Nordic Interactive Research Course

Interactive Spaces – Architecture and Pervasive Computing
By: Malcolm McCullough Associate Professor at University of Michigan
Aarhus University May 26 - 27

Nordic Interactive invites participants (primarily Ph.d. Students) for a 1 1/2 day research course by Malcolm McCullough.
The aim of the course is to present, qualify and discuss notions and concepts related to architecture (the build environment) and pervasive computing. Mobile devices might be aware of the context they are visiting or passing through based on ubiquitous data sources such as GPS, WI-FI’s etc., but interactive systems embedded in the actual physical context, as well as mobile visitors, should be increasingly sensitive to the “embodied predispositions” that the build environment offers. In his recent book Malcolm McCullough promotes the concept of “embodied predispositions” as an approach to designing pervasive computing systems in order to appropriately meet e.g. the social patterns, atmospheres and flows of people that are informed, dictated, inflicted or promoted by the physical environment.

Participants in the course are requested to submit an extended abstract (max 1 A4) describing their research project and relating it to “being sensitive to the physical environment, and its predispositions”.

Bio: Malcolm McCullough
For twenty years as an educator, author, and design advocate, Malcolm McCullough  has consistently brought a human-centered approach  to emerging practices in digital design. Beginning from computer aided design in architecture, in which he was a pioneer in  the 1980s, McCullough eventually reached artists, urbanists, environmental  psychologists, digital fabricators, and usability professionals. His 1996  book Abstracting  Craft found an interdisciplinary audience for the creative work practices  behind the digital economy. His latest book, Digital Ground--Architecture, Pervasive Computing, and Environmental Knowing, offers a theory of place for interaction design. Prior to  joining the architecture faculty at the University of Michigan; McCullough  served at Carnegie Mellon;  and for ten years at Harvard. He has experienced silicon valley briefly as a product manager at early Autodesk and later as a visitor-in-residence at Xerox PARC.

The preliminary program is:
Thursday:
Morning (9 – 12): short presentations of research projects, including comments and discussions
Afternoon (13 – 17.30): group work based submitted abstracts and concept(s) derived from McCulloughs latest book: “Digital Ground”. All participants are requested to make them self acquainted with the book before the course
Evening (19.00): Dinner together

Friday:
Morning: Presentation  of group work and discussions
The formal program of the research course concludes with lunch together. After that (13 – 14.30) McCullough will give an lecture open to the campus.

Participation:
The course fee is Dkr. 750,-
Coffee and meals are covered by the registration fee – travel and accommodation costs are not included.


There is only room for a limited number of participants in the course

Please pre-register by sending an email to Marianne Dammand  dammand@cs.au.dk with cc to pkrogh@cs.au.dk.


In order to make the registration please send an extended abstract (max 1 A4) to pkrogh@cs.au.dk no later than 20/ 5.
The final program will be sent out shortly after 20/5.