It gets in your head. Through our comprehensive offering of advancing technology degree programs, you’ll learn, experience and innovate the breakthrough thinking that creates real change. UNIVERSITY OF ADVANCING TECHNOLOGY STUDENT LIFE MAGAZINE ISSUE 10 | SUMMER 2013 10 REAR ADMIRAL SCOTT SANDERS FIRES UP CAMPUS 67 Accelerated impact Students win city of surprise tech challenge 17 Off to the races With UAT’s latest game project: Palio Advancing Computer Science Network Security Arti cial Life Programming Open Source Technologies SEE THIS COVER Digital Media Robotics and Embedded Systems COME ALIVE 50 Digital Video Serious Game and Simulation Duty calls Enterprise Software Development Strategic Technology Development At the international cyber defense workshop LEARN Game Art and Animation Technology Forensics > www.uat.edu Game Design Technology Product Design Game Programming Technology Studies Human-Computer Interaction Virtual Modeling and Design Network Engineering Web and Social Media Technologies Please see www.uat.edu/fastfacts for the latest information about degree program performance, placement and costs. SEE THE COVER OF GEEK 411 MORPH RIGHT BEFORE YOUR EYES. (Literally.) Go to www.uat.edu/techi to HERE’S HOW: install the UAT TECHi app 1on your mobile device. Run the app and align the camera lens with the cover of Geek411. (hold the cover at 2arms length for optimal viewing experience) Interact with Geek411 in an amazing new way and watch 3the cover come alive! LOOK FOR THE QR CODES! Tag the QR codes throughout this issue of Geek 411 to get more of the story or bonus content. HOW DO I GET STARTED? Go online with your mobile device to your application TAG IT 1market and download your choice of QR code reader. Look for QR codes in this issue of Geek 411. Open the QR code 2reader app on your mobile device. Point the camera at the code. Just go to your favorite application marketplace and download a QR code reader app. Be amazed by the instant access to more content 3online and tell all your friends about it! CONTENTS 10 REAR ADMIRAL SCOTT SANDERS FIRES UP CAMPUS GEEK 411 ISSUE 10 SUMMER 2013 ABOUT UAT 8 Buzz 12 Faculty Profile: Professor Phill Miller 47 Meet New Freshmen 62 Ask a Student 66 Geeks Unite—Clubs and Groups 75 Meet the Faculty FEATURE STORIES 76 Universe of Degree Programs 80 Meet the Staff INSIDE THE TECH WORLD 10 UAT Gets a Visit from Rear Admiral Scott Sanders 24 DNA Data Storage 28 RES in Everyday Life 34 UAT Hosts the Avnet Tech Games 40 Tech Moment 2012 OFF TO THE RACES 42 3D Fabrication With UAT’s Latest Game Project: Palio 44 UAT Partners with Industry Leaders 17 GEEK ESSENTIALS 3 Don’t Miss These Events 46 Google Glasses 72 What’s Hot and What’s Not from Experts 78 Welcome to the G33kosystem STORIES ABOUT INNOVATORS 4 Retora Game Studios DUTY CALLS At the International Cyber Defense Workshop 6 Student Creates iOS Snowman App 26 Johnny on the Spot 50 36 Student Project: Killing Floor 38 Meet DV Alumni John Koop 56 Network Ninja Training 64 Disney Magic with Alumni Erin Prince 6.95 $ ACCELERATED IMPACT Students Win City of Surprise Tech Challenge SUMMER SUMMER 67 GEEK 411 | UAT STUDENT LIFE MAGAZINE | 1 Join technology industry experts on the campus of UAT for presentations & conversations October 30-November 1, 2013. It’s a great event to get insiders’ views on opportunities and breakthroughs in network security, game development, digital animation, robotic systems, advancing computer science and many other elds. Plus, many more industry pros and surprises! Unable to attend? Check out the recorded session online! www.uat.edu/techforum EVENTS learn more tag this or visit us online at www.uat.edu/events www.uat.edu/techforum Technology Tempe, AZ Fly-in G33K Fall: Forum 2013 October 30-November 1, 2013 Program LISTEN to faculty experts WELCOME TO TOMORROW talk about hacking and programming. Get information about UAT’s degree programs from deans, faculty and students.and Learn enrollment about financialand tour the aid, campus! housing UAT brings industry’s leading technology experts on campus for three extraordinary days of breakthroughs, insights, trends and challenges. One of the best times to come see the campus! Go to www.uat.edu/techforum to register. Are you Join technology November 2, 2013 geek industry experts on the January 25, 2014 March 29, 2014 campus of UAT for presentations & June 21, 2014 conversations October 30-November 1, November 8, 2014 enough ? 2013. It’s a great event to get insiders’ views on www.uatflyingeek.com opportunities and breakthroughs in network security, Tempe, AZ game development, digital animation, robotic systems, advancing computer science and many other elds. Plus, many more industry pros and surprises! DEFCON www.defcon.org Unable to attend? Las Vegas, NV The Largest Underground Check out the recorded session online! August 1-4, 2013 Hacking event in the World! Several of DefCon’s organizers are UAT faculty www.uat.edu/techforum members. www.gdconf.com November 5-7, 2013 GDC Next GDC NEXT (the successor to GDC Online) focuses on what’s next in smartphone & tablet, social, independent, cloud and other major forms of games. Whether you are a designer, programmer/architect, producer, artist, marketer, businessperson or all of the above, you’ll find this show vital to making great games—and—making money in the most vibrant new areas of the game industry. GEEK 411 | UAT STUDENT LIFE MAGAZINE | 3 UATcommons alumni profile off campus Tyler Coleman & Winston Powell When is UAT more than the premier private “Our office is UAT,” says Tyler, a game design major. one. They went from contract to making their own university for students of advancing technology? “We use the computers and software, including games and becoming successful in doing it. Our When it’s an ongoing resource for alumni. some of the software that uses Retora’s licenses, direction is similar.” INCUBATINGand various hardware items from the university SUCCESS Tyler Coleman and Winston Powell are two such library, such as an iPad I rent, a camera, reference He and Winston started Retora with their own app alums (spring 2012 graduates) who are utilizing books, etc.” Tyler brings the iPad to and from work creation, Hello Color, which is now available for sale UAT as an incubator for Tyler’s business, Retora every day, and both he and Winston carry with them on iTunes for 99 cents. Hello Color is an amusing Game Studios. Tyler is founder and creative director. some of the team’s incidentals such as headphones, casual arcade-style game all about color matching Winston is his partner. writing tablet, other small items and the occasional and analysis. To play, you match colored circles apple—the kind you eat. with a changing background. They’re continuing UAT’s experiential learning focus to create other fun, original projects such as Night infuses many students with the passion, “The idea of opening an office somewhere for our Lights, a Pictionary game of sorts where you draw education and resources that often results small group is a waste of money at this stage,” says with colored lights, and one other project that in their pursuit of independent technology Tyler. “We want to make sure we’re using our money is under wraps at the present time. But, to keep development following graduation. in the best possible way—to develop games and building their own creations, they need the support mobile game apps.” of contracts and also are seeking backing from But, their support for students doesn’t end at corporations that develop games. commencement. UAT continues to offer their Retora’s business strategy outlines a plan to focus resources for all alumni, including budding initially on contract work. The team will take on The Lost Medallion is one such contract. Retora entrepreneurs, post graduation. These include outside projects to build capital to help them realize is developing a game based on this faith-based, all fields of study including game and art design, their goal that turns their focus inward so they can family, action/adventure film slated for nationwide robotics and embedded systems, software develop their own original (IP) work. release in spring 2013. Tyler and Winston were development and network security. referred to Bill Muir, writer/director at Methinx “Our path is the one of least resistance to get to Studios in California, by Digital Video Professor Paul Providing incubator support for the development where we want to be,” says Tyler. Tyler is dedicated DeNigris who met Muir at a film convention. Muir of Retora is one example. Retora specializes in to growing Phoenix as a premier location for game brought up the idea of making a Lost Medallion full service game and mobile app development, development and would like Retora to be the game and Professor DeNigris recommended Retora. including individualized art and design services. catalyst. He envisions Retora as being a larger Tyler and Winston’s office space is the Commons area studio or collection of smaller studios within the One of the appealing things about UAT For more information, more visitFor www.UAT.edu/retora at the university. They have access to all the space, next five to 10 years. for Tyler when he applied was that it was equipment and technology they need, and spend open to alumni after graduation. between 6 and 8 hours there every day of the week. “Many mobile companies in the world started the There is no typical day, which makes it nice. Tyler same way we are with contracts helping to pave “We didn’t have to approach UAT to request use of focuses on marketing, business development and the way for independent work,” says Tyler.