Exhibition: This Pervasive Day | Talk: Emotion as Interface

Edinburgh International Science Festival: April 2011

Two public events under the theme of This Pervasive Day - an interactive exhibition and a talk, are taking place as part of the Edinburgh International Science Festival in April.

Presenting a specially designed interactive experience to visitors, the exhibition will demonstrate how all our normal activities, and our emotions and feelings, can be stored as computer data, even without our knowledge. This data can then be used to provide us with tailored services - in healthcare, intelligent homes and cars, and smart communications. But what are the dangers that we need to address before this technology can be truly used for our benefit? Will we be prepared to sacrifice our privacy for convenience?

A panel of experts who work at the cutting edge of this research will explain and debate these issues on the 19th April. The panellists are:

• Controversial Professor, Kevin Warwick, author of I, Cyborg, who has had computer chips implanted into his own arm. (For info: My Body, My Laboratory, Time Magazine, 6th March 2011 http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2050030,00.html)
• Dr Jenny Tillotson, an artist who designs jewellery and clothes with computerised scent-output systems worn on the body for health, wellbeing and drug delivery applications.
• Professor Nikola Serbedzija, works on affective systems that weave computing intelligence into the 'fabric of everyday life', sensing our presence, mood, and intentions. He is currently working with Ferrari on ‘reflective vehicles’ that act as co-drivers.

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Details about the events:

Talk: Emotion as Interface

19th April, 6pm ( £8 / £6 - includes a glass of wine and a chance to view the associated exhibition )

Professor Kevin Warwick, Dr Jenny Tillotson, Professor Nikola Serbedzija

The new generation of computer systems are able to understand and alter our individual emotional states – and we may not even be aware of it. The products we use daily; our cars, clothes and music players – incorporate intelligent technologies that can adapt themselves and alter our environments according to our moods. Join a panel of experts who work at the forefront of this research to debate the benefits, and possible dangers, this technology offers.

http://www.sciencefestival.co.uk/whats-on/categories/talk/emotion-as-interface

Exhibition: This Pervasive Day

Soon, wearable technology will mean that everyday items we carry on our bodies - phones, clothing and laptops - will be able to sense and alter our moods and make changes to our environments, with or without our knowledge. This interactive exhibition explores the exciting possibilities and potential dangers.

FREE Exhibition April 9th to 19th

http://www.sciencefestival.co.uk/whats-on/categories/exhibition/this-pervasive-day

both events at  Inspace :: University of Edinburgh, 10 Crichton Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9AB

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Event: User Heaven or Techno Hell: Where are intelligent, adaptive technologies leading us?

Dana Centre, London 17th May 2011 7-9pm

Near-invisible computing can be embedded into many of the ordinary items we carry and the spaces we inhabit. Sensing and processing technologies are becoming smaller and more powerful. Our daily activities, physical conditions and even emotions can be tracked and stored as data.

The pervasive computing vision is one of a world where our immediate environment constantly adapts to us, allowing us to move safely and seamlessly through our lives. Our homes, workplaces, cars, hospitals and clothing will predict our needs and respond to them instantly.

Will this vision mean more convenience or less privacy? Are we prepared to trust the system to know what’s good for us? Come and learn more about the science behind these technological advances, and discuss the perils and potentials of this new world of computing.

Speakers:

Jeremy Pitt, Intelligent Systems and Networks Group, Imperial College London
Alois Ferscha, Institute for Pervasive Computing, Johannes Kepler University, Linz
Oli Mival, Institute for Informatics and Digital Innovation, Edinburgh Napier University

This event is free

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Background information:

Edinburgh Napier University – PerAda project
PerAda : towards pervasive adaptation
The goal of the PerAda European project is to build a new community of researchers working on pervasive and adaptive technologies: http://www.perada.eu
The Centre for Emergent Computing, Edinburgh Napier University: http://www.cec.napier.ac.uk