NEPPI
Networked Partnering and Product Innovation (ELEC-E9900) is a master’s course in the IDBM programme. During the course students will conduct a project with the aim to discover and articulate novel product opportunities in the context of IoT products. The course lasts 6+1 weeks and results in a description of a novel product in the form of a ‘Product Opportunity Document’. The course is taught in English.
The format of the course is an intensive project, where students first specialize on three areas: 1) concept design, 2) embedded applications and 3) web applications. Attending to any of the specializations does not require previous knowledge in the specialization area, however, interest in the topic is required. The first three weeks of the course is dedicated to quickly learning the basics in the specializations. The rest of the course will focus on the development and verification of the design concept, as well as on expanding the view in productizing the concept in networked business environment. The concept will be demonstrated with an interactive technical prototype / convincing simulation.
Students will need to develop arguments for the human value, technical feasibility and business viability of their idea, and present their idea in a convincing manner. The project work is conducted in multi-disciplinary teams, where all the three ‘ad hoc’ specializations are represented, i.e. a team of six students comprises of 2 concept designers, 2 embedded designers, and 2 web designers.
Specializations - Choose one!
The focus of this specialization is to train on design concept development. Design thinking, concept framing, and user experience are essential notions in this track. The students will conduct conceptual framing, field studies with potential users of their design, generate, synthesise, model and evaluate concept designs. The track involves sketching, mocking up, and 3D printing. Adobe XD will be utilised to create interactive sketches of the prototypes.
Embedded Applications
This specialization focusses on IoT hardware design, embedded software design, and technical connectivity of IoT products. The students will learn how to work with microcontrollers and various peripherals, such as proximity sensors, accelerometers, bend sensors, RFID sensors, switches, LCD screens, and servos. Connectivity to mobile phones through Bluetooth Low Energy and to cloud services through different gateways are investigated. Also wired connectivity through different buses/communication protocols UART, I2C, SPI, are covered. Connectivity to cloud-based services, such as Azure, through gateways will be explored.
Web Applications
Students specializing in web applications will learn the overall architecture of applications, which utilise contemporary web technologies. Basic web technologies as well as more complex tools of dynamic app creation are covered. Specifically the students will learn basics of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript (ES6) as well as particular development tools, such as Visual Studio Code, and web programming frameworks, such as VueJS and Ionic.
Each student has to choose one specialization. Specializations are filled on the basis of applications. The application form will be made available here on the 21st of October 2019 (by 18:00 - open until Fri 25th of Oct 12:00).
Teaching times:
- Weekly lectures: Mondays 09-12 (timing may vary slightly)
- Weekly exercises: Mondays 13-17 (and technical tutoring after the 3 first weeks)
- Weekly technical tutoring: Wednesdays 10-15, Fridays 12-15 (except during Slush 22.11.)
- Weekly project tutoring with teams: Fridays 09-17 (0.5 h slot/team)
- Weekly diary returns: Wednesday night (starting on week 1!)
- Final Gala: 4.12.2019 at 09-17 / TUAS, hall TU2
NB: This is a project course, and active participation in project teamwork (+ min. 70% of common sessions & team tutoring) is required during the whole project.