Learn Game Development Lesson No 16 Virtual Reality

 Learn Game Development Lesson No 16 Virtual Reality 

Learn Game Development Lesson No 16 Virtual Reality

  Chapter 16: Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) Games

1. Introduction to VR and AR Technology

In this section, you'll explore the foundational concepts behind Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR). Both technologies have revolutionized the way users interact with digital content by offering immersive and interactive experiences.

VR Technology Overview:

• Hardware: Discuss the current state of VR hardware, including headsets like the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and PlayStation VR. Explain the importance of motion controllers, sensors, and haptic feedback devices in creating immersive experiences.

• Software: Cover VR development environments such as Unity3D and Unreal Engine, which provide specialized toolkits for creating VR experiences. Explain how these environments support the development of 360-degree environments, stereoscopic 3D rendering, and spatial audio.

AR Technology Overview:

• Hardware: Explore AR devices such as smartphones, tablets, and specialized headsets like the Microsoft HoloLens and Magic Leap. Emphasize the role of cameras, GPS, and other sensors in AR functionality.

• Software: Discuss the software frameworks that facilitate AR development, including ARKit (iOS), ARCore (Android), and Vuforia. Highlight the importance of real-time tracking, environmental mapping, and object recognition in AR development.

2. Designing for VR and AR

Designing for VR and AR requires a different approach compared to traditional game design due to the immersive and interactive nature of these mediums.

New Design Paradigms:

• Spatial Interaction: Unlike traditional games, VR and AR games require players to physically move and interact with their environment. Discuss techniques for designing intuitive interactions, such as gaze-based controls, gesture recognition, and spatial navigation.

• Immersive Audio Design: In VR and AR, sound plays a crucial role in immersion. Explain how to design spatial audio that responds to the player's movements and interactions, creating a realistic and engaging experience.

• Comfort and Accessibility: Comfort is essential in VR design to prevent motion sickness and discomfort. Discuss techniques such as minimizing camera movement, providing teleportation options, and designing user interfaces that are easy to read and interact with in a 3D space. For AR, highlight the importance of ensuring that digital elements do not obstruct or overwhelm the user's view of the real world.

Practical Example:

• VR Example: In a VR puzzle game, players might interact with objects by physically reaching out and manipulating them with motion controllers. Design considerations include ensuring that objects are within comfortable reach and that interactions are natural and responsive.

• AR Example: In an AR treasure hunt game, players use their smartphone to discover and collect virtual objects in real-world locations. The design must ensure that objects are accurately placed in the environment and that the user interface is simple enough to use while walking or moving.

3. Unique Challenges and Opportunities

While VR and AR offer exciting new possibilities, they also come with unique challenges that developers must address.

Challenges:

• Performance Optimization: VR and AR require high-performance graphics and low latency to maintain immersion. Discuss techniques for optimizing game performance, such as reducing polygon counts, optimizing textures, and ensuring smooth frame rates.

• User Safety and Comfort: In VR, players are often immersed in a virtual world while being physically present in the real world. Explain the importance of designing safe play areas, incorporating boundaries (e.g., chaperone systems), and providing regular prompts to ensure player safety. For AR, discuss the challenges of designing experiences that are safe and effective in diverse real-world environments.

• Content Longevity: As VR and AR hardware and software continue to evolve, ensuring that content remains accessible and functional across different generations of devices can be challenging. Explore strategies for future-proofing VR and AR content.

Opportunities:

• New Interaction Models: VR and AR open up new possibilities for interaction beyond traditional input devices. Explore how developers can leverage voice commands, gaze tracking, and even brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) to create innovative gameplay experiences.

• Blending Real and Virtual Worlds: Discuss the potential of AR to seamlessly integrate digital elements into the real world, creating hybrid experiences that blend entertainment, education, and utility.

Practical Example:

• VR Challenge Example: Discuss the development of a VR horror game where maintaining a high frame rate was crucial to avoid discomfort and ensure a seamless experience. Explain how the developers optimized the game by simplifying environmental details and using dynamic lighting techniques.

• AR Opportunity Example: Explore an AR educational app that teaches astronomy by overlaying constellations and celestial bodies onto the night sky. The app uses real-time data and precise tracking to provide an interactive learning experience.

4. Case Studies of Successful VR and AR Games

Analyzing successful VR and AR games can provide valuable insights into effective design practices and innovative uses of technology.

VR Case Studies:

• "Beat Saber": Explore how this rhythm-based VR game uses simple mechanics and intuitive controls to create a highly engaging and physically active experience. Discuss the importance of precision tracking and real-time feedback in enhancing player immersion.

• "Half-Life: Alyx": Examine how this critically acclaimed VR game utilizes detailed environments, interactive physics, and a compelling narrative to create a fully immersive experience. Highlight the importance of sound design, level design, and player agency in VR storytelling.

AR Case Studies:

• "Pokémon GO": Analyze the global phenomenon of Pokémon GO, focusing on how it leverages AR to bring the virtual world of Pokémon into real-world locations. Discuss the game's use of GPS, real-time tracking, and social features to create a massively multiplayer AR experience.

• "Harry Potter: Wizards Unite": Discuss how this AR game builds on the success of Pokémon GO by incorporating more complex gameplay mechanics, such as spell-casting and potion-making, while still encouraging players to explore their surroundings.

Practical Insights:

• For both VR and AR case studies, provide examples of how the developers addressed challenges such as maintaining player engagement, optimizing performance, and creating intuitive user interfaces.

Conclusion

Chapter 16 provides an in-depth look at the rapidly evolving fields of VR and AR game design. By understanding the unique design considerations, challenges, and opportunities associated with these technologies, aspiring game developers can create innovative and immersive experiences that push the boundaries of what games can be. Through practical examples and case studies, this chapter offers a comprehensive guide to mastering VR and AR game development.

Learn Game Development Lesson No 15 Multi-player And Online Features

 Learn Game Development Lesson No 15 Multi-player And Online Features 

Learn Game Development Lesson No 15 Multi-player And Online Features

  Chapter 15: Multiplayer and Online Features

1. Developing Multiplayer Experiences

• Understanding Multiplayer Game Types: Introduce different types of multiplayer games—co-op, competitive, MMOs, asymmetrical multiplayer—and discuss the unique challenges and design considerations for each.

• Example: Contrast the design approach for a fast-paced, competitive shooter like Overwatch with a cooperative game like Destiny 2. Discuss how player roles, objectives, and level design change based on the type of multiplayer experience.

• Player Interaction and Social Features: Explore how to design systems that encourage positive player interaction, including matchmaking, guilds, in-game communication, and social hubs.

• Example: Analyze how Fortnite integrates social features, such as emotes and voice chat, to create a sense of community, and how Animal Crossing: New Horizons uses player interaction to enhance gameplay.

• Scaling Multiplayer Systems: Discuss strategies for designing multiplayer systems that scale with the number of players, from small lobbies to massive multiplayer online environments.

• Example: Examine how World of Warcraft manages thousands of players in a single server through sharding and phasing, and how smaller games like Among Us scale down to a few players without losing the essence of multiplayer interaction.

2. Networking Basics for Online Games

• Client-Server Architecture: Introduce the client-server model, including the roles of clients and servers, how data is transmitted, and the importance of synchronization.

• Example: Discuss the implementation of a basic client-server model in Unity or Unreal Engine, with a focus on syncing player positions in a multiplayer racing game.

• Peer-to-Peer Networking: Explain the peer-to-peer (P2P) model, its benefits, and its drawbacks, including latency, cheating, and the need for a host player.

• Example: Analyze how Rocket League uses a P2P model and the methods it employs to minimize latency issues, such as predictive algorithms and lag compensation.

• Network Latency and Lag Compensation: Provide advanced techniques for minimizing the impact of latency in online games, including interpolation, extrapolation, and client-side prediction.

• Example: Explore how Call of Duty uses a combination of client-side prediction and server reconciliation to provide a smooth experience even with high latency.

• Data Synchronization and State Management: Discuss the importance of data synchronization in maintaining a consistent game state across all players' devices.

• Example: Explain how Minecraft handles data synchronization to ensure that all players see the same world, even when playing across different devices with varying network conditions.

3. Implementing Online Features

• Matchmaking Systems: Introduce the concepts of skill-based matchmaking, ELO ranking, and the challenges of creating balanced matches.

• Example: Analyze the matchmaking system in League of Legends, including how it factors in player skill, win/loss ratios, and team composition to create balanced games.

• Cloud-Based Multiplayer Services: Explore the use of cloud services like AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure for hosting multiplayer games, including auto-scaling, load balancing, and reducing server costs.

• Example: Discuss how Apex Legends leverages AWS for hosting its massive player base, ensuring low latency and high availability.

• Persistent Online Worlds: Discuss how to create persistent online worlds that continue to evolve even when players are not logged in.

• Example: Examine EVE Online and its persistent universe, where player-driven economy and politics shape the game world, and how this influences game design.

4. Ensuring Fair Play and Security

• Anti-Cheat Mechanisms: Introduce different methods for preventing cheating in online games, including server-side validation, client-side detection, and third-party anti-cheat services.

• Example: Detail how Valve Anti-Cheat (VAC) works in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and the importance of server-side checks to prevent common cheats like aimbots and wallhacks.

• Secure Data Transmission: Discuss the importance of encrypting data transmitted between clients and servers to prevent tampering and data theft.

• Example: Explain how SSL/TLS protocols are used to secure communication in online games, using examples from Fortnite and Overwatch.

• Handling Toxic Behavior: Explore strategies for mitigating toxic behavior in multiplayer games, such as automated moderation, player reporting systems, and behavior tracking.

• Example: Analyze how Overwatch uses a combination of player reports, automated systems, and community guidelines to manage toxic behavior, and discuss the impact of such systems on player retention.

• DDoS Protection and Server Security: Discuss the threats posed by Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks and methods to protect game servers from such attacks.

• Example: Examine the DDoS protection strategies used by Blizzard to safeguard their servers during large-scale events like Overwatch seasonal events or World of Warcraft expansions.

---

These sections not only introduce essential concepts but also provide practical examples and advanced techniques, making them suitable for inclusion in an online course aimed at aspiring game developers.

Multiplayer and Online Features #### 1. Developing Multiplayer Experiences - **Understanding Multiplayer Game Types**: Introduce different types of multiplayer games—co-op, competitive, MMOs, asymmetrical multiplayer—and discuss the unique challenges and design considerations for each. - *Example*: Contrast the design approach for a fast-paced, competitive shooter like *Overwatch* with a cooperative game like *Destiny 2*. Discuss how player roles, objectives, and level design change based on the type of multiplayer experience. - **Player Interaction and Social Features**: Explore how to design systems that encourage positive player interaction, including matchmaking, guilds, in-game communication, and social hubs. - *Example*: Analyze how *Fortnite* integrates social features, such as emotes and voice chat, to create a sense of community, and how *Animal Crossing: New Horizons* uses player interaction to enhance gameplay. - **Scaling Multiplayer Systems**: Discuss strategies for designing multiplayer systems that scale with the number of players, from small lobbies to massive multiplayer online environments. - *Example*: Examine how *World of Warcraft* manages thousands of players in a single server through sharding and phasing, and how smaller games like *Among Us* scale down to a few players without losing the essence of multiplayer interaction. #### 2. Networking Basics for Online Games - **Client-Server Architecture**: Introduce the client-server model, including the roles of clients and servers, how data is transmitted, and the importance of synchronization. - *Example*: Discuss the implementation of a basic client-server model in Unity or Unreal Engine, with a focus on syncing player positions in a multiplayer racing game. - **Peer-to-Peer Networking**: Explain the peer-to-peer (P2P) model, its benefits, and its drawbacks, including latency, cheating, and the need for a host player. - *Example*: Analyze how *Rocket League* uses a P2P model and the methods it employs to minimize latency issues, such as predictive algorithms and lag compensation. - **Network Latency and Lag Compensation**: Provide advanced techniques for minimizing the impact of latency in online games, including interpolation, extrapolation, and client-side prediction. - *Example*: Explore how *Call of Duty* uses a combination of client-side prediction and server reconciliation to provide a smooth experience even with high latency. - **Data Synchronization and State Management**: Discuss the importance of data synchronization in maintaining a consistent game state across all players' devices. - *Example*: Explain how *Minecraft* handles data synchronization to ensure that all players see the same world, even when playing across different devices with varying network conditions. #### 3. Implementing Online Features - **Matchmaking Systems**: Introduce the concepts of skill-based matchmaking, ELO ranking, and the challenges of creating balanced matches. - *Example*: Analyze the matchmaking system in *League of Legends*, including how it factors in player skill, win/loss ratios, and team composition to create balanced games. - **Cloud-Based Multiplayer Services**: Explore the use of cloud services like AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure for hosting multiplayer games, including auto-scaling, load balancing, and reducing server costs. - *Example*: Discuss how *Apex Legends* leverages AWS for hosting its massive player base, ensuring low latency and high availability. - **Persistent Online Worlds**: Discuss how to create persistent online worlds that continue to evolve even when players are not logged in. - *Example*: Examine *EVE Online* and its persistent universe, where player-driven economy and politics shape the game world, and how this influences game design. #### 4. Ensuring Fair Play and Security - **Anti-Cheat Mechanisms**: Introduce different methods for preventing cheating in online games, including server-side validation, client-side detection, and third-party anti-cheat services. - *Example*: Detail how *Valve Anti-Cheat (VAC)* works in *Counter-Strike: Global Offensive* and the importance of server-side checks to prevent common cheats like aimbots and wallhacks. - **Secure Data Transmission**: Discuss the importance of encrypting data transmitted between clients and servers to prevent tampering and data theft. - *Example*: Explain how SSL/TLS protocols are used to secure communication in online games, using examples from *Fortnite* and *Overwatch*. - **Handling Toxic Behavior**: Explore strategies for mitigating toxic behavior in multiplayer games, such as automated moderation, player reporting systems, and behavior tracking. - *Example*: Analyze how *Overwatch* uses a combination of player reports, automated systems, and community guidelines to manage toxic behavior, and discuss the impact of such systems on player retention. - **DDoS Protection and Server Security**: Discuss the threats posed by Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks and methods to protect game servers from such attacks. - *Example*: Examine the DDoS protection strategies used by *Blizzard* to safeguard their servers during large-scale events like *Overwatch* seasonal events or *World of Warcraft* expansions. --- These sections not only introduce essential concepts but also provide practical examples and advanced techniques, making them suitable for inclusion in an online course aimed at aspiring game developers.

Learn Game Development Lesson No 14 Working With 2D And 3D Assets

 Learn Game Development Lesson No 14 2D And 3D Assets 

Learn Game Development Lesson No 14 Working With 3D And 2D Assets

  

Chapter 14: Working with 3D and 2D Assets

In this chapter, we'll explore advanced techniques and practices for creating, importing, and managing both 3D and 2D assets in game development. We'll delve into specific methods for working with models, sprites, textures, and animations, all while focusing on how to effectively integrate and optimize these assets within your game engine. This chapter is packed with practical examples and lab exercises to solidify your understanding and application of these concepts.

---

Section 1: Creating and Importing 3D Models

Overview:
Creating 3D models is a critical aspect of modern game development. In this section, you'll learn about the various tools and techniques used to design, optimize, and import 3D models into game engines. The focus will be on maintaining the balance between visual quality and performance.

Advanced Concepts:

• High-Poly vs. Low-Poly Modeling: Understanding the differences and when to use each. Learn how to create high-poly models for detailed scenes and low-poly models for real-time rendering.

• Normal Mapping and Texturing: Explore how to use normal maps to give low-poly models a high level of detail. We'll cover the process of baking high-poly details into a texture that can be applied to a low-poly model.

• LOD (Level of Detail): Implementing LOD techniques to optimize game performance. We'll cover how to create and import different levels of detail for a model, automatically swapping them based on the camera's distance.

Practical Example:
Lab Exercise: Creating a Simple 3D Model and Importing It into Unity

• Objective: Create a low-poly object (e.g., a medieval weapon) in Blender, apply textures, bake normal maps, and import the model into Unity. Set up LOD for the model in Unity, and observe how the engine handles the detail levels as the camera zooms in and out.

---

Section 2: Working with 2D Sprites and Textures

Overview:
2D assets are still essential in game design, especially for mobile and indie games. This section focuses on creating, optimizing, and managing 2D sprites and textures within game engines. We'll also look at how 2D assets can be used effectively in 3D environments.

Advanced Concepts:

• Sprite Atlases: Learn how to create sprite atlases to optimize draw calls and improve performance in 2D games. Understand how to implement atlases within popular game engines.

• Pixel Art and Resolution Scaling: Techniques for creating pixel art that scales well on different screen resolutions. We'll discuss the importance of maintaining aspect ratios and the use of algorithms like nearest-neighbor scaling.

• 2D Lighting and Normal Maps: Implementing 2D lighting with normal maps to give depth and dynamism to 2D sprites. We'll explore how to generate and apply normal maps to sprites to achieve a pseudo-3D effect.

Practical Example:
Lab Exercise: Creating and Implementing a 2D Sprite Atlas in Unity

• Objective: Design a set of 2D sprites (e.g., a character and environment elements) in Photoshop, combine them into a sprite atlas, and implement the atlas in Unity. Use the atlas to create an animated character in Unity, and apply 2D lighting to enhance the visual quality.

---

Section 3: Animation Techniques for Games

Overview:
Animation breathes life into game characters and environments. This section covers advanced animation techniques, from rigging 3D models to creating 2D sprite animations. You'll also learn about blending animations and using inverse kinematics (IK) for more realistic character movements.

Advanced Concepts:

• Rigging and Skinning: Advanced techniques for rigging 3D models, including the use of IK rigs for realistic limb movement. Explore the process of skinning and weight painting to ensure smooth and natural animations.

• Animation Blending and State Machines: Using state machines and animation blending to create smooth transitions between different animations. We'll cover how to set up complex animation trees in Unity and Unreal Engine.

• Procedural Animation: Explore how to generate animations procedurally based on game logic or physics. Understand the basics of procedural animation systems and how they can be used to create dynamic, responsive animations.

Practical Example:
Lab Exercise: Rigging and Animating a Character in Blender and Unity

• Objective: Rig a humanoid character in Blender, create a set of animations (idle, walk, run, jump), and import them into Unity. Set up an animation state machine in Unity to handle transitions between animations based on player input. Additionally, implement procedural animations to enhance the character's movement.

---

Section 4: Managing Assets Within Your Game Engine

Overview:
Efficient asset management is crucial for maintaining performance and organization in game projects. This section will cover the best practices for importing, organizing, and optimizing assets within your game engine.

Advanced Concepts:

• Asset Bundling and Streaming: Learn how to bundle assets for efficient loading and streaming in large games. We'll discuss how to implement asset streaming to keep memory usage low while maintaining quick load times.

• Memory and Performance Optimization: Techniques for optimizing assets to reduce memory footprint and improve performance. Topics include texture compression, mipmaps, and reducing draw calls.

• Version Control for Assets: Explore the use of version control systems like Git or Perforce for managing game assets. Learn how to handle large binary files, and the importance of branching and merging strategies in asset-heavy projects.

Practical Example:
Lab Exercise: Asset Bundling and Optimization in Unity

• Objective: Organize a set of 3D models, textures, and animations into asset bundles in Unity. Implement asset streaming for a large scene, ensuring smooth transitions between different areas of the scene. Analyze memory usage and optimize textures using compression techniques.

you should have a comprehensive understanding of how to work with both 3D and 2D assets in game development, from creation and importation to animation and optimization within your chosen game engine. Each section's lab exercises will provide hands-on experience, reinforcing the theoretical knowledge with practical application.

Working with 3D and 2D Assets In this chapter, we'll explore advanced techniques and practices for creating, importing, and managing both 3D and 2D assets in game development. We'll delve into specific methods for working with models, sprites, textures, and animations, all while focusing on how to effectively integrate and optimize these assets within your game engine. This chapter is packed with practical examples and lab exercises to solidify your understanding and application of these concepts. --- #### **Section 1: Creating and Importing 3D Models** **Overview**: Creating 3D models is a critical aspect of modern game development. In this section, you'll learn about the various tools and techniques used to design, optimize, and import 3D models into game engines. The focus will be on maintaining the balance between visual quality and performance. **Advanced Concepts**: - **High-Poly vs. Low-Poly Modeling**: Understanding the differences and when to use each. Learn how to create high-poly models for detailed scenes and low-poly models for real-time rendering. - **Normal Mapping and Texturing**: Explore how to use normal maps to give low-poly models a high level of detail. We'll cover the process of baking high-poly details into a texture that can be applied to a low-poly model. - **LOD (Level of Detail)**: Implementing LOD techniques to optimize game performance. We'll cover how to create and import different levels of detail for a model, automatically swapping them based on the camera's distance. **Practical Example**: Lab Exercise: Creating a Simple 3D Model and Importing It into Unity - **Objective**: Create a low-poly object (e.g., a medieval weapon) in Blender, apply textures, bake normal maps, and import the model into Unity. Set up LOD for the model in Unity, and observe how the engine handles the detail levels as the camera zooms in and out. --- #### **Section 2: Working with 2D Sprites and Textures** **Overview**: 2D assets are still essential in game design, especially for mobile and indie games. This section focuses on creating, optimizing, and managing 2D sprites and textures within game engines. We'll also look at how 2D assets can be used effectively in 3D environments. **Advanced Concepts**: - **Sprite Atlases**: Learn how to create sprite atlases to optimize draw calls and improve performance in 2D games. Understand how to implement atlases within popular game engines. - **Pixel Art and Resolution Scaling**: Techniques for creating pixel art that scales well on different screen resolutions. We'll discuss the importance of maintaining aspect ratios and the use of algorithms like nearest-neighbor scaling. - **2D Lighting and Normal Maps**: Implementing 2D lighting with normal maps to give depth and dynamism to 2D sprites. We'll explore how to generate and apply normal maps to sprites to achieve a pseudo-3D effect. **Practical Example**: Lab Exercise: Creating and Implementing a 2D Sprite Atlas in Unity - **Objective**: Design a set of 2D sprites (e.g., a character and environment elements) in Photoshop, combine them into a sprite atlas, and implement the atlas in Unity. Use the atlas to create an animated character in Unity, and apply 2D lighting to enhance the visual quality. --- #### **Section 3: Animation Techniques for Games** **Overview**: Animation breathes life into game characters and environments. This section covers advanced animation techniques, from rigging 3D models to creating 2D sprite animations. You'll also learn about blending animations and using inverse kinematics (IK) for more realistic character movements. **Advanced Concepts**: - **Rigging and Skinning**: Advanced techniques for rigging 3D models, including the use of IK rigs for realistic limb movement. Explore the process of skinning and weight painting to ensure smooth and natural animations. - **Animation Blending and State Machines**: Using state machines and animation blending to create smooth transitions between different animations. We'll cover how to set up complex animation trees in Unity and Unreal Engine. - **Procedural Animation**: Explore how to generate animations procedurally based on game logic or physics. Understand the basics of procedural animation systems and how they can be used to create dynamic, responsive animations. **Practical Example**: Lab Exercise: Rigging and Animating a Character in Blender and Unity - **Objective**: Rig a humanoid character in Blender, create a set of animations (idle, walk, run, jump), and import them into Unity. Set up an animation state machine in Unity to handle transitions between animations based on player input. Additionally, implement procedural animations to enhance the character's movement. --- #### **Section 4: Managing Assets Within Your Game Engine** **Overview**: Efficient asset management is crucial for maintaining performance and organization in game projects. This section will cover the best practices for importing, organizing, and optimizing assets within your game engine. **Advanced Concepts**: - **Asset Bundling and Streaming**: Learn how to bundle assets for efficient loading and streaming in large games. We'll discuss how to implement asset streaming to keep memory usage low while maintaining quick load times. - **Memory and Performance Optimization**: Techniques for optimizing assets to reduce memory footprint and improve performance. Topics include texture compression, mipmaps, and reducing draw calls. - **Version Control for Assets**: Explore the use of version control systems like Git or Perforce for managing game assets. Learn how to handle large binary files, and the importance of branching and merging strategies in asset-heavy projects. **Practical Example**: Lab Exercise: Asset Bundling and Optimization in Unity - **Objective**: Organize a set of 3D models, textures, and animations into asset bundles in Unity. Implement asset streaming for a large scene, ensuring smooth transitions between different areas of the scene. Analyze memory usage and optimize textures using compression techniques. --- By the end of this chapter, you should have a comprehensive understanding of how to work with both 3D and 2D assets in game development, from creation and importation to animation and optimization within your chosen game engine. Each section's lab exercises will provide hands-on experience, reinforcing the theoretical knowledge with practical application.