobile music, centered around the modern super smartphones (e.g., iPhone and Android) and explores both the similarities and intrinsic differences between mobile and traditional computing and design for music. Topics include mobile software design, social/cloud computing, mobile interface design, and programming smartphones - all in the service of music. For the first ever, this year's course will also feature an entrepreneurial component, drawing from the instructor's experience as Co-founder of mobile music startup Smule. Coursework includes several small design/programming assignments, and a final project. Prerequisite: 256a.

This course will use the iPhone as the primary programming platform, and will focus leveraging real-time audio, interaction, graphics, and GPS/location in the service of music. However, this is not a general iPhone/mobile programming course (nor is prior iPhone programming experience necessary). The focus is on the design, aesthetic, and development of cutting-edge musical software for mobile (we will learn whatever we need to go towards that goal).

256b topics include:

• music + interaction + social design for mobile devices (e.g., iPhones)
• audio/interaction/graphics/location programming for mobile
• social, location-aware music (technology + aesthetics)
• case studies of mobile music research
• hands-on building of mobile/musical software
• clouding computing for for music
• arts + entrepreneurship (new in 2014)