Dear Michael,
try Andy Hudson Smith, Director Centre for Advanced Spatial Analyis,
at University College London and his project Tales of Things in
collaboration with Oxfam and inspired by the idea of the Internet of
Old Things.
Good luck and best wishes,
Elizabeth
Elizabeth Wright
Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design
>----Original Message----
>From: [log in to unmask]
>Date: 19/09/2011 11:30
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Subj: Short Range RFID, Design Material Studies and Me
>
>Dear doctors, PhD candidates and other members of the list,
>
>My name is Michael Yap and I am a second-year student pursuing an MFA
in Interaction Design at the School of Visual Arts (SVA).
>
>Since I subscribed to the list close to a year ago, I've very much
enjoyed the lively and informed discussion—thank you.
>
>I now step forward to humbly ask for aid as I begin to develop a
research plan to underpin my thesis efforts this year. Although I am
not a PhD candidate, the members of this list is my greatest resource
in this regard. I will very much appreciate your help.
>
>Last semester, in a class covering prototyping user experiences, I
explored a dizzying array of methods, ranging from paper prototypes to
sketching in hardware. For my final assignment, I was asked to create a
video to reflect upon this experience, or, create a new prototype. I
created both in the form of a narrated, video-based user journey
exploring Bruce Sterling’s SPIME:
>
>http://vimeo.com/23042809
>
>The video provides a personal definition of prototyping based on my
experiences in the class and envisions a future world in which Sterling’
s SPIME exists as every-day-object (a multi-tool). A device is
portrayed detecting a SPIME and triggering an on-screen interface
whereby a user interacts with the extensive and rich system of
information the SPIME instantiates.
>
>This summer, I attended "Object Stories" at the Portland Art Museum:
>
>http://objectstories.org/
>
>I was struck by how objects act as containers, holding "great personal
and collective meaning and carry stories of particular times, places,
and events."
>
>For thesis, I hope to create conceptual designs that augment common,
every-day mass-produced objects with short-range RFID, so that they may
hold the same meaning and stories they always have, but online, and, to
discover new uses to meet existing needs. I wish to fortify my efforts
with a better understanding of:
>
>• the social and cultural meaning of every-day objects
>• the role that objects play in our every-day lives
>• other considerations that I am unaware of but you are compelled to
share
>
>Can you recommend specific books, articles and other resources to
advance my understanding?
>
>Many, many thanks in advance,
>
>—M
>
>--------------------------------
> Michael Yap
> MFA Candidate
> Interaction Design
> School of Visual Arts (SVA)
>
> tel (415) 317-3428
> web mfa.exoatmospheric.com
> twitter michaelryap
>--------------------------------
>
>
>
>
>On Sep 19, 2011, at 4:36 AM, Ann Thorpe wrote:
>
>> Dear Jean,
>>
>> Not sure what you mean by "one societal challenge that is not
technical."
>> What springs to my mind is the transition town movement (they have a
website
>> and publications) that addresses the one challenge of peak oil, but
the
>> approach is primarily social. The design thinking element is unclear
to me,
>> although a lot of designers are interested in it, so maybe that's
all you
>> need...
>>
>> You might come across other ideas in the "social innovation"
literature. For
>> example the Young Foundation's "Open Book of Social Innovation"
>> (downloadable from the website).
>>
>> Another trend here in the UK is the "community-led challenge prize"
>> --although these challenges are often technical such as climate
>> change/alternative energy. I think NESTA has led all of these and
they've
>> got a few summary reports such as "Using Social Challenge Prizes to
Support
>> People-powered Innovation" -- the design thinking link may only be
>> "innovation"
>>
>> Another area that seems to be gaining ground is "active design" or
design
>> that promotes physical activity. The city of new york has developed
a set of
>> "active design guidelines." Similarly there are projects that link
suburban
>> development patterns to health, and projects like Natalie
Jeremijenko's in
>> NYC connect pocket parks (in parking spaces called "noparks") to
>> environmental and human health. Along those lines Rebar's park(ing)
day,
>> which creates temporary parks in metered parking spaces has led to a
city
>> wide program in San Francisco (Pavements to parks). New York has
developed a
>> similar program (not sure if resulting from noparks). A thread that
runs
>> through these is "the commons" and its connection to health and
wellbeing,
>> although I don't know that any of these could be called an
initiative for
>> the commons, as a whole they might be considered a movement.
>>
>> Now that it's Monday I'm sure other ideas will come flooding in.
>> Best,
>> Ann
>>
>>
>> Dr Ann Thorpe
>> .....................................
>> Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London
>> Wates House, 22 Gordon Street London WC1H 0QB, United Kingdom
>>
>> +44 (0)77 1747 1606
>> .....................................
>> book: The Designer's Atlas of Sustainability (www.designers-atlas.net
>> blog: http://designactivism.net
>> twitter: @atlasann
>
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