Whereas traditional approaches to human-computer interaction were predicated on affordances and usage contexts specific to monolithic appliances fixed in space, two decades into the 21st century we find ourselves in a vastly different world where digital interactions have transcended the infrastructure of ubiquitous computing to pervade the daily existences of their users.
From the mobile devices that permanently accompany their humans everywhere they go, to the near-blanket availability of reliable network connectivity, to industrial-scale data centers supporting endeavors such as 'big data' and 'deep learning', it is clear that contemporary 'always on' digital ecosystems have inextricably embedded and entangled themselves into our daily lives. This project module will examine the intimate interfaces and applications running on these embedded and entangled systems, with a focus on the the personal, political and societal ramifications they pose for the individuals who use them, both knowingly and unwittingly.
Through a series of lectures, workshops and targeted discussions, participants will address topics including data collection, aggregation and correlation; machine learning and neural networks; location-based and behavior-based applications; participatory platforms and subversive computing; wearable electronics and cyborgs; telepresence and telerobotics. |
