Mobile Interface Theory

Introduction:

This article portrayed the Interface Mobile theory in a very clear, credible way. The truth is our digital world is advancing significantly, and it is necessary to stop and think if we, psychologically, are ready for these advances. What behavioral or psychological theories will emerge from such events? The idea of this theory is to show how mobile media, using technology and locality is ever changing, and what exactly is happening right now. Humans have developed “cocoons” through their devices to avoid interaction with one another. People find their devices as companions or a part of them. Many of us don’t dare walk out our door without our mobile phone. Social and embodied space through practices with mobile technologies is changing. Social space is becoming more about the mobile media and device capabilities. Embodied space is advancing and becoming more connected to a digital map. Pervasive computing, which refers to using a mobile device as voice communication is severely increasing. The collaboration of virtual and material space will eventually become one. A good interface is described as “interfaceless”. Where the user does not necessarily even notice he or she is using it. So advanced and convenient, that the media itself is a part of our embodied space. Devices, especially smart phones, are becoming “everyware”, meaning they function as “an intricate dance of information about ourselves, the state of the external world, and the options available to us at any given moment.”

Chapter 2:


Augmented reality takes the lead when interlacing embodiment mobile media, technology and locality. With a simple gesture you can see technology lead you in the most convenient way, creating something that will help you, when it really isn't there. Either it is interactive, like "Layar", which shows stores, activities, real estate and other site-specific points of interest, or "Streetmuseum"that can reveal and relive historic moments at the specific spot the viewer is standing. These revolutionary ideas can be further stretched into more complex and advanced technological discoveries and way of human interaction. Mobile media will not only create a companion, it will make the location one as well, it can bring meaning, it can bring efficiency. "Implacement" takes place and we not only do we see our lives growing in an environment, but an environment growing around us. The place that we interact with will now have context and meaning. Our landscape, which we have inhabited for many years can now leave traces of our ancestors and our descendants to come. Another interesting part of this theory is Mapping. "We are living in a time in which the two realms of the realized and the realizing (or the actual and the virtual) do not signify themselves as exclusive spaces; instead, the interaction between these spaces continues to become mutually constructive." This meaning that we might have realized what the map is indicating, while at the same time realize what it really looks life at its site specificity. Furthermore, as technology is advancing, the way we conceive space is dependent on our interactions with the media utilized. The digital space is becoming larger, filled with exploration and a need to expand, grow, and develop. More "digital space" is being discovered, perfected and improved as we advance. 

Creating Democracy: An Dialogue with Krzysztof Wodiczko

This interview was the most interesting articles in this course so far. Understanding such a clear mindset of the artist, his goals, his past, and his future visions really opened up opportunities for thought and analysis. Starting off the interview, the artist discussed the meaning of public space and how it should be used in a democracy." The emptiness does not belong to any individual or group, but should be available to anyone who can bring meaning to it, recognize others in it, and instigate and perpetuate dissemination and debate about rights. If you take a closer look, many ancient Greek temples and societies were very much public. Bazaars, holy temples, public baths, olympic games, and public schools all encourages interaction and exchanging of thought a beliefs. When a society is isolated, with no common space for two opposing parties to stand on, the discussion or conversation that could change or resolve the conflict, can never take place. Public space is crucial to a society with beliefs. People can gather, celebrate or rebel. Either way it is an expression of man to be secure through the support of the community or defensive from higher forces or unlike behavior. What Wodiczko discusses is very true and significant. Public space encourages exchanging of thought; a public space free of freedom of expression punishment; which eventually will promote fearless speech. It is quite beautiful the way he describes this idea. Many of us live our life with fear of speech, whether it is against our cultural upbringing, moral beliefs or fear of what will happen. We all have thoughts that are burning to be shouted, yet we keep them to ourselves or whisper them along our close ones. A community will never evolve, or live to a closer utopia if that is the case. Wodiczko finds ways, projects and art installations, to be the mediator, the helper of those who fear. The Alien staff creates a meaning for the user and a recognition of him outside of his own self. He has the courage to speak and be seen, without exposing himself to the point where he will fail or be scared. "Personal healing connects to a vision of society's health" says Wodiczko. We all share one space, one air, one community. Why not express our ideas freely?Why not express our ideas freely. It takes the courage of one for the many to follow. Many of us have similar fears, unpleasant past events, dreams, hopes, and wishes for what we want to life like. If we expose these aspects, there will be collaborations, discussions and new opportunities to heal and to pursue. 

Pink- Chapter 5: Articulating Emplaced Knowledge

Following Chapter 2, Pink analyzes the process of interviewing while incorporating place. She describes an interview as a "multi sensory event and a context of emplaced knowing." It stands for a representation of an experienced reality rather then an objective reality. Researchers, especially ethnographers use different tactics to get the legitimate results and experience they are longing for. Sensorially is vital to an interview. It has to establish a respectable, ongoing relationship with the interviewees, freeing them up and making their voice be heard in the easiest way possible. Listening and allowing people to talk back, in their own "place" allows for a deeper understanding of behavioral habits and culture differences. "We need t recognize the performative qualities of social life and talk," as Pink states, to have a well accomplished interview and results. The performance is embodied in the individual due to their surrounding and past, present and future goals and events. The place upon which an interview will be performed is very important as well. Interviewees use everyday symbols from their life, such as tea, coffee, a walk at a familiar park, to trigger memories, apply their senses, to familiarize the interviewee of their everyday life. This will bring a new perceptive on the ethnographer and give a deeper understanding of who their subject really is. "An interview creates a place in which to reflect, define and communicate about experience. Many researchers have studied and discovered that when interviewing, the right place, the right surrounding, and multisensoral communication, as in use of different mediums, allows the interviewer to really be able to express them selves, and for the interviewee to really be able to understand and put themselves in the other persons shoes. Some skills cannot be expressed verbally, such as gardening, because senses such as sight and taste are used. Therefore, the interviewee has to place themselves in that surrounding, and learn form the skill itself. The complexities of communication and relationships are expressed in this article, opening up new opportunities and suggestions for further research. People are often silent or intimidated to really express their feelings. When place is added in the mix, this creates an outlet of expression, where senses, memories and knowledge help and enhance the communicative process. This article was very helpful and is to be kept in mind when communicating in our everyday basis. To have a full story of the other's experience we should not stay to the conformist way of interviewing, but broaden the opportunities that could exist. 

Pink - Chapter 2: Principle for Sensory Ethnography

This article was an introduction to a very complex way of thinking. Personally I believe there is so much common sense to the theories of ethnography that to analyze and discover the reasons behind it, becomes a problem for the very wise. To start off, perception is a very vital key to any research, especially phycological. The place we are in, the senses we use depend greatly on our perception. The Body-mind-environment is a great formulation to summarize the embodiment of perception. The relationship between humans Nd their environment not only creates the human, and the future that it will create, but also the ever changing social and Geographical features of the environment itself. Sour senses are viewed as one organism that influences are perception, or rather is the means to the environment around us. They are facets of the whole organism in its environment. Second, the place upon which we surround our selves has caused us to develope a sense of self and relationships. Our environment is always changing and evolving due to social and material relations and practices. We belong there and it belongs to us. Even when traveling to different environments, we move to a trajectorie that we can relate to. Place is an event, a gathering process and a 'throw togetherness'. Following place, knowledge is formed the experience of knowing through participation in our environment. Knowledge is also practice of skill and mimicking at an early stage of life the developing skill set. Creating one's own emplaned skill is also crucial. This way behavior and development is acceptable and progressive. Memories are another interesting part of the web. It is as the the past is brought through the present due to a triggered sense of the human organism. Lastly imagination, coming from our past, our seems, our environment, our place, is created not only projecting the future, but theories to be discovered, past thought to be debated and dreams or visions towards the better. Ethnography really shows who, whe, when and how we are the way we are. Why we live in the place we live and how our lives take the path they take. As humans we door pay attention to these elements, although we are never without them.

ZooBurst

Lancaster Walk

Lancaster is considered one of the most important streets in the United States. It was the first official highway built in our country. I am lucky enough to open my door each morning on this very street. The diagonal pathway provides an easy transportation from Market and J.F. Kennedy Highway all the way to Lancaster. Back when it was first built, it was very critical for merchants, farmers, and families to exchange produce and goods. Today lancaster is much different. A very short part, which is located in west Philadelphia, once the most vital section, is now vacant, quiet, and becoming invisible. From Market till 38th Street it is mostly populated by Drexel University students, where at the 38th street mark the residents abruptly change to African American families. Historical buildings still stand, but are not taken care of. Many of them are covered and camouflaged by new construction, painted bright random colors, are shut off and are decaying. In my neighborhood narratives class we had a chance to get a guided tour of lancaster from 43rd street and below. It was amazing to see how many buildings are shut off in fear of someone breaking in the owner's store on the first floor. Another interesting fact is the nickname of the street. "The Black Bottom" is only one section, primarily 42nd street, of "The Bottom". Many gang fights would take place in the 60s and 70s resulting in a rapid increase in crack use. This particular intersection is a historic part of Lancaster. Being that Martin Luther King spoke at that exact spot. Revolutionary energy and spirits lived and grew on this street. It is an avenue that brings many memories for these residents. The street separates a Caucasian population from an African American population. Further west is occupied by African Americans, and north, towards Market St. is primarily white. The neighborhood is rapidly changing, organizations are funding for the renewal of store fronts, streets, sidewalk, and aesthetic elements for the neighborhood. The question is, will this push away the dominant African American population out of the neighborhood in cause of driving more white college students towards their way? The key is to find a balance of maintaining a neighborhood feel that has existed for decades, and renewing it at the same time. 

Genealogy Of Site Specificity

This reading exposes a new way for artists to consider art in an institutional setting such as museums and galleries. It is true that artists today are confined to a certain space and feeling of hierarchy when it comes to displaying what they have to offer. An artist is only as worthy as his art, and if his art is put on a shelf so is the artist. Art can no longer just be. It's presence cannot influence the ordinary person and cannot be seen by the majority. Only those who chose to go to the institutional setting can gain some insight of the political expression that rises through art. Personally I believe that public art is a very important thing in a society. Why not display our creative selves for everyone to see? Why not enhance an ordinary walk to work through artistic expression? We are all artists that are made to believe that our skills or input are not necessary unless worthy of a gallery or museum space.

Two works that stuck with me would be Daniel Buren's Within and Beyond the Frame, 1973, and Maria Laderman Ukeles's Harlford Wash: Washing Tracks, Maintenance Inside. These two pieces express the concept of site-specific art to the fullest. The fact that the flags go beyond the museum walls not only creates an unknowing for the minority viewer that is culturing themselves, but gives an empowerment for the ordinary "stranger" that has not been exposed to an artistic lifestyle. They can see the art from the outside. It is as if the museum itself is spilling out its beauty for the world to see. It is very clever and well executed. Secondly, Ukeles's project opens up new doors of thinking. When at a museum or gallery, viewers barely think of how different the space would be if it wasn't maintained to its full potential. What if trash or dirt surrounded the walls upon which the art is displayed. Evidently, the viewer would not feel so special or intellectual from a street pedestrian. Art is meant to be viewed as paint on a canvas or sculpture of its surroundings. It is not necessarily right for them to be caged between white walls. Ukele's artwork exposes the work that has to be done to maintain this kind of hierarchal position of the way we portray art. In reality it seems unnecessary and useless.

Critical Vehicles - Krzysztof Wodizcko

It is necessary to shed a light on the issues discussed in this text. The dense information provided has evoked a new way of thinking for potential artists or community developing entrepreneurs. To avoid future catastrophes we first have to fight the present destructiveness of our society. Without clearing out our path we will face major problems for our generations to come. Using art as one form of medium to recover our contemporary issues is a light hearted and uplifting approach to any damaged and scared community. It is true that many people live and breath in the same area as we do, yet feel strange, alone and alienated from quality life, a feeling of belonging and a sense of security. Why is it that we have these life components yet others are struggling to even find them? It is because no one has let them, no one has said its ok. It is theirs as well.

            The reading made a great impression on me, being that I a am an immigrant myself. Back in middle school I wish there was such a thing as an alien staff, or technological equipment for me to analyze, put together and express my self through. But there wasn’t. My thoughts, my feelings and opinions were kept to myself, being that when exposed, seemed strange, unwanted and not comprehendible by those around me. If I could show my environment where I had come from and where I was going, maybe then they would respect and integrated my into their lives, in belief that I had something important and beautiful to offer.

            Interrogative Design provides a beautiful bridge to expose the wound while healing it. An audience does not realize their own selves until they see themselves exposed and liberated by their own thoughts and experiences. The exposure that art can create should be overlooked. A reason to stumble along your path and realize who you are, your own strangeness, your place in the now and in the future not only will create a better life for yourself, but will influence generations of communities to come. The art has to be honest, relatable and personal to it’s audience. It shouldn’t be demanding nor offensive, it should be for the viewer than against. Creating a good environment and positive thinking in a certain area, eventually grows, expands and influences all around it. Hearing the lost voices, the invisible people, creates a caring environment that will also manifest. This reading not only can be enlightening to artists or creative minds, but to psychologists, politicians, parents, and residents as well

Following

... Means Black Removal

I am greatly discomforted by this article. It saddens me to see authoritative powers control people’s lives and future without any way to stop them. The commonwealth project not only brought destruction to people’s everyday happiness but also has created a lonely, alienated space for its inhabitants today. After reading this, it all makes sense. When first coming to America in 2000 from my home country Greece, I was extremely shocked by the long distances and seclusion that Americans live in. There is no interaction with your next-door neighbor, no “knitted” communities to help one another out. This environment has a great psychological defect to anyone that lives in it. It promotes loneliness, depression, use of drugs, and an unhealthy way of communication and human interaction. America has always focused on money or the true wealth of a happy life? Is it the greatness of simple pleasures, or the greatness of showing off? Is it the progress towards a better life, or towards an unwanted future? Taxpayers are sadly blind to this because it is kept from them. People should be exposed to this information more than they have, and truly understand why their neighborhoods are designed the way they are.  Why do highways, huge malls and parking lots, constantly surround us? Why can’t we walk anywhere? Because it was once there, but taken away.

            The fact of the matter is, the Common wealth plan destructed Kimball and wiped out Gainsboro. Important landmarks were demolished; neighborhoods and families were completely destroyed. The African American race has always been an object and never taken seriously. The white man has always decided who they were, where they lived, how they behaved and what they did. I personally, thought this was abolished with slavery, apparently not. How dare the government still intervene? These people have an apparent identity crisis because the white man created it three hundred years ago. They should be free to hold on to what is there’s, what they have created to call home. These buildings and landmarks might seem to us as simple communities. Yet we fail to understand that these communities are their culture. This is their birthplace. They are African Americans, and they are thirsty for a place to call home, for a history to call theirs. These segregation plans do nothing but make matters worse. They do not accomplish happiness, only anger. How are we every going to live harmoniously when we tare away all the good that we want to hold on too? I am truly fearful for the changes that will come. I am fearful for the African American race. What comes around goes around, and our system has pushed the limits. Lets hope we become more aware, and speak up for the sake of all. 

Urban Renewal

It is eye opening to be informed of such material that is evident in everyday life, yet most of us never stop and think why it exists or how it came to be. Personally, I never understood why projects are developed and why they are located in those certain areas. Most of the time they are randomly placed in small sections near colleges, urban cities, or middle to high-class areas. They are there to provide housing for African Americans while containing them in a certain area, controlling their income and housing expansion. It is very interesting to learn about the repelling dynamic of high and low income citizens and how government involvement takes a biased side towards the high-income citizens with no consideration of the consequences following the ignorance of equal rights for all. After reading about both sides of the situation, I felt as though there is no solution real solution to the problem at this time. Only as communities evolve over the years, leveling out different their races, cultural backgrounds, and income levels, will individuals be ok with living in the same environment. Otherwise, there are two many complications such as ways of living, cultural habits, and preferences that interfere with a low and high income or interracial collaborated neighborhood. I state this while indirectly referring to several examples of conflicted countries such as Israel and Palestine, and Albania and Serbia, when dealing with Kosovo. As the article stated, even though the housing at Hill District was old and distressed, it created a very comforting and familiar community to its inhabitants. For them, their life, their families, it did not matter to have crisp new buildings, filled with merchants, banks and retailers. It mattered that their community surrounded them, their way of being. Yes, maybe they would prefer nicer housing, but the government never really asked them what they wanted. It was never taken in consideration what a comforting community and a happy group of citizens really could reward the city with. A stable future, a growing community towards better, a low crime and drug rate and a better atmosphere overall.