今日黑料

Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description

CODE DGA2033

 
TITLE Visualisation and Visualization

 
今日黑料 LEVEL 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
EQF/MQF LEVEL 5

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Digital Arts

 
DESCRIPTION This study-unit explores visualisation and visualization as cognitive, perceptual and technological processes that enable humans to interpret, understand and interact with complex information and environments. It examines how visual representations function as interfaces between data, human perception and meaning, extending beyond sight to include multi-sensory enhancements such as sound, haptics and spatial feedback.

Students will study the cognitive foundations of visual perception, including attention, memory, pattern recognition and spatial cognition, and how these influence the effectiveness of visual and immersive representations. The unit addresses different forms of media, ranging from static and dynamic visualisations to immersive, interactive and multi-sensory environments.

Special emphasis is placed on contemporary technologies such as VR, AR, MR, haptic systems, spatial audio and sensory interfaces, and how these technologies are reshaping visualization practices. The study-unit also critically examines the growing role of AI-generated content, contrasting original human-created representations with synthetic and algorithmically generated media.

Through theoretical discussion and applied examples, students will explore how visualization practices are evolving toward the creation of hybrid real-virtual worlds, where human creativity and artificial intelligence coexist to construct new forms of spatial experience and meaning.

Study-Unit Aims:

- Introduce visualization as a cognitive and perceptual process
- Examine the role of human senses in enhancing visual and immersive experiences
- Explore visualization across different media and technological platforms
- Develop critical awareness of AI-generated versus human-created content
- Prepare students for advanced immersive and interactive scene creation

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- Explain the cognitive and perceptual principles underpinning visualization
- Distinguish between different forms of visualisation across media and platforms
- Discuss the role of multi-sensory input in enhancing immersion
- Identify contemporary visualization technologies and their applications
- Recognise ethical, creative and interpretative issues in AI-generated visual content

2. Skills:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- Critically evaluate visualization designs based on cognitive effectiveness
- Compare visualization approaches across visual, immersive and multi-sensory media
- Interpret and communicate complex information through appropriate visual forms
- Assess the implications of AI-assisted visualization for creativity and authenticity
- Reflect on future visualization practices within real-virtual hybrid environments

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:



 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture and Practical

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Assignment SEM2 Yes 40%
Project SEM2 Yes 60%

 
LECTURER/S Fabrizio Cali
Saviour Formosa (Co-ord.)
Julia Frendo
Jonathan Mizzi
Thi Ngoc Tram Nguyen

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2026/7. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

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