The Ambient Computing Laboratory at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa’s College of Engineering develops advanced cyber-physical systems that combine interactive multimedia with the unique research possibilities offered by the billions of connected devices that are increasingly connected to the Internet. This evolution of the Internet, known as the Internet of Things (IoT), is well underway, with the current 20 billion connected devices projected to surpass 75 billion devices by the year 2025.

The Ambient Lab’s research focuses on several Hawai’i-specific needs, such as remote collaboration, distance education and connected healthcare. Together with UH System’s Academy for Creative Media (ACM System), the lab also helps foster UH’s emerging Computational Media study program, which trains students and working professionals in the areas of video game development, virtual and augmented reality, and digital storytelling and filmmaking.

Recognizing the strategic value of this ongoing digital transformation, ACM System’s Founder and Director, Chris Lee, has spent over fifteen years developing Hawai’i as a center of excellence in media. Lee, who previously served as president of production for both TriStar Pictures and Columbia Pictures, established ACM System in 2003 to promote integrated multimedia, arts, and technology education in Hawai’i as a catalyst for creating 21st century knowledge-based jobs across the islands. Lee has been instrumental raising the public and private capital needed to fund its activities, building initiatives, and attracting visionary researchers—like Carlson to UH in 2016.

Carlson’s appointment complements ACM System’s ongoing support of UH Professor Jason Leigh’s Laboratory for Advanced Visualization & Applications (LAVA) at UH Mānoa. Since 2014, LAVA has served as a dynamic maker space and innovation hub at UH, where researchers develop a wide range of big data visualization techniques for science, engineering and training. LAVA also forms the core of the Hawai’i Data Science Institute, which serves the data intensive science, engineering and training needs of UH System’s 10 campuses.

Learn more about the Ambient Lab at: http://ambientlabs.org.

The Academy for Creative Media, part of the University of Hawai‘i at College of Arts and Humanities, emphasizes narrative, or story telling, theories, skills and application across multiple platforms of digital media and within a context of cultural and aesthetic values. ACM seeks to empower students to tell their own stories of Hawaii, the Pacific and Asia rather than have those stories told for them through a different cultural lens that is distant and often distorted.

ACM offers a core curriculum in three tracks: Digital Cinema, Computer Animation, and Critical Studies.

Students in the Digital Cinema track focus on all aspects of filmmaking: screenwriting, directing, producing, cinematography, editing and post-production sound. The program promotes diverse storytelling through the production of narrative, experimental, documentary and indigenous short films. Production courses are taught using industry-standard film equipment, which allows students to gain an understanding of the technical aspects of filmmaking while using current technology. This track fosters a collaborative and professional environment for learning. Admission to the digital cinema track is based on the submission of an artist’s portfolio (See portfolio requirements).

ACM Student Learning Objectives

Students have the flexibility to design an individual academic program around a core of ACM courses and electives, as well as electives from a variety of UHM departments offering courses in film studies, digital design, and technology. ACM stresses the interdisciplinary nature of media production and study within an Arts & Sciences foundation. Students work in close consultation with faculty to develop an academically and personally meaningful and rigorous interdisciplinary program that reflects the development of academic, technical, creative and critical thinking skills.

1. Critical Thinking

• Abilities in problem-solving, research, and application of theory to practice
• Appreciation for the study and production of films that help people phrase arguments, evaluate positions and listen well to informed and diverse civic conversation.

2. Writing

• Creative and critical expression through writing
• Knowledge, appreciation and skills in narrative and cinematic storytelling.

3. History and Aesthetics

• A history and appreciation of cinematic media
• The ability to critically evaluate, using a cinematic vocabulary, their own work and the work of others.

4. Professional Skills 

• Knowledge of professional/industry standards, practice and protocols in technical production and in the general economics of mainstream and independent production
• Development of multiple techniques and technical skills in visual and cinematic production

5. Creativity

• Development of, and appreciation for, an artistic voice, particularly a Hawai’i-influenced voice
• The processes of producing a creative project for public consumption

6. Responsibility

• Development of group dynamic skills in both collaboration and leadership.
• Knowledge and application of media ethics, developing a personal and professional responsibility.

7. Student-Centered Learning

ACM students take responsibility for their own learning. ACM courses are designed as active learning laboratories where students immediately apply theoretical concepts and professional practice to their work. Individually and in groups, students learn from the instructor, from texts (including films as well as books), and equally as important – from each other and from their own experiences. ACM adopts a model of classroom instruction where instructors mentor students, provide them with the tools and skill sets for excellence, and allow them to explore their own creative and academic potential.

For more info about UH Mānoa’s program, please visit their site.

The Academy for Creative Media, part of the University of Hawai‘i at College of Arts and Humanities, emphasizes narrative, or story telling, theories, skills and application across multiple platforms of digital media and within a context of cultural and aesthetic values. ACM seeks to empower students to tell their own stories of Hawaii, the Pacific and Asia rather than have those stories told for them through a different cultural lens that is distant and often distorted.

ACM offers a core curriculum in three tracks: Digital Cinema, Computer Animation, and Critical Studies.

Beyond a required core of ACM courses, students have the flexibility to design an academic program in their chosen curricular track, supplemented by ACM electives and electives from a variety of UHM departments offering courses in film studies. Students work in close consultation with a faculty advisor to develop a program that reflects the development of theoretical, writing, technical, creative, and critical thinking skills.

ACM Student Learning Objectives

Students have the flexibility to design an individual academic program around a core of ACM courses and electives, as well as electives from a variety of UHM departments offering courses in film studies, digital design, and technology. ACM stresses the interdisciplinary nature of media production and study within an Arts & Sciences foundation. Students work in close consultation with faculty to develop an academically and personally meaningful and rigorous interdisciplinary program that reflects the development of academic, technical, creative and critical thinking skills.

1. Critical Thinking

• Abilities in problem-solving, research, and application of theory to practice
• Appreciation for the study and production of films that help people phrase arguments, evaluate positions and listen well to informed and diverse civic conversation.

2. Writing

• Creative and critical expression through writing
• Knowledge, appreciation and skills in narrative and cinematic storytelling.

3. History and Aesthetics

• A history and appreciation of cinematic media
• The ability to critically evaluate, using a cinematic vocabulary, their own work and the work of others.

4. Professional Skills 

• Knowledge of professional/industry standards, practice and protocols in technical production and in the general economics of mainstream and independent production
• Development of multiple techniques and technical skills in visual and cinematic production

5. Creativity

• Development of, and appreciation for, an artistic voice, particularly a Hawai’i-influenced voice
• The processes of producing a creative project for public consumption

6. Responsibility

• Development of group dynamic skills in both collaboration and leadership.
• Knowledge and application of media ethics, developing a personal and professional responsibility.

7. Student-Centered Learning

ACM students take responsibility for their own learning. ACM courses are designed as active learning laboratories where students immediately apply theoretical concepts and professional practice to their work. Individually and in groups, students learn from the instructor, from texts (including films as well as books), and equally as important – from each other and from their own experiences. ACM adopts a model of classroom instruction where instructors mentor students, provide them with the tools and skill sets for excellence, and allow them to explore their own creative and academic potential.

For more info about UH Mānoa’s program, please visit their site.

The Academy for Creative Media, part of the University of Hawai‘i at College of Arts and Humanities, emphasizes narrative, or story telling, theories, skills and application across multiple platforms of digital media and within a context of cultural and aesthetic values. ACM seeks to empower students to tell their own stories of Hawaii, the Pacific and Asia rather than have those stories told for them through a different cultural lens that is distant and often distorted.

ACM offers a core curriculum in three tracks: Digital Cinema, Computer Animation, and Critical Studies.

Beyond a required core of ACM courses, students have the flexibility to design an academic program in their chosen curricular track, supplemented by ACM electives and electives from a variety of UHM departments offering courses in film studies. Students work in close consultation with a faculty advisor to develop a program that reflects the development of theoretical, writing, technical, creative, and critical thinking skills.

ACM Student Learning Objectives

Students have the flexibility to design an individual academic program around a core of ACM courses and electives, as well as electives from a variety of UHM departments offering courses in film studies, digital design, and technology. ACM stresses the interdisciplinary nature of media production and study within an Arts & Sciences foundation. Students work in close consultation with faculty to develop an academically and personally meaningful and rigorous interdisciplinary program that reflects the development of academic, technical, creative and critical thinking skills.

1. Critical Thinking

• Abilities in problem-solving, research, and application of theory to practice
• Appreciation for the study and production of films that help people phrase arguments, evaluate positions and listen well to informed and diverse civic conversation.

2. Writing

• Creative and critical expression through writing
• Knowledge, appreciation and skills in narrative and cinematic storytelling.

3. History and Aesthetics

• A history and appreciation of cinematic media
• The ability to critically evaluate, using a cinematic vocabulary, their own work and the work of others.

4. Professional Skills

• Knowledge of professional/industry standards, practice and protocols in technical production and in the general economics of mainstream and independent production
• Development of multiple techniques and technical skills in visual and cinematic production

5. Creativity

• Development of, and appreciation for, an artistic voice, particularly a Hawai’i-influenced voice
• The processes of producing a creative project for public consumption

6. Responsibility

• Development of group dynamic skills in both collaboration and leadership.
• Knowledge and application of media ethics, developing a personal and professional responsibility.

7. Student-Centered Learning

ACM students take responsibility for their own learning. ACM courses are designed as active learning laboratories where students immediately apply theoretical concepts and professional practice to their work. Individually and in groups, students learn from the instructor, from texts (including films as well as books), and equally as important – from each other and from their own experiences. ACM adopts a model of classroom instruction where instructors mentor students, provide them with the tools and skill sets for excellence, and allow them to explore their own creative and academic potential.

ACM Digital Cinema Track

Students in the Digital Cinema track focus on all aspects of filmmaking: screenwriting, directing, producing, cinematography, editing and post-production sound. The program promotes diverse storytelling through the production of narrative, experimental, documentary and indigenous short films. Production courses are taught using industry-standard film equipment, which allows students to gain an understanding of the technical aspects of filmmaking while using current technology. This track fosters a collaborative and professional environment for learning. Admission to the digital cinema track is based on the submission of an artist’s portfolio (See portfolio requirements).

ACM Animation Track

The ACM Animation track focuses on storytelling through the art of animation. Students explore traditional, experimental, and computer animation techniques to best tell their personal and unique stories from Hawaiʻi, the Pacific, and all corners of the globe. Students gain a well-rounded understanding of the various roles, skills, and techniques used in the animation industry, enabling them to perform each task themselves when making an independent film, or recognizing areas of interest in which they want to specialize. Admission to the animation track is based on the submission of an artist’s portfolio (See portfolio requirements).

For more info about UH Mānoa’s program, please visit their site.

The Information and Computer Sciences Department (ICS) at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa offers the following ACM-related courses:

• Video Game Design and Development
• Artificial Intelligence for Games
• Data Visualization
• Human Computer Interaction
• Introduction to Computer Graphics

ACM students may take these classes by contacting the respective professor and asking for a permission override.

The Electrical & Computer Engineering department at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa was formed in 1959 with a baccalaureate degree program. The first graduating class received a B.S. degree in 1961. Our M.S. degree program was started in 1961, and our doctoral (Ph.D.) degree program was initiated in 1966. The first Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering was granted by the University in 1969. The famous wireless communication protocol, ALOHA, was invented by our faculty in the 1970s.

The Department of Information and Computer Sciences and the Department of Electrical Engineering offer a joint Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering (BS CE).  The BSCE degree program provides you with the opportunity to learn about computer hardware and software, computer organization and architecture, computer security, software engineering, computer networks and Internet technology, embedded systems, computer-aided design, multi-core and parallel computing, wireless networks, and other topics.

As an electrical or computer engineer, you will work at the heart of the most rapidly developing technology humankind has ever seen. Electrical engineers design and build electronic devices, process data and signals, sense things, control things, power things, and connect things and people, and lots more! Electrical engineering is one of the broadest of all engineering degrees, allowing students to move into virtually any area. Computer engineering is a discipline that combines electrical engineering with computer science, training students to have good understanding in both hardware and software. Electrical and computer engineering are among the top requested majors by potential employers.

The Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering offers

• Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering
• Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering (jointly with Department of Information and Computer Sciences)

For more information, please visit their site.