Computer Science - Augmented And Virtual Reality in Trinity College Dublin, Ireland

Computer Science - Augmented And Virtual Reality in Trinity College Dublin

The new M.Sc in Computer Science has a common set of entry criteria and leads to a Master's degree in Computing specializing in one of four exciting areas: Data Science, Intelligent Systems, Graphics and Vision Technologies and Future Networked Systems.
The course is designed and taught by staff who are renowned research leaders in their fields. The course content is inspired by their cutting-edge work as well as their contacts with leading industry researchers around the globe.
We expect our graduates to be in high-demand for top-end research and development positions within leading multi-national companies and from start-up companies alike. There will also be opportunities to progress to PhD study with many funded positions available locally.
The Augmented & Virtual Reality strand equips students with the theoretical and practical knowledge to enable them to participate in the design and development of the technology that underpins fast moving video game market as well as providing transferable skills relevant for careers in the wider industries of interactive entertainment, new media and communication. This strand is a modified version of the well-established and successful M.Sc. in Interactive Entertainment Technology and is built on research expertise in the Trinity Centre for Creative Technologies, which focuses on the creative technologies including film, interactive multimedia, games, and simulation.
Career path
Previous graduates from our M.Sc. programmes have gone on to work for games companies such as Havok, EA, DemonWare and Playfirst, whilst others have joined leading visual effects studios such as Framestore CFC and Double Negative. We expect future graduates from this strand to be equally successful in securing employment in this industry.
Augmented & Virtual Reality Modules:
Michaelmas Term (Sept-Dec)
•    Machine Learning
•    Research Methods and Innovation
•    Advanced Software Engineering
•    Computer Vision
•    Mathematics of Light & Sound
•    Computer Graphics
Hilary Term (Jan-March)
•    Real-time Rendering
•    Augmented Reality
•    Real-time Animation
•    Advanced Software Engineering
•    Option 1
•    Option 2
Summer Term (April-August)
•    Dissertation
Options 1, 2 and 3 are elective modules taken from other M.Sc Strands. More detail on each individual module is available at: https://scss.tcd.ie/modules/
In the first term, all students gain the necessary skills in a number of Core Modules common to the M.Sc programme. These include Research Methods (to enable students to produce their own dissertation), Innovation (to equip students with skills in company formation or innovating within a large company) and Machine Learning (a foundational technique for each of the specializations). In addition, students will make a start on specialist modules in their chosen strand. During the 2nd term, students begin foundational work on their dissertation, and immerse themselves in further specialist modules of their chosen strand. The Summer term will be exclusively focused on the Dissertations, doing experimental work, building prototypes and writing up the work.
Along with the core modules in the first term, you will take four mandatory modules for the strand. The first of these is Computer Vision which will equip you with knowledge of a range of image processing, feature extraction and shape representation and transformation techniques. It will build on the machine learning module by targeting these techniques in the computer vision domain. The second of these is Mathematics of Light & Sound which will delve into the maths needed for the synthesis and analysis of audio and video signals. Finally, Computer Graphics will deal with basic modelling and linear algebra techniques before delving into the computer graphics pipeline, OpenGL, projection and viewing techniques and illumination models to delve further into your core topic. A 10-credit core module in Advanced Software Engineering, running over two terms, will explore the methods and techniques involved in large-scale software development encompassing Agile and eXtreme Programming (XP), Test-driven development and Re-factoring.
In the second term, Real-time Rendering will explore the graphics pipeline, GPUs as well as a variety of shading, illumination and rendering techniques. The Augmented Reality module equips students with a solid background in alternative 3-D compositing techniques. You will learn to develop interactive applications on both PC and mobile devices. The third core strand module explores Real-time Animation techniques which in addition to introducing blending, kinematics and motion capture will involve programming assignments and the development of a project proposal in real-time animation.  Finally, Options 1 and 2 allow you to broaden your core skills in augmented & virtual reality with topics chosen from the other strands in this M.Sc programme.
By April, you will have chosen your dissertation topic, picked and consulted with your chosen supervisor and be ready to develop substantial time researching and prototyping your work. We expect that the top projects should deliver publishable quality papers over this period. During the year, all projects will be showcased to an industry audience comprising indigenous small & medium sized businesses and multinational companies.