Distance Lab: Free Technology November 13, 2008

*distance* lab

OPEN STUDIO 004

*Slow Technology*

*Thursday 13 November 2008* / 12 noon - 5 pm

Horizon Scotland / Forres, Scotland

/Free of charge, spaces limited //(see below for booking information)/

Interested in what's going on at Distance Lab? At our "Open Studio"
events we show you how we're pushing the limits of technology and design to overcome the disadvantages of distance. We also expose you to some of the most innovative research ideas and personalities from other parts of the world.

The theme of this event is *Slow Technology*, an extension of notions from the "slow food" movement into the design of new technologies.
Instead of speed and efficiency, slow technology emphasises the quality, locality, and humanity of the total experience.

Distance Lab researchers *Costas Bissas* and *Tomoko Hayashi* will describe our ongoing endeavors in the realm of "slow technology", including Neuromantic, a project that aims to encourage rural modern life through the use of new technologies without altering the authenticity of the environment, local uniqueness and resources.

/Special guest speaker:/

Glorianna Davenport

MIT Media Laboratory

*Slow Stories*

Glorianna Davenport is head of the Media Fabrics (formerly Interactive
Cinema) group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Media Lab. Trained as a documentary filmmaker, Glorianna has achieved international recognition for her work in new media forms. Her research explores fundamental issues related to the collaborative co-construction of digital media experiences, where the task of narration is split among authors, consumers, and computer mediators.

In her talk, Glorianna will frame her work within the "slow" theme. Time is central to our experience of life and to the concept of story; time is required to experience ones own story, to author story, and to experience the stories of others. Today the agility of computer networks and their associated technologies allow a new class of story: slow stories. For instance, a story of a character - be it a glacier, a day in the life of a salt marsh, or a human being maturing through a complex web of circumstance - can be developed for slow release, in a time coordinated with story development.

A light lunch and presentations will be followed by open studio time during which you can visit our lab space, check out our equipment, talk to our researchers, and see our latest project demonstrations.

Outline agenda:

12:00 - Registration opens and light lunch available

13:00 - Presentations begin promptly

15:00 - Research demonstrations and discussion in our studio space

17:00 - End

This Open Studio will be immediately followed by a Moray Small Business Club event in the same location. For more information, contact the Moray Small Business Club.

*Space is limited and bookings must be requested online...*

More information and booking request form:

http://www.distancelab.org/events/openstudio004/

Distance Lab general information:

http://www.distancelab.org/

LOCATION INFORMATION:

This event will be taking place at Horizon Scotland in Forres, Scotland,
IV36 2AB. Inverness airport is only 20 miles away, and Aberdeen airport is about 70 miles away. A variety of budget airlines and car hire companies serve these airports. Frequent train and bus service is available to Forres and other nearby towns. Plenty of inexpensive accommodation is available at hotels and B&Bs in Forres and Findhorn (on the Moray coast).

Official Website: http://www.distancelab.org/events/openstudio004/