New exhibition challenges perceived realities
19 June 2009
A first-ever event that brings together a selection of experimental projects that will challenge, and maybe alter, people's perception of what a surface is takes place next Tuesday (23 June 2009).
The Science Museum and the Designing Tangibles for Learning project from the London Knowledge Lab (Institute of Education, London and Birkbeck) are inviting the public to come and have a play, and see and hear from the researchers and performers who are redefining what it means to be a surface.
'Surface Tension' includes a day-long interactive exhibition of some of the most innovative examples in the field and the opportunity to meet their creators.
Visitors can get clued up on the science of the interactive surface and learn how to build one themselves. They can discover the potential for fuelling creativity in one of the themed drop-in discussion sessions taking place during the day.
The exhibits are:
Making Learning Tangible (London Knowledge Lab, Designing Tangibles for Learning project) - Explore the physics of light by manipulating everyday objects on a DIY interactive surface built for children.
DaisyPhone (Queen Mary University of London) - Create music with people from around the world on the world's first multi-user, live jam for the iPhone.
Cellular Sound (Robin Fencott) - Make ambient music with your friends, using a £100 multi-touch surface.
Skin Vision (e-Sense project) - Get in the game as you track and catch a rolling ball when blindfolded using tactile stimulation on your belly.
ShareIT DiamondTouch (Open University and University of Sussex) - Join the circuit! The multi-user, multi-touch DiamondTouch surface uses your body as an electrical conduit - the minute electrical signal moves through your body and places the position of your touch on the table.
Sensory Threads (Proboscis, Birkbeck and Queen Mary University of London) - Explore your relationships with the environment around you in this experimental mobile and participatory sensing and sonification experience.
FTIR Multitouch Surface (ShareIT project) -This large multi-touch table uses the process frustrated total internal reflection to detect multiple simultaneous touches.
Surface Tension takes place on 23 June in the Dana Centre of the Science Museum. Over 18s only and it is free but it is recommended that you pre-book. The exhibition runs from 10.30 to 16.30 followed by an evening's entertainment beginning at 19.00. To find out more about the event and to pre-book please visit www.danacentre.org.uk/events/2009/06/23 or call +44 020 7942 4040 or email tickets@danacentre.org.uk.
For further information please contact James Russell at the Institute of Education, London on +44 (0)20 911 5556 or email j.russell@ioe.ac.uk.
Notes for editors
1) Surface Tension is supported by the Designing Tangibles for Learning project, the London Knowledge Lab, the Science Museum's Dana Centre and the EPSRC UbiComp Grand Challenge.
2) The EPSRC funded 'Designing Tangibles for Learning' project is a collaboration between Principle Investigator Dr. Sara Price (s.price@ioe.ac.uk) from the IOE; and Co-Investigator Dr George Roussos ( g.roussos@dcs.bbk.ac.uk) from Birkbeck College. For more details see www.danacentre.org.uk/events/2009/06/23.
3) The London Knowledge Lab is a unique interdisciplinary collaboration between the Institute of Education and Birkbeck College that brings together computer and social scientists from a broad range of fields, enabling us to building systems that afford new ways to learn.
4) The Institute of Education is a college of the University of London, specialising in teaching, research and consultancy in education and related areas of social science and professional practice. The Institute conducts over one-third of the educational research in the UK and last year's Research Assessment Exercise judged that 35 per cent of the work it had submitted was "world leading", while much of the remainder was of international significance.