CENS Technical Seminar Series

Datascape: Enabling shared imaginaries through a mobile geographic storytelling platform

Invited Speaker: Eric Kabisch
Date: May 1, 2009
Time: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Venue: Boelter Hall 4760

Abstract

Cities, nations and communities are bound not only by physical geography, but also by shared visions and stories through which their constituents identify both personally and collectively. These collective imaginaries are enabled through narratives in oral tradition, written language, and visual cultures. Narratives reflect what society sees within itself, but also shape the future by projecting a vision of what might be. Mapping and cartography are an increasingly predominant mode of representation through which our shared visions of local geographies are enabled and enacted. Datascape is a geographic storytelling platform that enables artists, researchers, community groups and other individuals to narrate their local communities through geographic data. By building 3D virtual worlds on top of the physical world, people shape the public imaginary and create a dialogue with more institutional and established mapping practices and accounts of space. I will share details of the Datascape platform and recount experiences from the development, including the current stage which is being informed by participatory design methods and engagements. For more info: http://datascape.info/

Biography

Eric Kabisch is an artist, interaction designer, and doctoral candidate in the Department of Informatics at the University of California, Irvine. His current practice investigates intersections between geospatial information technologies and human geography. Eric builds cultural artifacts that utilize custom software systems, DIY construction and usually emit some form of sound. Through the creation of these artifacts he hopes to reconsider the process of design, enabling novel forms of use to emerge through experimental approaches and interventions into existing technological practices. Eric's previous education includes an MFA in Arts Computation Engineering (UCI), a BA in Telecommunications and Music from Indiana University, and an A.S. in Audio Technology (IU). He has professional experience in interaction design, game programming, and art direction. He has published, exhibited and received awards in forums ranging from the Inter-Society for Electronic Arts, Leonardo Electronic Almanac, the Journal of Space and Culture, ACM SigCHI, Ubicomp, IEEE Pervasive, Orange County Museum of Art, and the Los Angeles Times.