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<p class="MsoNormal">Dear Leonardo Colleagues,<br>
<br>
Leonardo/OLATS is pleased to announce:<br>
<br>
A moderated discussion on the subject of Locative Media Art will take
place on
the YASMIN discussion list from the 3rd of December 2007 onwards.<br>
<br>
Below is a text with more info on the particular discussion. We are
very much
looking forward to your participation and involvement.<br>
<br>
To join YASMIN visit: <br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.media.uoa.gr/yasmin/">http://www.media.uoa.gr/yasmin/</a><br>
<br>
Best wishes,<br>
Dimitris Charitos<br>
Lecturer, Department of Communication and Media Studies<br>
University of Athens <br>
<br>
Locative Media Art: towards new types of "hybrid" places for
communicating meaning<br>
<br>
The convergence of new mobile telecommunication networks along with
geographical positioning systems and interactive graphical interfaces
on mobile
devices, are beginning to extend the potential of media technologies
for
supporting communication among mobile individuals. The aforementioned
technologies allow groups of people to interact with each other, while
being
aware of each other's location at all times. By introducing context
awareness
and by supporting multi-user communication, these ICT systems alter the
patterns of information flow as well as the situation within which
communication takes place, thus bringing to light new spatial
structures where
social interaction will occur and novel forms of cultural practices
will
emerge.<br>
<br>
Locative media are systems of technologically mediated interpersonal
and group
communication. Such mobile wireless technologies provide the
opportunity to
augment traditional urban environments with information and
communication
spatial experiences, which can be accessed through mobile or desktop
devices.
The main characteristics of locative media are mobility, locativeness
and
multi-user support. The characteristic of "locativeness", in
particular, may refer to both users and content within a locative media
group
or activity. These characteristics above may influence interpersonal as
well as
intergroup relationships in the context of these new social
constructions.<br>
<br>
Computer-mediated communication via the Internet has allowed physical
meeting
places to "immigrate" to a "virtual" spatial context, as in
the case of MUDs or MOOs. The introduction of mobile location-based
communication networks relates again the concept of a "meeting place"
to the physical space of an urban environment. It re-introduces the
parameter
of geographical location in the activity of computer-mediated
communication,
thus mapping the "virtual" mental space where communication occurs to
the physical space, inhabited by the material bodies of communicating
participants. Thus, the virtual spatial context of such an activity is
mapped
onto the physical world and the resulting hybrid spatial context
becomes the
arena of this activity.<span style=""> </span>Most
importantly, such a communication system affords the possibility of
face-to-face interaction and brings back the "compulsion of
proximity" into computer-mediated communication. Locative media have
already
been used by many artists as media for creating activities,
performances,
dynamic works or "net-works" of a database or narrative structure and
other complex types of artistic intervention.<br>
<br>
The discussion that will take place in the YASMIN forum will aim to
investigate
these novel artistic forms from a social and cultural perspective and
will
attempt to provide answers to a series of questions, some of which
follow:<br>
<br>
• "Where" is a locative media artwork? How does a spectator/visitor
experience such an activity or system as a spatial context within which
interaction occurs and symbolic content is communicated?<br>
• Can the use of locative media by artists be considered as an
"aestheticisation" of these high-end ICT systems' use and even as an
"excuse" for the rapid expansion of surveillance technologies?<br>
• Could we attempt a categorization of Locative Media artworks and
related
activities created so far?<br>
• Does experimenting with these advanced forms of ICTs turn the focus
of
attention to the technological media per se and much less on the
symbolic content
communicated? <br>
• How may these types of artworks or activities alter our understanding
of the
concepts of representation and narrative?<br>
• How do locative media activities influence the dynamics of social
interaction
in real time and space? How can they affect our patterns of
communication and
our social behaviors in the long term?<br>
• From a design perspective, how can we create locative media art and
activities that are more intertwined with the fabric of our everyday
life? <br>
<br>
The discussion will will take place in the YASMIN forum from Monday the
3rd of
December onwards and will be moderated by Dimitris Charitos along with
Prof.
Martin Rieser and Dr. Yanna Vogiazou as respondents. Below are short
CVs of
this discussion's moderators:<br>
<br>
Dr. Dimitrios Charitos (<a href="mailto:vedesign@otenet.gr">vedesign@otenet.gr</a>)
is a lecturer at the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies of the
University of Athens. He teaches "Human-Computer Communication",
"Art & Technology", "Visual Communication",
"Digital Communication Environments". He has studied Architectural
Design (National Technical University of Athens, 1990) Computer Aided
Design
and has a PhD on Interactive Design and Virtual Environments
(University of
Strathclyde, 1998). He has taught at an undergraduate and postgraduate
level
since 1994 in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Scotland</st1:country-region>
and <st1:country-region w:st="on">Greece</st1:country-region>
(Department of Informatics, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Athens</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>
and Dept of Architecture,
National Technical University of Athens). He has authored or
co-authored more
than 50 publications in books, journals or conference proceedings. His
artistic
work involves electronic music, audiovisual, non-interactive or
interactive,
site-specific installations and virtual environments.<br>
<br>
Professor M. Rieser is a Media Artist and Theorist based in <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bristol</st1:place></st1:City>.
Professor of Digital Creativity at
De Montfort University. 2000-7 Professor of Digital Arts and Senior
Teaching
Fellow Bath Spa University, was Principal Lecturer in Digital Media at <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Napier</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType>
in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Edinburgh</st1:place></st1:City>
at
the Department of Photography, Film, and Television 1997-2000, and in
post as
Senior Lecturer in Electronic Media at UWE Bristol between 1986 – 1998.
He set
up one of the first post-graduate courses in the country in Digital Art
and
Imaging at the City of <st1:City w:st="on">London Polytechnic</st1:City>,
now
the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">London</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Guildhall</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>
1980-85. His teaching and practice centres on new types of interactive
art
which use non-linear narrative in new media through Locative,
interactive
installations, networked art projects and collaborations with
architects. He
has acted as consultant to bodies such as Cardiff Bay Arts Trust,
NESTA,
Arkive, AHRC the Photographers Gallery London. External Examiner at
UIAH <st1:City w:st="on">Helsinki</st1:City>, St <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Martins</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> of the Arts and <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Glamorgan</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> Professor of Digital
Ats at
Bath Spa University 2000-2007. He recently edited: New Screen Media:
Cinema/Art/Narrative (BFI/ZKM, 2002)- which combined a DVD of current
research
and practice in this area together with critical essays . He was on
AHRB
research leave during 2004-5 creating a new locative work for Bath
Abbey called
Hosts 2006, which used mobile and positional technologies combined with
interactive sound and video and has just authored a book on Locative
Media Arts
called The Mobile Audience shortly to be published by Rodopi Commisions
and
Residencies include: 2007 La Trobe University Melbourne, 2006 Invideo
Milan,
1997 Watershed/Cambridge Darkroom, which involved constructing a
self-curating
web site and multimedia piece called Screening the Virus, based around
publicly
submitted artwork on HIV/Aids related themes. This was later short
listed for a
Wellcome Trust Sci-Art award. He also directed the Media Myth and Mania
section
of the joint Watershed/Artec exhibition and CD publication From Silver
to
Silicon. The latter piece was shown at many venues around the world
including
Milia in <st1:City w:st="on">Cannes</st1:City>; <st1:City w:st="on">Paris</st1:City>;
<st1:City w:st="on">ICA</st1:City> and the Photographer's Gallery, <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">London</st1:place></st1:City> and at
ISEA
Montreal. Other visual research projects included the direction of a
collaboration involving five other artists (collectively known as Ship
of
Fools) using the subject of mythologies to explore the full range of
narrative
and visual interfaces in interactive media in a piece called Labyrinth
1996.
This work involved drama, digital image, virtual environments, and
interactive
video at F-Stop Gallery in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bath</st1:place></st1:City>
and as part of the Cheltenham Literary Festival. It has been previewed
at a
number of venues including the Oberhausen Short Film festival in <st1:country-region
w:st="on">Germany</st1:country-region> and at ISEA in <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Montreal</st1:place></st1:City>. In
2001 his research project Triple
Echo won an AHRB award and involves a three-screen interactive video
depicting
a love triangle based on the Orpheus legends.<br>
<br>
Dr. Yanna Vogiazou (<a href="mailto:yanna.vogiazou@t-mobile.net">yanna.vogiazou@t-mobile.net</a>)
is an Interaction Designer at T-Mobile International, specializing in
user
experience and cross-platform media convergence. Until recently Yanna
was a
lecturer in Interaction Design, Programme Leader and Course Tutor for
BA/BSc
Computing & Interaction Design at the Department of Design,
Goldsmiths, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType>
of <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">London</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>. She
has a PhD from the Knowledge
Media Institute, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Open
University</st1:City>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">UK</st1:country-region></st1:place>.
Yanna
practices a range of research methods and creative processes for the
design of
innovative interactive products, from user-centered design workshops to
concept
development and prototype evaluation. Her academic research focused on
the
social applications of new media and on the process of design for
emergence,
exploring group interactions and social behaviors that can emerge
through
unpredictable uses of technology and how these feed back into the
design
process. In the context of her PhD research, she collaborated with
Hewlett
Packard Laboratories in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Bristol</st1:City>,
<st1:country-region w:st="on">UK</st1:country-region></st1:place> for
the
design and development of a wireless, location-based multiplayer game.
Yanna
has published in books, Journals and international conferences. Her PhD
thesis
has been published as a book by Ios Press, titled 'Design for
Emergence'. She
holds an MA in Interactive Media from the <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType>
of <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Westminster</st1:PlaceName>, <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">London</st1:City>, <st1:country-region
w:st="on">UK</st1:country-region></st1:place>
(2001) and a BA (Hons) in Communication and Media from Panteion
University of
Athens, Greece (2000). </p>
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