COM643

Future Technologies
Assignment 2
2021/22
Jack Harker
Email: Jack.harker@glyndwr.ac.uk
Twitter: @J_Harker
Discord: Jack.harker#6845
Office: B126

COM643: Future Technologies 21-22

Introduction
The aim of this assignment is to further your knowledge and awareness of current and
future trends with respect to computing, games and the related technology & industry.

Over the last decade, various development kits and technical innovations in hardware,
software and digital content distribution have driven trends in consumer purchasing,
developer strategy and general innovation across the industry. Consequently, such
changes affect everything from the way that games and applications are designed and
consumed, to the hardware and technology they operate on.

Your Task
Working individually, you will write a formal report on an emerging technology using
Harvard referencing that is closely linked to the previous group assignment. Similar to
the last assignment, this can include a brief overview and/or history of your topic, but the
report needs to emphasise the future and how existing concepts will develop and
potentially influence culture and society.

You will be required to achieve the appropriate level of academia by providing references
to back up statements and arguments made through your written work. This can be from
a range of sources but will need to include references from books and journals.
Please be aware that the validity of the source will be directly proportional to the level of
quality demonstrated through this academic writing. All referencing as part of this essay
should be provided using Harvard referencing.

This report should include:

▪ 3,500 words (+/- 10%) on your topic, possibly on a particular/extended
subject/field/application within it.
▪ High-quality, balanced discussions that include obvious advantages, potential
disadvantages and dangers.
▪ Consider technical, social, environmental, ethical and legal aspects of your
chosen topic!
▪ Professional standard of Harvard referencing.

A draft submission will be scheduled before the final submission and it will be a
compulsory submission. Feedback will be returned to you in a timely fashion to ensures
the extra support for this assignment.
This Assignment will make up 60% of the overall mark for this module.
COM643: Future Technologies 21-22
Project Roadmap & Deadlines
Week No. Week Beginning
27 31/01/22 Introduction
28 07/02/22 --------------------------------------------------------------
29 14/02/22 Research & Team Proposal
30 21/02/22 Enrichment Week
31 28/02/22 --------------------------------------------------------------
32 07/03/22 --------------------------------------------------------------
33 14/03/22 Assignment 1 Submission
34 21/03/22 --------------------------------------------------------------
35 28/03/22 --------------------------------------------------------------
36 04/04/22 Assignment 2 Draft Submission
37 11/04/22 Easter Break
38 18/04/22 Easter Break
39 25/04/22 --------------------------------------------------------------
40 02/05/22 Assignment 2 Submission
This module will be largely student and research led. Sessions will take an informal
discussion-based approach to most sessions.

Assessment & Submission

You will be required to upload your report through the relevant Moodle areas for both
submissions. The draft submission will be returned with additional feedback within the
submitted document.

Draft Submission for Assignment 2 is Friday 8th April 11:55pm – This is

compulsory.

Final Submission for Assignment 2 is Friday 6h May 11:55pm

Learning Outcomes
1. Assess emergent computing and engineering technologies at various stages of
research, development and deployment
2. Identify, critically analyse and debate current and future issues in computing and
engineering

COM643: Future Technologies 21-22

 3. Synthesise conflicting opinions regarding emergent and future technologies and
their wider social, ethical, legal, political, economic, environmental and
demographic drivers and impact
4. Discuss and make informed predictions regarding the directions taken by various
aspects of computer technologies and their application and impact in the short,
medium and long-term future

These Learning Outcomes are mapped to the Assessment Criteria in the rubric below.
By achieving a pass mark against the Assessment Criteria, you will be demonstrating
these Learning Outcomes.

COM643: Future Technologies 21-22

Assessment Criteria
Emergent Technologies
have been identified,
assessed and analysed as
part of the report. This
should include factors
from social, ethical, legal,
political, economic and
environmental arguments.
(Learning Outcome 1,
3)
Informed predications are
discussed within the
report showing clear link
to differing opinions and
sources. This should
include short medium and
long-term future.
(Learning Outcome 1,
4)
Referral (<40) C (40+) B (50+) B+ (60+) A (70+)
Failure to fully Emergent technologies Emergent technologies Emergent technologies Emergent technologies
identify emerging have been identified and have been identified and have been clearly have been clearly
technologies. assessed in a limited appropriately assessed identified and assessed identified and assessed
Emergent manner within the within the report. within the report. Most during the presentation
technologies may be report. Relevant factors Relevant factors and factors and opinions have with clear links to
identified but do and opinions have been opinions have been been included and contemporary
explore relevant included to an extent. included and utilised utilised within informed research/development.
factors. within arguments. arguments. All factors and opinions
have been included and
utilised within informed
arguments.
Lack of prediction Prediction is included Predictions of emerging Predictions of emerging Predictions of emerging
within the report within the report but technologies are technologies are well technologies are
that attempts to fails to be the majority of explored to discuss explored to discuss extensively explored to
conceptualise the the content. Predictions short, medium and long- short, medium and long- discuss short, medium
future of the chosen may be ill informed or term future. These will term future. These will and long-term future.
topic. incorrectly justified. show links to show clear links to These will show clear
contemporary research, contemporary research, links to contemporary
practices or practices or research, practices or
development. development. development.
COM643: Future Technologies 21-22
The quality of academic Common Suitable word count and Appropriate level of Good level of written Excellent level of written
writing using relevant grammatical/spelling structure. Written work written work containing work containing a wide work containing a wide
academic literature to errors. Minimal contains limited a reasonable range of range of academic range of academic
justify written work. references to references to academic academic literature literature relating to literature relating to
relevant academic literature though may relating to relevant relevant topics and relevant topics and
literature. Word use incorrect referencing topics and practices. practices. practices.
count above or format.
below target
significantly.

COM643: Future Technologies 21-22