The UConn DMD Digital Experience Lab (DX Lab) explores the cutting edge of digital experience design, with a focus on emerging or under-explored technologies and methodologies. By engaging in project-based work and sponsored research, we aim to push the boundaries of user experience design while producing useful software products, internet-connected devices, and best practices in the interactive design space.

This 675 ft2 black box Motion Capture Studio features a ceiling-mounted grid with 18 OptiTrack motion capture cameras from NaturalPoint. The motion capture system allows faculty and students to capture the full-body movements of two actors simultaneously as 3D data, for use in animation, virtual reality, game design, and movement science. Students in the 3D Animation and Game Design DMD tracks take classes within the MoCap Studio, which is also available for faculty-led research projects. It also serves as a temporary exhibition space for projection mapping artworks.

Through the Social Media Analytics Command Center, DMD students learn to provide insights, both historic and live, for clients’ brands. With five large screens that simultaneously host various social media listening and research platforms and live broadcast cable feeds, the SMACC can research all publically available social and digital media conversations globally using TalkWalker and other platforms. These capabilities enable DMD students to research political and human events, protect brand image, track social media campaigns, monitor crisis situations, and track live cultural events. Social media analytics is one of the fastest growing industries, and our DMD students graduate with the best skills, thanks to this innovative center.

The Physical Computing Lab is home to the DMD maker. The lab is equipped with soldering stations, 3D printing stations, and multiple microcontrollers. Students working in the Physical Computing Lab have access to Arduino microcontrollers, Raspberry Pi computers, breadboards, and all the wiring, buttons, sensors and switches that a maker could ask for. The Physical Computing Lab hosts DMD classes: Disruptive Technologies (DMD 4536), and Wearable Electronics and Interactive Objects (DMD 3420), as well as faculty-led research projects.

Our DMD Graduate Studio is a coworking environment for GA/TA funded DMD grads. The studio is equipped with 8 individual work stations, a printer, and a refrigerator. Graduate students have 24-hour access to the graduate studio.

This DMD Linked Classroom features Cisco technology that allows for Telepresence between the Stamford campus 3.12 classroom and Bishop Center 136 in Storrs. The technology provides autofocusing cameras which detect and focus on the person speaking to display in the opposite campus’ classroom. The classroom also features a state-of-the-art laser projector, 10’ projection screen, stereo speakers and microphones, and a high-end PC instructor station. The classroom seats 24 students on modular furniture that is easy to rearrange into different configurations. The classroom also comes with two large dry erase boards for collaboration and a 24-foot long magnetic metal display wall for organizing and displaying printed work.

In addition to our incredible specialty facilities, we also have many great classrooms and conference rooms that are used for teaching, collaboration, and client meetings. Varying in size from our largest classroom, 146 which holds 50 people, to intimate conference rooms for meetings of six, we have plenty of space to accommodate all student and faculty needs. Most rooms are equipped with a teaching station with a large monitor and/or projector, white boards for collaboration, and bulletin boards to hand and share printed work. Wifi is available throughout the building.