The following resources come from the 2009/10 BSc (Hons) in Media Technology and Digital Broadcast (course number 2ELE0073) from the University of Hertfordshire. All the mini projects are designed as level two modules of the undergraduate programmes. Project Objectives: Demonstrate within a digital broadcast environment: • the authoring of a UK, PAL standard DVD • the creation of a menu structure that allows the use to navigate through a series of interlinked audio-visual clips (e.g. an interactive quiz or game with ‘extra features’). Each student will be required to design and author a DVD navigation menu structure for a short duration interactive game or quiz. The content will need to include appropriate still images and video clips which have been selected from a central image library. The resulting DVD must be produced to a professional standard for use with a free-standing UK standard DVD player attached to a TV screen. ‘Extra feature’ such as sub-titles and additional audio visual sequences will also be required as part of a second phase of the project. The project provides an awareness of current audio and video standards for television and also introduces the use of contemporary digital video authoring tools and processes.

1. Mini Project: DVD Navigation
Author: University of Hertfordshire
Date created:
Date revised: 2009
Abstract
The following resources come from the 2009/10 BSc (Hons) in Media Technology and Digital Broadcast
(course number 2ELE0073) from the University of Hertfordshire. All the mini projects are designed as level
two modules of the undergraduate programmes.
Project Objectives: Demonstrate within a digital broadcast environment:
• the authoring of a UK, PAL standard DVD
• the creation of a menu structure that allows the use to navigate through a series of interlinked audio-
visual clips (e.g. an interactive quiz or game with ‘extra features’).
Each student will be required to design and author a DVD navigation menu structure for a short duration
interactive game or quiz. The content will need to include appropriate still images and video clips which have
been selected from a central image library. The resulting DVD must be produced to a professional standard
for use with a free-standing UK standard DVD player attached to a TV screen. ‘Extra feature’ such as sub-
titles and additional audio visual sequences will also be required as part of a second phase of the project. The
project provides an awareness of current audio and video standards for television and also introduces the use
of contemporary digital video authoring tools and processes.
Contents
Section 1. Project Specification........................................................................................................................2
Section 2. Project Day 1 Brief...........................................................................................................................4
Section 3. Project Day 2 Brief...........................................................................................................................5
Credits..............................................................................................................................................................6
In addition to the resources found below there are supporting documents which should be used in
combination with this resource. Please see:
Mini Projects - Introductory presentation.
Mini Projects - E-Log.
Mini Projects - Staff & Student Guide.
Mini Projects - Standard Grading Criteria.
Mini Projects - Reflection.
© University of Hertfordshire 2009 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0
License.

2. Mini Project- DVD Navigation
Section 1. Project Specification
1. Learning Outcomes assessed (as taken from the DMD)
All Learning Outcomes specified in the Definitive Module Documentation are assessed as part of this
miniproject, the specific Learning Outcomes are:
Knowledge and Understanding
• Be able to analyse and breakdown problem tasks into manageable steps.
• Integrate previous and concurrent learning and to use it to solve technology-based problems.
• Be able to describe the project life-cycle appropriately.
• Be able to select appropriate Media and Broadcast Technology and techniques for a given situation.
Skills and Attributes
• Produce a solution to a defined Media and Broadcast Technology problem.
• Carry out a simple critical evaluation of their solution.
• Demonstrate an ability to work effectively in a teams, small groups and individually.
• Demonstrate an ability to manage time and resources effectively.
2. Project Title: DVD Navigation
3. Project Objectives: (technical, specific to this project)
Demonstrate within a digital broadcast environment:
• the authoring of a UK, PAL standard DVD
• the creation of a menu structure that allows the use to navigate through a series of interlinked audio-
visual clips (e.g. an interactive quiz or game with ‘extra features’).
4. Project Summary: (50 words max)
Each student will be required to design and author a DVD navigation menu structure for a short duration
interactive game or quiz. The content will need to include appropriate still images and video clips which have
been selected from a central image library. The resulting DVD must be produced to a professional standard
for use with a free-standing UK standard DVD player attached to a TV screen. ‘Extra feature’ such as sub-
titles and additional audio visual sequences will also be required as part of a second phase of the project. The
project provides an awareness of current audio and video standards for television and also introduces the use
of contemporary digital video authoring tools and processes.
5. Introductory Lecture (2hrs) Content:
• Research on DVD physical formats and content management strategies, including bit budgeting and
bit-rate strategies.
• Research on technical standards for DVD content creation.
• Research on different DVD authoring tools.
• Research on video capturing techniques.
6. Preparation Session (3hrs):
• Introduction to DVD authoring using Adobe® Encore DVD® and a dedicated set of ‘Classroom-in-a-
book’ tutorials.
• Digital audio-visual standards.
• DVD authoring strategies.
7. Day 1
Expected Outcomes for the day:
Students working individually must plan and author a DVD navigation structure for an interactive application
(a game format). A briefing pack which contains instructions and access to source materials will be provided
at the start of the day. An intermediate goal for day 1 is the planning and selection of source materials,
initially these will be still images.
Assessment criteria; the way in which the work has been planned and managed, the selection of source
material appropriate to the context of the application, the technical parameters considered and the interactive
navigational menu structure created.
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3. Mini Project- DVD Navigation
Key Tasks:
• Detailed Technical Appraisal; selection and assessment of content to meet specified technical
parameters e.g. bit budgeting & appraisal of bit-rate strategies, video compression standards.
• Project Planning; developing an appropriate strategy to meet application requirements.
• Implementation of an appropriate interactive DVD menu structure for the required application.
8. Day 2
Expected Outcomes for the day:
Students working in small groups must plan & record a short video sequence which will form part of the
introduction to the DVD created during day 1. Then, working individually, students must add additional ‘extra
features’ to their DVDs, e.g. subtitle and additional audio visual clips.
Assessment criteria; the way in which the work has been managed, the creation of the video clip (team
working in the video studio), the range of ‘extra features’ authored into the existing DVD structure (individual
work) and the compression strategy used to meet UK television requirements.
Key Tasks:
• Project Planning; developing an appropriate strategy to meet a specific set of technical
requirements.
• Individual DVD authoring using Encore.
• DVD navigation structure
• Rendering and compilation of content and burning of final DVD
• Technical Demonstration.
9. Facilitator guidance (key ideas to draw out from students):
Day 1: Audio and Video standards (i.e. UK PAL), technical appraisal of content. Menu structures, DVD
authoring tools.
Day 2: implementation of additional features, video capture and editing. Transcoding and rendering content.
10. Required Resources: Laboratory Facilities and Teaching Support.
Laboratory Resources:
1. PC Workstations with analogue and digital capture facilities, DVD authoring with Adobe® Encore
DVD®, Video and Audio Measurement equipment.
2. Access to our dedicated media server which will contain libraries of both audio and video clips.
3. headphones.
4. One rewritable DVD per student.
Teaching Resources:
1. Preparatory Session; classroom-in-a-book tutorial exercises with supporting video clips.
2. Day 1; briefing pack containing instructions for the day with source clips.
3. Day 2; briefing pack for the day; additional source materials, team allocations for group work.
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4. Mini Project- DVD Navigation
Section 2. Project Day 1 Brief
Expected Outcomes for Day 1
Working individually you must author a DVD containing a set of interactive audio visual sequences using
specific clips from the video server and ones captured from other sources. The DVD must be created for
playback on a UK standard DVD player and TV. Your DVD must contain a number of specific features and
your results must demonstrate an awareness of relevant technical and commercial issues.
Key Tasks
• Project Planning; developing an appropriate strategy to meet a specific set of requirements.
• Content Capture; preparation & editing of video clips to meet the required standard.
• DVD Authoring; the creation of a fully-featured DVD for playback on a PAL standard machine.
Tools and Resources
The software package you are to use for this assignment is Adobe® Encore DVD®. You may use Premier
Pro and Photoshop where appropriate along with equipment for blue screen capture.
A video clip library is available locally. You must only use the clips from the folders you have been allocated
at the start of the day.
Your project file and related data must be backed up regularly to your own USB memory stick/DVD/on-line
storage area for final assessments and future use (during day 2 of the project). Remember, be professional
and make backups of all your work as you go. Do not simply assume the equipment is going to work 100%
all day, it never does!
Assessment criteria
This is an individual, one day project. Therefore all the work you submit for assessment must be produced by
you working alone and within the six hours timetabled for Day 1 of this mini- project. A final assessment of
your work will be made shortly before 18.00 hours.
Your progress will be monitored and assessed throughout the day with reference to your completed Task
List.
Your DVD must contain the following features:
1. A main menu containing navigation buttons which link through to three distinct video sequences and
‘extra features’.
2. Additional navigation must be provided to enable a minimum of three ‘scenes’ per sequence to be
selected.
3. Your three video sequences must link to form a single ‘movie’.
4. You must include suitable captions to identify each ‘chapter’.
5. Each menu screen you create may be based upon templates found in the Encore library but you
must edit the backgrounds and the way the buttons are presented to demonstrate your level of
awareness of the features (and limitations) of the authoring tools you are using.
6. Extra features; these should include user selectable subtitles for at least one of your video
sequences, an additional audio track plus a ‘feature’ you have chosen to include.
7. An introductory audio-video sequence which autoplays when the DVD is loaded before the main
menu screen appears.
Recording the evidence of your progress during Day 1
When you have completed this mini project (both days 1 & 2) you will need to write a report describing the
work you have done. It is vital therefore that you keep a record of your progress during the day. It is strongly
suggested that your record should be made up of both written notes and a digital diary. The exact style and
format of the information you compile is up to you and will not be assessed. But, if you do not learn how to
keep a chronological set of notes then you will have difficulty remembering everything you did when you
come to write-up your work. Also you will have to waste time repeating things so that you can capture
screen-shots.
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5. Mini Project- DVD Navigation
Section 3. Project Day 2 Brief
Expected Outcomes for Day 2
Working individually you must author a DVD-based game for a UK standard DVD player and TV. Your game
must be designed to provide both an interesting and challenging interactive environment which demonstrates
a high-level of technical awareness of the navigational possibilities offered by Encore.
Your content should primarily consist of still images and text. You may add back-ground audio and an
introductory ‘play-first’ sequence once you have created and tested your basic game.
Key Tasks
• Project Planning; developing an appropriate strategy to meet the requirements of the brief, including
the development of an outline games scenario (may be hand-written with sketches).
• Organisation of Assets; selection and importing of video assets from the stills libraries to populate
games environment.
• DVD Authoring; the creation and testing of your game.
Tools and Resources
The software package you are to use for this assignment is Adobe® Encore DVD®. You may use Premier
Pro and Photoshop where appropriate along with equipment for blue screen capture.
An extensive stills library is available locally. When you import stills onto timelines, set the default image
duration to 5 seconds for every image you import. You may use additional images from the web but
reference all your sources.
Your project file and related data must be backed up regularly to your own USB memory stick/DVD/on-line
storage area for final assessments. Remember, be professional and make backups of all your work as you
go. Do not simply assume the equipment is going to work 100% all day, it never does!
Assessment criteria
This is an individual, one day project. Therefore all the work you submit for assessment must be produced by
you working alone and within the six hours timetabled for Day 2 of this mini- project. A final assessment of
your work will be made shortly before 18.00 hours.
You are required to complete a Task List and a sketch of your navigation map.
Your progress will be monitored and assessed throughout the day with reference to your completed Task
List.
Your DVD must contain the following features:
1. A main menu which provides the starting point for your game (level 1).
2. Your game must contain a minimum of three ‘levels’ which can only be entered once the preceding
level has been completed fully.
3. Each level must contain a minimum of 5 ‘questions’ or decision points which introduce navigational
branches within the game. Questions should be text- or graphics-based (a spoken commentary is
not required).
4. Your video content must comprise still images - do not include moving video within the basic game.
5. Your menu screens may be based upon templates found in the Encore library but you must then edit
them accordingly using the tools provided with Encore.
6. Once you have demonstrated your complete game you may proceed to the ‘second level’ of this
brief;
• Extra features; background audio tracks and other features you judge appropriate, your
emphasis should be on demonstrating technical awareness rather than artistic merit.
• An introductory ‘first-play’ audio-video sequence.
Recording the evidence of your progress during Day 2
When you have completed this mini project (both days 1 & 2) you will need to write a report describing the
work you have done. It is vital therefore that you keep a record of your progress during the day. It is strongly
suggested that your record should be made up of both written notes and a digital diary. The exact style and
format of the information you compile is up to you and will not be assessed. But, if you do not learn how to
keep a chronological set of notes then you will have difficulty remembering everything you did when you
come to write-up your work. Also you will have to waste time repeating things so that you can capture
screen-shots.
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6. Mini Project- DVD Navigation
Credits
This resource was created by the University of Hertfordshire and released as an open educational resource
through the Open Engineering Resources project of the HE Academy Engineering Subject Centre. The Open
Engineering Resources project was funded by HEFCE and part of the JISC/HE Academy UKOER
programme.
© University of Hertfordshire 2009
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License.
The name of the University of Hertfordshire, UH and the UH logo are the name and registered marks of the
University of Hertfordshire. To the fullest extent permitted by law the University of Hertfordshire reserves all
its rights in its name and marks which may not be used except with its written permission.
The JISC logo is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-No
Derivative Works 2.0 UK: England & Wales Licence. All reproductions must comply with the terms of that
licence.
The HEA logo is owned by the Higher Education Academy Limited may be freely distributed and copied for
educational purposes only, provided that appropriate acknowledgement is given to the Higher Education
Academy as the copyright holder and original publisher.
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