Schedule

Overview

Below is a basic outline of the activities you’ll engage in as part of this course.

Week 1: Introductions

The first week will coordinate teams across both courses in building a common understanding of the challenges and opportunities involved in exploring and producing unsettling, otherworldly technologies.

Assignments Type Due
Introductions: What’s spooky about technology today? Independent Thursday, Jan 20

Week 2-9: Investigations

We will follow a three-week cycle of research, investigation, design and review. Each design exploration module will include an introduction lecture, a guest speaker, readings and screenings, discussions, technical workshop(s), desk crits and a final project critique. The projects will involve a speculative prompt for critical making.

Assignments Type Due
Investigation - That Which Is Hidden Independent Thursday, Feb 1
Investigation - Haunted Devices / Device Hauntologies Collaborative Tuesday, Mar 29

Week 10: Synthesis

Following the investgations, we’ll take stock, reflect on the outcomes to date and examine where we’re at. This will lead to a synthesis of ideas into a proposal which blends the supernatural, space and technology as an installation/intervention.

Assignments Type Due
Questions and Reflections Independent Thursday, Mar 31
Integrated Proposal Collaborative Tuesday, April 5

Weeks 10-14: Application

The remainder of the semester will be used to build a set of responsive, networked prototypes for deployment for public conversations. The organization of schedules, build time, and delegation of tasks will be accomplished by the student teams.

At the end of the semester, collaborative teams will work together to identify a shared approach for a critically-informed responsive mobile environment, prepare a working prototype, and deliver supporting process and outcome documentation.

Assignments Type Due
Final Project: Internal Crit Collaborative Thursday, Apr 28
Final Project: Showcase Collaborative Wednesday, May 4 (TBC)
Final Project: Reflection Collaborative Thursday, May 5
Final Documentation Collaborative Sunday, May 8

Detailed Schedule

Introductions

Date Activities Assignments
Tues, Jan 18 Introduction to the course and concepts
Introduction to Spooky Technology
Intro Assignment: What’s Spooky about Technology Today? Given
Thurs, Jan 20 Course Logistics. Introductions from Students through Examples. Think piece on that which is hidden on Slack in #thinkpieces.

Note. Introductions and Investigation I are blended because we are remote for the first two weeks of class.

Investigations I: That Which is Hidden

Date Type Description
Tues, Jan 18 Intro Introduction to Spooky Technology
Thur, Jan 20 Cases Course Logistics. Introductions from Students through Examples.
Tues, Jan 25 Guest Guest Speaker: Dan Lockton. What Ifs
Thur, Jan 27 Work Think Piece Review. Work Session - Feedback on Concepts
Tues, Feb 1 Review Screening of creative project.
Prepare a 2 minute video.

Investigations II: Haunted Devices / Device Hauntologies

Synthesis

Date Activities Assignments
Tues, Mar 29 Reflection on Investigations I & II Questions & Reflections Given
Thur, Mar 31 Introduction to Final Project
In-Class Synthesis Reports - 2-3 minutes per student. Teamstorming.
 

Application: Haunted [Smart] Houses

Date Type Description
Thur, Mar 31 Intro Project Given.
Precedents Introduced. Teamstorming + Topic finding.
Tues, Apr 5 Concepts Review of Driving Questions.
Developing Imaginary Abstracts. In Class Exercise.
Synthesis Think Piece Assigned.
Thur, Apr 7 No Class Carnival Weekend
Tues, Apr 12 Concepts Materalizing Alternatives: Rough Cut Artefact or Conceptual Designs
Desk Crits and Group Work.
Thur, Apr 14 Prototyping NodeRed and prototyping networked interactions
Tues, Apr 19 Concepts Scenography and Diagetic Designs.
Group Work
Thur, Apr 21 Prototyping Refining Technical Prototypes (PCBs, power considerations, etc.)
Tues, Apr 26 Concepts Internal Crit w/ Rough Cut Revision & draft supporting materials
Feedback from invited guests.
Discussion on staging.
Thur, Apr 28 Prototyping Desk Crits / Group Work.
Wrap on the course.
Tues, May 3 Office Hours Optional feedback and support.
Wed, May 4 Exhibit Installation of Prototypes.
Exhibition
Thur, May 5 Reflection Debrief and reflection on exhibition.
Feedback from returning guests.