Leonardo_Net

activities

Project activities

We use the term 'radical interdisciplinarity' in this project to refer to the fact that the network crosses both traditional academic departments and also academic faculties. To establish a common language and a convergence of interests, the project revolves round a strong programme of events and activities:

UK workshops

There will be four UK-focused workshops over the two years of the funded network, spread among the node institutions.

The first, at York, launched the network and established direction for the rest of Leonardo-Net's formal life. Attendance was by invitation only - every node was asked to send a representative.

Three more workshops follow, each with a theme. These are open to a greater number of participants, so that network members can work together on particular areas of interest and create the cells that will culminate in the artworks and research collaborations that are the goal of the project. These meetings will also lay the groundwork for the landscape document. Themes are expected to be relatively high level; with the focus being on mapping out the research territory and agenda.

The international symposium

The primary purpose of the international symposium is to disseminate the work of the network and to establish it internationally. This will be an open call, and, in addition, key figures will be invited as guest speakers. This event will be co-located with an appropriate international conference and there will be exhibits and demonstrations as well as paper sessions. This will be held in September 2006 at Queen Mary, University of London (more details).

The arts/science interactive artwork

The interactive artwork will serve as a concrete focus for interdisciplinary discussions, as well as making a cultural contribution. The network already has significant skills, including: digital art, multi-media installations, tangible and wearable artefacts, drama, and electronic music. The immediate practical issue will be to agree what form the artefact(s) should take and how it should be devised. This activity will increase cohesion in the network.

To give an idea of the important role this artefact can play for the group, consider Bolter and Gramola's monograph "Windows and Mirrors: Interaction design, digital art and the myth of transparency" (2001). Each chapter in this book begins with the description of a digital artwork demonstrated at the SIGGRAPH 2002 conference. Each of the exhibits is described and then used to critique prevalent HCI theories and principles such as transparency, visibility, convergence, the concept of the information appliance and the construction of computer as 'tool' versus 'medium'. It is this type of reflective practice we will be provoking through developing an interactive installation together. More detail will appear on the blog.

Visits and exchanges

Trips between nodes will provide opportunity for network members to work together on focused questions leading to technical papers or exhibits or to support the artwork project(s). Visits and exchanges may be between network nodes.

The other outputs

During the life of the network, node members will be collaborating to prepare their research for publication in the accompanying book and probably also a special issue. This publications will reflect the themes chosen by the network as priorities within the interdisciplinary work taking place.

Out of these activities will come the material for a landscape document. This will review the state of the art and propose directions for future programmes of research. The document will be primarily of use to the academic research community and the research councils. However, the network also includes industrial partners, museums and galleries who may not only benefit from, but contribute to, the landscape document. For instance, HP Lab's involvement with the Mobile Bristol project will provide useful experience here.

pages by Alan Dix and hiraeth mixed media