SerenA at CHArt (Computers and the History of Art Conference)

Mel Woods will present two papers at the forthcoming CHArt (Computers and the History of Art Conference). More information about the papers including abstract and conference booking can be found by clicking on the links below.

The Digital Quill: Inspiring Creativity through Design Woods, M. Shek, J., Maxwell, D. and Webster, G. (2012)

The paper demonstrates and discusses the iterative development and early testing of the Digital Quill, a range of goose feather quill prototypes. The Digital Quill seeks to enhance the user experience with a bespoke, unconventional stylus, which aims to inspire creativity by situating the user in a playful and delightful mind-set; a place where many creative and innovative ideas begin.  In addition to describing the concept prototype, this paper asks whether the user experience, specifically in creative and drawing applications, can be enriched through the use of a delightful stylus for touchscreen devices. Furthermore, it considers what the benefits might be of a bespoke stylus when applied to digital sketchbook and drawing applications.

‘Design for the Prepared Mind Workshop’

Participants testing the Digital Quill Prototype

 

 

 

 

Encouraging Reflexivity in Mobile Interactions Maxwell, D., Woods, M., (2012)

There is, we argue, an emergent trend towards ‘slowing down’ across all walks of life, which is characterised by the slow movements in cities (e.g. Cittaslow), food production, communities, and trade, in a bid to move away from materialism towards reflection, personal growth and satisfaction. Connected to these movements, the slowing down of mobile and situated digital experiences is a less developed but nevertheless growing undercurrent, relevant to creative practices, and cultural heritage and education sectors, amongst others. This paper explores the conceptual and UI development of the ‘Semantic Sketchbook’ and questions how mobile technology can harness positive affordances to encourage a deeper sense of engagement to support serendipity.

Semantic Sketchbook Prototype 1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHArt 28TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE

www.chart.ac.uk

Display: Consume: Respond – Digital Engagement with Art
Thursday 15 – Friday 16 November 2012
The Association of Art Historians, 70 Cowcross Street, London EC1M 6EJ www.aah.org.uk

This year’s conference will look at how new developments in information and communications technology affect the ways in which we engage with art. New forms of digital display or emerging modes of viewing art may have profound effects on both our understanding of the artwork itself (the way we consume it) and our ability or appetite for describing, curating and managing it (how we respond to it).

The morning session on Friday 16th is @ Free World Centre, 60 Farringdon Road, London EC1R 3GA

Booking information, a draft programme and paper abstracts are available online at http://www.chart.ac.uk/chart2012/.

Deadline for reduced rates: 15 October 2012.

CHArt is hosted by the Department of Digital Humanities at King’s College London, UK.