Sponsors
the Background
June 2005, the School of Communication, Technology & Design initiated the research platform M3: man medium machine.
Media Technology and ICT have developed rapidly the last decades. Computers, in all its diverse forms, are part of our everyday life, in all the more connections; from more or less intelligent homes and artefacts, to mobile phones, public transport, home appliances, and so on.
This technology is also present, and prominent, in discussions on how to arrange the workplace, what the school is about, and what is the future of mankind.
With all the more technology present in our everyday life, there is a great need of making attentive the different kinds of not just uses, but also users: what the technology affords, and how is used, will be varied, depending on cultural and ethnical background, on knowledge and experience, on sex, age, functional impairment, and so on. These variation are important to notice and reflect upon, if Sweden is to become an "information society for all".
aim of M3
With M3, The School of Communication, Technology & Design wants to put the light on the technology from first and foremost the perspective of human- and social sciences. Therefore, we will focus on ethnographic studies, studying the use of, the effects of, and so on, the technology in its socio-cultural context. This does not exclude lab-environment, which is a good and in many circumstances necessary both complement to the more ethnographic approaches, and a "think-tank" for new and innovative thoughts and initiatives. Important is also "textual" studies of different digital artefacts, such as computer games, different kind of interfaces, and so on.
M3 will seek partnership within the local community as well as within the Baltic region. Also, we seek partnership with both the industry and local companies, as well as with universities, both in Sweden and abroad.
4 themes
The field of interest for M3 is vast. Therefore, we will work with different themes, partly depending on the interests of those connected to M3 - but also depending on what is of relevance for mediatechnology research.
As of today there are 4 of these major themes:
- ICT and learning
How can ICT support the learning process? A theme of great importance, as well as actuality: most elementary schools have computers - but how to use them? Why using them? For what outcome? - ICT and work
One of the fields of interest, as for ICT and work, is connected to how the digital technology make the distinction between work and leisure time, workplace and home, more and more difficult to maintain. - interaction design and user experience
The focus in this theme is on the use and development of different kinds of user centred design methods. - interactive media and virtual environments
Here the focus is on computer mediated entertainment, information and communication, and more specifically on the how interactive and simulated reality affects content and use.
M3 also has a computer games studio.
To get in contact with M3, or School of Communication, Technology & Design, please contact:
m3@sh.se
Patrik Hernwall
head of M3
patrik.hernwall@sh.se
Johan Bornebusch
head of School of Communication, Technology & Design
johan.bornebusch@sh.se