Dissertation - Skills

Skills that I think I will need for my dissertation (apart from keeping a bucket load of patience!) are so far:
3D Modeling
Image Manipulation
Animation
Computer Programming
Electronics
Physical Prototyping

More specifically program wise, I think I may be using software such as:
Solidworks, 3D StudioMax, Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash, Java, possibly PureData and Processing. Currently, I see there being a need for using Arduinos in my project so then Processing could come into it.

I have also been looking into Papervision3D - a really interesting real-time 3D engine component which can incorporate 3D models into Flash. You create 3D models in 3D Studio Max (or other programs such as Maya or Blender). Then use a plug-in to create a file that contains information on your 3D model’s set-up, textures and animation. Finally, you can use the Papervision component to import your 3D model into Flash CS3. While I am not sure if I will need this in my actual prototype or not yet, it would be very interesting for presentations to show the capabilities of what the design will be able to do.

I don’t see this list as being complete and I think I will be adding to do it, the further into the project I become and depending on how the idea takes shape.