I am excited to announce that I will be providing one of two keynote presentations at the ACM Interactive Surfaces and Spaces conference in Pittsburgh in November. 

My presentation will focus on the new technologies and approaches that we’ve seen emerge in the last few years. Of course this will  include interactive surfaces—that’s probably what Ideum is best known for—but I'll  also talk about "Spaces," and how we evaluate installations and experiences that use more immersive technologies. 

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Along with the keynote presentation, Ideum will be announcing some new and exciting products and showcasing them at our booth! Look for updates as we get closer to the conference dates. 

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Here’s the description for my keynote presentation: 

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Experience Design - Reshaping Public Spaces with Digital Tools

Experience Design is not new. Museums, zoos, and other public institutions have been designing compelling visitor experiences for decades. But in recent times, the term has become increasingly popular to describe the creation of interactive public experiences that involve large displays and surfaces, projectors, sensors, and other emerging technology. This continuing evolution of the field to include activated spaces is even acknowledged in the name of this conference—the pre-2016 Interactive Touch Tables and Surfaces (ITS) has become Interactive Surfaces and Spaces (ISS).

While new digital tools have lowered the barrier to entry for a new generation of designers—who have been transforming public spaces at a record pace, even creating new ventures and spaces—emerging technology hasn’t changed the basic principles behind good interactive design. As the scene’s expansion accelerates, it’s more important than ever to evaluate these types of experiences and new design approaches with the unique perspective offered by deep institutional knowledge. Understanding the relationships between spaces, exhibits, visitor identity, and interaction is key to infusing unique perspectives with authenticity.

In my presentation, we will talk about how the field has changed in the last decade; discuss new design paradigms and the technologies that make them possible; and finally, apply tried-and-true experience evaluation criteria, with some important new additions to help designers harness these new tools effectively.

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