This document provides an overview of the topics and schedule for the ARC8027 Ambience and Atmospheres course at Newcastle University. The following key points are discussed: - The course covers topics like architecture and interaction design, ambience and atmospheres, workshops on active forms and proximity/fields/thresholds. - Guest speakers will discuss topics like transport planning and ambient computing. - Homework assignments involve reading about journeying toward extravagant place-based computing, and finding examples of interaction design projects that go beyond ambient computing and subtly change architectural spaces. - The schedule provides dates for topics, workshops, reviews and tutorials from February to May.

1. ARC8027 | Ambience and Atmospheres
Newcastle University
02//2011

2. UPDATE | HOUSEKEEPING

3. BLOG

4. GROUPS OF THREE

5. UPDATE | TIMETABLE

6. 1st Feb | Introduction
8th Feb | Architecture and Interaction Design
15th Feb | Ambience and Atmospheres + Newcastle Council Visit
22nd Feb | Workshop 1: Active Forms – Northumbria University?
29th Feb | Workshop 2
7th March | Proximity, Fields and Thresholds
14th March | Proposal Reviews
EASETER VACATION: Project Development
18th April | Intelligence and Sentience
25th April | Tutorials
2nd May | Technical Review
9th May | No formal session
16th May | Final Review
KEY
Tutor Led
Workshops
Student Led

7. GRAHAM GRANT |
Senior Transport Planner at Tyne and Wear
Integrated Transport Authority

8. RECAP | The Tree of Interaction Design

9. ARDUINO
2000s
Home Brew Microprocessor
Art, Architecture, Media Design….. INTERACTION DESIGN
UBIQITOUS COMPUTING
90’s –
Networks,
Miniature Low Powered Processors
Sociology + Anthropology
MARK WEISER
1980-90’s
The most profound technologies
are those that disappear.
XEROX
HUMAN COMPUTER
1980’s
STAR
Psychology INTERACTION
ECKERT-MAUCHLY
1950’s
UINVAC
Logic + Electrical Engineering
TOMMY FLOWERS
1940’s
Colossus
ENGINEERING DESIGN
CHARLES BABBAGE Mathematics + Mechanical Engineering
1800’s
Difference Engine

10. PROVOCATION | Ambient Computing?

26. HOMEWORK | BEYOND AMBIENT COMPUTING

27. 1| Read Matt Jones article Journeying Toward Extravagant,
Expressive, Place-based Computing in Interactions Magazine (on
Blackboard).
2| Have a look at the Architecture and Situated Computing
Pamphlet Series and any other sources (online or otherwise that
you find interesting)
3| Find an example or examples of interaction design projects
which go beyond ambient computing and change the
architectural spaces in more subtle or profound ways. Blog
about them before next week.

28. GRAHAM GRANT |
Senior Transport Planner at Tyne and Wear
Integrated Transport Authority

29. THE END
martyn.dade-robertson@ncl.ac.uk