Fashionable Technology Research Consortium

Fashionable Technology Report December 2009 & January 2010

EXHIBITION ::: JUMP OFF BY DARIA DAROSH
A.I.R. Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, USA
February 3 - 28th, 2010
opening reception on Thursday, February 4, 6 - 8pm
Jump-off maps a personal geography in textile, text, and wireless technology. The installation features six STORY RUGS, six PARIS BUNDLES, two THEORETICAL CHAIRS and a reading room where you can browse through the thesis in book form or in a LIMITED-EDITION PHD COMIC BOOK.
The story rugs are tagged with QR codes that can be accessed with your cell phone for additional content.
http://www.dariadorosh.com/html/next.pressrelease.html


RESIDENCY ::: ELECTRONIC-TEXT+TEXTILES
Riga, Latvia
Applications for the period from January 2010 to December 2010.
e-t+t is an interdisciplinary platform facilitating artistic investigation and production in the fields of literature, language, textiles, and material culture, promoting expression at the intersections of print, cloth, and electronic technologies.
The Residency offers a great opportunity not only to develop one’s creative ideas and research interests in a very spacious, modern studio/apartment in one of the most beautiful parts of Riga but also to enjoy the emerging Baltic arts and literary scene, the Baltic Sea and healthy local food. The Residency can accommodate up to two related persons at one time. Joint applications are also welcomed.
With the June 2010 meeting of the European Society for Literature, Science, and the Arts in Riga , we expect this to be a banner year for the Residency at e-t+t. For more information on conference please visit: www.e-text-textiles.lv/SLSAeu2010/home.htm.
http://www.e-text-textiles.lv


COMPETITION ::: PRIX ARS ELECTRONICA 2010
Online Submission Deadline: March 5, 2010
The 24th Prix Ars Electronica - International Competition for CyberArts is open for entries.From its very inception in 1987, the Prix Ars Electronica is an open platform for various disciplines at the intersection of art, technology, science and society. Again more than 3,000 submissions in 2009 have further enhanced the Prix Ars Electronica’s reputation as an internationally representative competition honoring outstanding works in the cyberarts. The aim of the competition is to continually keep the Prix Ars Electronica updated in line with leading-edge developments in the dynamic field of cyberarts. In 2010, 6 Golden Nicas, 12 Awards of Distinction and up to 70 Honorary Mentions as well as [the next idea] voestalpine Art and Technology Grant are presented to participants. The winners will receive a total of 117,500 Euros in prize money.
Categories:
Computer Animation/Film/VFX
Digital Musics & Sound Art
Interactive Art
Hybrid Art
Digital Communities
[the next idea] voestalpine Art and Technology Grant
u19 - freestyle computing (only for Austria, see details:www.u19.at )
Contact: [email protected]
http://prixars.aec.at


CONFERENCE ::: MAKER FAIRE
May 22 - 23, 2010
San Mateo County, CA, USA
ENTRY CLOSE DATE: March 31, 2010. Space is limited, please submit your entry by the due date!
Maker Faire is a two-day, family-friendly event that celebrates the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) mindset. It's for creative, resourceful people of all ages and backgrounds who like to tinker and love to make things. So much to see, you will need 2 days to see it all!
http://makerfaire.com/bayarea/2010/callformakers/


CONFERENCE ::: SMART FABRICS 2010
April 14 - 16, 2010
Miami, FL, USA
Covering topics such as the current status of innovative smart fabric technologies in the marketplace, as well as recent application breakthroughs and adoption. The conference will be of particular interest for people involved in electronics, textiles, medical, sporting equipment, fashion, and wireless communication industries, as well as military/space agencies and the investment community.
http://www.smartfabricsconference.com/


EXHIBITION ::: VISUAL VOLTAGE
April 8, 2010 - May 20, 2010
Bejing, China
This exhibit enables visitors to explore various forms of electricity, and to experience and reflect on energy consumption. Some of Sweden’s best known artists and designers have been brought together with engineers, technical know-how and environmental consideration in this ground breaking exhibition. You will see electricity as never seen before. By the Swedish Institute and the Interactive Institute.
http://www.visualvoltage.se/


WORKSHOPS ::: MOBILEHCI2010
12th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction with Mobile Devices and Services (MobileHCI 2010),
A Mobile World for All
September 7-10, 2010,
Lisboa, Portugal
WORKSHOP PAPER SUBMISSIONS: April 23, 2010
Workshops and Tutorials will be held on September 7th, 2010.
MobileHCI 2010 is organised by the University of Lisboa, with the collaboration of the New University of Lisboa and the research centres LaSIGE and CITI, and in cooperation with ACM SIGCHI and ACM SIGMOBILE.
Workshops at MobileHCI 2010 offer a chance for members of a community with common interests to meet in the context of a focused and interactive discussion. If you are working in an emerging area in MobileHCI, consider organizing a workshop. They are an opportunity to move the field forward and build community. MobileHCI workshops might address (for example) basic research, applied research, HCI practice, new methodologies, emerging application areas, design innovations, management and organizational issues, or HCI education. Each workshop should generate ideas that give the MobileHCI community a new, organized way of thinking about the topic, or ideas that suggest promising directions for future research. Some workshops result in edited books or special issues of journals; you may consider including this goal in the design of your workshop. Additionally, this year, the best paper of each workshop will appear in a special issue of the International Journal of Mobile Human Computer Interaction (IJMHCI).
http://www.mobilehci2010.org


SYMPOSIUM ::: 3RD INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM FOR FLEXIBLE ORGANIC ELECTRONICS
July 7 - 9, 2010
Eagles Palace Hotel, Halkidiki, Greece
The IS-FOE is the premier scientific & research event in the areas of flexible organic electronics and showcases the latest developments in the fields of:
    • Organic electronic materials (small molecule & polymers)
    • Organic Multifunctional Materials
    • Organic/inorganic and hybrid materials and systems
    • Flexible substrates & encapsulation methods & materials
    • Molecular electronics & Photonics
    • Self-organized molecules and systems
    • Theory & Modelling (materials, components and devices)
    • Manufacturing processes (printing, vacuum, chemical) & quality control processes
    • Flexible Displays & Lighting
    • Flexible Solar Cells & Batteries
    • Flexible Circuits & Sensors
    • Flexible RFIDs & Smart Textiles
    • Integrated Smart Systems
http://isfoe.physics.auth.gr


CONFERENCE ::: International Conference on Wireless Information Networks and Systems - WINSYS 2010
July 26 - 28, 2010
Athens, Greece
Information systems and information technology are pervasive in the whole communications field, which is quite vast, encompassing a large number of research topics and applications: from practical issues to the more abstract theoretical aspects of communication; from low level protocols to high-level networking and applications; from wireless networking technologies to mobile information systems; many other topics are included in the scope of WINSYS.
Ideas on how to analyze and approach problems by combining information systems and communication technologies, either in the scope of R&D projects, engineering or business applications, are welcome. Papers describing new methods or technologies, advanced prototypes, systems, tools and techniques and general survey papers indicating future directions are also encouraged.
http://www.winsys.icete.org


CONFERENCE ::: FUN AND GAMES 2010
September, 15-17, 2010
University of Leuven, Belgium
IMPORTANT SUBMISSION DATES:
•   Tutorials (for organizers): January 29th, 2010
•   Workshop proposals (for organizers, 4 pages): January 29th, 2010
•   Full papers (8 pages), short papers (4 pages): March 19, 2010
Fun and Games 2010 is a single-track, 2-day conference where academics and practitioners can interact together in a playful event that marries the best of academic writing with the most innovative user experiences.
The conference invites original contributions from designers, developers and researchers in computer games, experience design and ‘fun’. Of particular interest are contributions that cross the traditional disciplines of human-computer interaction, games design, and game development. It will provide a venue for presenting and discussing peer reviewed academic and practitioner papers, posters and live demos.
Topics:
Papers are solicited from, but not limited to the following topics:
•   Game theories, constructs, concepts and frameworks
•    Game design methods, principles and processes
•   Evaluating games & measuring player experiences
•   Serious games such as: games for special target groups: children, elderly, people with
special needs, etc.,  Social Games (& aspects), Games for Health
•   Persuasive Aspects of Games
•   Affective Computing
•   Game interaction:  Mobile Entertainment, Pervasive games, Tangibles, Multimodality games, Whole body interfaces
•   Innovation & technology:  Robots, Smart Toys, Frameworks & engines, Sensors & signal processing for games
http://FNG2010.org/

Fashionable Technology Report October & November 2009

CONFERENCE ::: CODED CULTURES JAPAN
Yokohama, Japan
October 14 - 18, 2009
Sabine Seymour was invited to speak about Functional Aesthetics in Fashionable Technology. The symposium of “CODED CULTURES – Exploring Creative Emergences” was hosted by the Tokyo National University of the Arts. It combined theoretical lectures and presentations structured through the four sub-topics of the festival: Designing Complexity, Assembling Things, Expanding Locality and Creating Proto-Culture. The selected positions raised questions about the transformation of cultural codes in different areas of creative selforganization and give an opportunity to discuss these on an international and trans-disciplinary level.
http://codedcultures.com/jp/about/


SYMPOSIUM ::: BIG DESIGN WEEK
Ljubjana, Slowenia
November 5 - 6, 2009
Sabine Seymour was invited to speak at the conference ‘Sustaining Design Excellence’. As part of the Month of Design 09, Zavod Big hosted its annual design conference, this year entitled ‘Sustaining Design Excellence’. The conference addressed questions and issues that explore the relationship between quality design, creativity, innovation, technology, strategy, responsibility and sustainability. Eight internationally active and engaged practitioners – from designers and architects to managers, consultants, planners and strategists – were invited to present their work and their vision within the framework of ‘Sustaining Design Excellence’.
http://www.zavodbig.com/category/mod-conference-09/
http://www.zavodbig.com/2009/04/07/sabine-seymour-chief-creative-officer-moondial-new-york-usa-vienna-aut/


PRESENTATION ::: KEPLER SALON
Linz, Austria
November 7, 2009
Sabine Seymour was invited to speak about her work in Fashionable Technology. The astronomer and mathematician Johannes Kepler lived in Linz between 1612 and 1627. With Galilei and Newton he belongs to a select band of pivotal figures in the development of astronomy; he is the eponymous patron of the Kepler Salon. What does the term “mechatronic” actually mean? Do we have free will? How does a heart valve work? The Kepler Salon will be the venue for meetings and an ongoing exchange of information. Universities, institutions of higher learning and hospitals will be engaging in the presentation of knowledge and in making research results accessible and intelligible to the general public in a series of dialogues with the researchers themselves. The Kepler Salon will serve as a showcase for the sciences and as an interface between research and workaday life.
http://www.kepler-salon.at/en/Kepler-Salon
http://www.kepler-salon.at/en/content/view/full/960


CONFERENCE ::: 3rd EUROPEAN CONFERENCE ON AMBIENT INTELLIGENCE
Salzburg, Austria
November 18 - 21, 2009
Ambient Intelligence represents a vision of the future where we shall be surrounded by technological means, sensitive and responsive to people and their behaviors, deliver advanced functions, services and experiences. Ambient intelligence is expected to combine concepts of ubiquitous technology, intelligent systems and advanced user interfaces putting the humans in the centre of technological developments. Future contextual solutions are envisaged exploiting the power of Ambient Intelligence. The conference aims to bring together researchers from academia and industry from various disciplines that constitute the field of Ambient Intelligence to present the latest results, discuss the state of art and think about the future.
http://www.ami-09.org


EXHIBITION ::: SK-INTERFACES
Casino Luxembourg – Forum d’art contemporain
41, rue Notre Dame
Luxemburg
September 26 - January 10, 2010
Skin is our natural interface to the world – but it is progressively being replaced by technological extensions, some of which can have liberating, other rather new restrictive, effects. The trans-disciplinary exhibition sk-interfaces presents about 20 international artists who question the ways in which today’s techno-sciences alter our relation to the world: digital technologies, architecture, tissue cultures, transgenesis, self-experiments or telepresence – the artists appropriate these methods and explore the permeability between disciplines and between art and science. Their interfaces connect us with different species, destabilise our definition of being human today and reflect on the question of satellite bodies.
The exhibition sk-interfaces at Casino Luxembourg – Forum d’art contemporain, curated by Jens Hauser, is the extended continuation of a project organised for Liverpool, European Capital of Culture 2008 at FACT (Foundation for Art and Creative Technology) in Liverpool. Artists: Art Orienté objet, Maurice Benayoun, Zane Berzina, Critical Art Ensemble, Wim Delvoye, Olivier Goulet, Eduardo Kac, Antal Lakner, Yann Marussich, Kira O’Reilly, Zbigniew Oksiuta, ORLAN, Philippe Rahm, Julia Reodica, Stelarc, Jun Takita, The Office of Experiments, The Tissue Culture and Art Project, Sissel Tolaas, Paul Vanouse
http://www.casino-luxembourg.lu/


SYMPOSIUM ::: SUPER HUMAN: REVOLUTION OF THE SPECIES
Melbourne, Australia
November 23 - 24, 2009
Taking place over two days, the Super Human symposium will present an invigorating and inspiring mix of keynote speakers and collaborative research projects engaging with one or more of the symposium themes: Augmentation, Cognition and Nanoscale Interventions. Questions that the symposium will address include, but are not limited to: How do scientific and artistic bodies of knowledge intersect with human, social bodies? Does art serve simply as a representational tool for the sciences or is there more to the picture than that? Does research into bodies and their systems offer an insight into aesthetics, or is it confined to the purely functional?
http://www.superhuman.org.au/


CONFERENCE ::: DESIGN FOR CONVERSION, THE MOBILE EDITION
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
December 11, 2009
Design for Conversion is a highly interactive conference aiming to collectively (as one big family) deepen our knowledge of Persuasive Technology, Experience Design and Evidence Based Marketing, and how these disciplines can learn from each other. With heavy doses of design thinking, cognitive psychology and statistical knowledge we are very serious in taking up a worldwide conversion challenge
http://designforconversion.nl


CONFERENCE ::: ACM Augmented Human International Conference
Megève, France
April 2 - 4, 2010
DRAFT ABSTRACT SUBMISSION DEADLINES: December 20, 2009
The AH international conference focuses on scientific contributions towards augmenting humans capabilities through technology for increased well-being and enjoyable human experience.
The topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
Augmented and Mixed Reality
Internet of Things
Augmented Sport
Sensors and Hardware
Wearable Computing
Augmented Health
Augmented Well-being
Smart artifacts & Smart Textiles
Augmented Tourism and Games
Ubiquitous Computing
Bionics and Biomechanics
Training/Rehabilitation Technology
Exoskeletons
Brain Computer Interface
Augmented Context-Awareness
Augmented Fashion
Safety, Ethics and Legal Aspects
Security and Privacy Aspects
http://www.augmented-human.com

Fashionable Technology Report August & September 2009

MOONDIAL AND WENDY & JIM SHIRT ::: SUN N01
The conversion of a static interface into a dynamic one by the simple natural power of the sun is the basis of SUN. It is a new series of shirts by the fashionable technology studio Moondial and the fashion label Wendy & Jim. A limited edition was launched yesterday at the Ars Electronica Festival 2009. SUN is using the shirt as a canvas to tell a story and uses the sun as the switch to turn on the graphic. As such the static graphic becomes an interactive story.
http://www.moondial.com/sun


CONFERENCE ::: THE FUTURE OF RETAIL AT ARS ELECTRONICA
Linz, Austria
September 5, 2009
Sabine Seymour is a speaker at Pixelspaces at Ars Electronica. "The future of retail" is an open, collaborative project which aims to explore and develop new technological and creative opportunities to develop the instore fashion retail experience.
http://www.aec.at/humannature/en/pixelspaces/future-of-retail


CONFERENCE ::: DESIGN CONTEST AT ISWC2009
Linz, Austria
September 7, 2009
Sabine Seymour is design contest co-chair at this year's ISWC. The selected projects will be presented at the Design Contest.
http://iswc.net/program_7th.php#design


CALL ::: FASHION DESIGNER AT V2
Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Artist Daan Roosegaarde and V2_Lab are looking for a fashion designer (M/F) to help realise “Intimacy”, a next step in wearable technology. Daan Roosegaarde, known for his interactive artworks such as ‘Dune’ and ‘Sustainable Dance Floor’, is expanding his artistic and innovative horizon to include fashion. In close collaboration with V2_Lab he will be developing electronic fashion that becomes visually transparent according to the amount of personal intimacy involved. In order to take this step from prototype to 'haute couture' V2_Lab and Daan Roosegaarde are looking for:
-    a recently graduated or senior year fashion designer (M/F) with an affinity for hairstyling;
-    he or she must be able to participate in thought process along the lines set out by V2_Lab and Studio Roosegaarde in the preliminary stages and therefore must be a good team player;
-    the project starts on 1 November 2009; it is a full-time position for a period of 4 to 6 weeks.
Please send your resume/portfolio and motivation before 1 October, preferably by e-mail, to: [email protected]
Eligible designers will be invited for an interview mid-October.
http://www.v2.nl
http://www.studioroosegaarde.net


MAGAZINE ONLINE ::: FILTER CODED CLOTH
Check out the online version of Filter's Coded Cloth issue. Filter was designed to encourage engagement and dialogue. It was first published as the ANAT Bulletin in July 1988, Filter has been informing and inspiring a global network of creative innovators for over two decades.
http://filter.anat.org.au/category/issue-69/


CALL FOR PAPERS ::: 6TH EUROPEAN MEETING OF THE SOCIETY FOR LITERATURE, SCIENCE, AND THE ARTS
DEADLINE FOR ABSTRACT SUBMISSION: September 15, 2009
The Stockholm School of Economics in Riga (SSE Riga)
Riga/Liepaja (Latvia)
June 15 - 20, 2010
Main Organizer:  Electronic Text + Textiles (e-t+t)
Theme: TEXTURES. The SLSA-EU 2010 conference is dedicated to exploring fabrics, structures, surfaces, and interfaces in a world that has been transformed to a large extent through technoscience and networked media. This transformed world is highly textured, partly through verbal and non-verbal 'texts' but also by mixtures of human-made and given environments whose complexity offers resistance to symbolic readings.
http://www.e-text-textiles.lv/SLSAeu2010/home.htm

FASHIONABLE TECHNOLOGY REPORT June 2009

TV DOCUMENTARY ::: ORF NEWTON (in German)
Sabine Seymour was interviewed for ORF Newton on June 6, 2009. The headline: "WLAN-Hüte und Zeitungs-T-Shirts: Wie wir uns in Zukunft kleiden". Während den großen Modeschöpfern offenbar seit Jahrzehnten nicht mehr einfällt als die Geschichte in regelmäßigen Abständen zu wiederholen, arbeiten Designer an der Schnittstelle zwischen Modeindustrie und Wissenschaft an gänzlich neuen Modekonzepten. Pullis, die bei Bedarf das Handy laden, gehören da fast schon wieder zu alten Hüten. Diese werden in Zukunft übrigens anzeigen, wo WLAN-Spots zu finden sind, auf denen wir unsere T-Shirts mit den neuesten Zeitungsinfos updaten können.
http://tv.orf.at/program/orf1/20090606/462576701/264862/

EXIBITION ::: OPEN SOURCE EMBROIDERY
June 6 - September 6, 2009
Bildmuseet, Umea University, Sweden
The Open Source Embroidery exhibition presents artworks that use embroidery and code as a tool for participatory production and distribution. The Open Source Embroidery project includes workshops and exhibitions which investigate how the open source software development model has been incorporated into the language of cultural participation. This major exhibition at BildMuseet brings together individual and collectively made artworks by artists, makers, computer programmers and html users that explore the relationship between craft and code through social and digital networks. The works experiment with interdisciplinary approaches to modifying patterns, the DIY culture of hacking and sampling in sound, GPS and mobile technologies.
http://www.open-source-embroidery.org.uk

CONFERENCE ::: NANOMATERIALS 2009
June 16 - 18, 2009
Bonn, Germany
NanoMaterials09 will focus on the commercialisation of nanomaterials, rather than theoretical benefits; practical solutions for practical challenges.
Two plenary's and five parallel sessions focus on:
   * Printed Electronics
   * Nanocomposites
   * Nanobiotech & Consumer Products
   * Coatings, Inks & Pigments
   * Clean Technology
http://www.nanomaterials09.com

WORKSHOP ::: MAKE ELECTRO - CLOTHING
June 13, 16, 17, 2009
Mediamatic BANK
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Make your shirt beep when people touch you, or yell back at you when you scream. Make your pants light up in the dark or your sleeves blink when you wave your arms. Make self-heating touch screen-friendly gloves or a hat that vibrates when someone is coming up behind you. We provide electronics-kits with the necessities to create your electro-clothing. Bring your own garment(s)! Not just for experienced technicians, everyone can participate. MIT Media Lab researcher Nadya Peek guides the workshops.
http://www.mediamatic.net/page/83908/en

CONFERENCE ::: MOBILE ENTERTAINMENT MARKET 2009
June 23 - 24, 2009
London, UK
The Mobile Entertainment Forum is the global trade association of the mobile media industry, working on behalf of its diverse membership to drive mobile entertainment adoption, shape regulation and deliver competitive advantage to its members. MEF anticipates, defines and addresses issues and opportunities for the industry that monetises mobile media, by identifying sustainable business solutions, promoting best practice and influencing policy to accelerate the business. With global headquarters in London, a Hollywood-based Americas secretariat, an Asia chapter and a newly expanded EMEA branch, MEF’s network of members represents a veritable ‘Who’s Who’ of mobile entertainment businesses and entrepreneurs.
http://www.mem09.com/

CONFERENCE ::: 3rd EUROPEAN CONFERENCE ON AMBIENT INTELLIGENCE
AmI-09: ROOTS FOR THE FUTURE OF AMBIENT INTELLIGENCE
SUBMISSION DUE: June 8 and June 22, 2009
November 18 - 21, 2009
Salzburg, Austria
Ambient Intelligence represents a vision of the future where we shall be surrounded by technological means, sensitive and responsive to people and their behaviors, deliver advanced functions, services and experiences. Ambient intelligence is expected to combine concepts of ubiquitous technology, intelligent systems and advanced user interfaces putting the humans in the centre of technological developments. Future contextual solutions are envisaged exploiting the power of Ambient Intelligence. The conference aims to bring together researchers from academia and industry from various disciplines that constitute the field of Ambient Intelligence to present the latest results, discuss the state of art and think about the future. AmI-09 will bring keynotes, technical papers, workshops, industrial case studies, posters & demos, panels and landscapes. In addition to these categories we will feature ambient visions to look into the next decade of Ambient Intelligence.
http://www.ami-09.org

FASHIONABLE TECHNOLOGY REPORT May 2009

EVENT ::: I-MACHINE FESTIVAL, ROBOTS - PERFORMANCE - FASHION - FILM
May 9 - 17, 2009
Oldenburg, Germany
Edith Russ Site for Media Art
I-Machine will focus on robot research and portable electronics, known as wearable technology. This will be a special event with two clearly defined goals: presenting technology-based art works and through them raising the consciousness of Oldenburgers for the manifold possibilities associated with technology and creativity. Consequently, the festival will centre on the idea of knowledge transfer (through presentations, exhibitions and play workshops). In various formats - ranging from artist performances and workshops, film programmes, dance performances to a fashion show - projects are to be presented that capture the fascination with future and science in the encounter between “man and machine” or “man and wearable technology”. Events and presentations will demonstrate in creative ideas and visionary concepts the significance of the increasing technification of everyday living and its impact on us and which fantasies are still associated with handling technification. What will tomorrow’s fashions look like? What functions can we expect from our clothing in future? What will happen if the human being becomes a machine? What happens when machines produce art?
http://www.edith-russ-haus.de/index.php/Programm/Programm

EVENT ::: ECLECTIC TECH CARNIVAL (/ETC)
June 8 - 12, 2009
Umeå, Sweden
/ETC is a week long gathering for women interested in technology, art and grass root activism. At /ETC you can share experiences and search opportunities for international collaborations through the use of technology and arts. We will explore how we can use technology and art to connect with each other, deepen our understanding of each other's political contexts, develop strategies for grass root activism to engage public and raise awareness on gender issuses in correlation to usage of technology. In short we will explore new ways of interacting by means of technology and art. /ETC is an "on the road-event" that is held in a new place each year. It was started by the organisation Genderchangers that aims to break stereotypical roles related to technology and encourage and support women to use technology, art and gras root networks as a tool for social change.
http://eclectictechcarnival.org/node/869

CONFERENCE ::: FOURTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TANGIBLE, EMBEDDED, AND EMBODIED INTERACTION
SUBMISSION DUE: August 3, 2009
January 25 - 27, 2009
MIT Media Lab
Cambridge, MA, USA
Computing is progressively moving beyond the desktop into new physicaland social contexts. Key areas of innovation in this respect aretangible, embedded, and embodied interactions. These concerns include the interlinking of digital and physical worlds through tangible and embodied interaction and the computational augmentation of everyday objects and environments in new ways through embedded technologies. Research and practice in these innovative areas lead to works of tangible interfaces, graspable interfaces, physical computing, whole-body interaction, gesture-based interfaces, and interactive surfaces. Designing such systems requires interdisciplinary thinking as their creation not only encompasses software, electronics, and mechanics, but also form, aesthetics, and social impact.
http://tei-conf.org/10/Program/Index

FASHIONABLE TECHNOLOGY REPORT April 2009

MOONDIAL FASHIONABLE TECHNOLOGY NEWS
CONFERENCE ::: TEST_LAB: FASHIONABLE TECHNOLOGY*
*The term Fashionable Technology is coined by Sabine Seymour.
May 20, 2009, 8pm
V2_ Institute for the Unstable Media, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Test_Lab is a bi-monthly public event organized by V2_ Institute for the Unstable Media that provides an informal setting for the presentation, demonstration, testing, and discussion of artistic Research and Development (aRt&D). Featuring: Sabine Seymour (AT/US), Mark Coeckelbergh (NL), Aram Bartholl (DE), Cutecircuit: Francesca Rosella and Ryan Genz (UK), and KOBAKANT: Mika Satomi and Hannah Perner-Wilson (JP/AT). Clothing is an aspect of the human physical appearance with considerable social significance. Styles, logos and prints mediate our self-expression and publicly communicate our personal tastes and preferences. Popular ways of doing so reflectwhat is in fashion, which is under constant change due to new developments in fabrics, construction methods,ancillary objects, and their (re-)combination by fashion designers. Recent advances in wearable technology have resulted in a variety of technologies that seamlessly connect to the human body, or are integrated into clothing (such as shape memory alloys, soft circuits, and embedded displays). As a result, more and more fashion designers are turning to the field of wearable technology fornew developments. While these progressive fashion designers are currently setting the trend in fashionable technology with,what can broadly be considered, innocent implementations (such as embedded iPods, integrated LEDs, and adaptive contours), many artists and designers prophesize more provocative scenarios for the future of such technology. These artists foresee that this trend will eventually have an unprecedented social impact, due to the wide-ranging possibilities for self-expression, connectivity, and public communication of innovative fashionable technologies. The scenarios for fashionable technology sketched by these artists provoke philosophical discussionas to the social impact that such developments may have.
This edition of Test_Lab is organized in collaboration with Rotterdam's acclaimed philosophy cafe Arminius Denkcafe.
This event will be streamed live at http://live.v2.nl
http://www.v2.nl

EXHIBITION ::: WEARABLE EXPRESSIONS
April 17 - May 30, 2009
Greylock Arts, Adams, MA, USA
A group exhibition of wearable art, accessories, and technology apparel exploring fashion as a means for individuals to dynamically express themselves. In this exhibition of wearable art, accessories, and technology apparel, we explore fashion as a means for individuals to dynamically express themselves. From Lynda Meyer’s collection of 19th century hoops and bustles to Alexander Reeder’s “Butterfly Dress” which engages those close without words by displaying the heartbeat of the wearer, “Wearable Expressions” is both historical and contemporary in its scope and examines the impact of material and technology in wearable design.
http://greylockarts.net/wearable-expressions

EXHIBITION ::: TOKYOFIBER 09 SENSEWARE
April 22 - 27, 2009
Milan, Italy
Talent meets technology at the second Tokyo Fiber exhibition since 2007. Senseware, a title that refers to materials that inspire creativity, features the stunning possibilities of Japanese artificial fiber technology. A mix of architects, designers, manufactures and artists make use of new fibers in inventive and unexpected ways, giving us all a glimpse into what the future of fiber holds. (Text by by Kori Schulman, www.CoolHunting.com)
http://tokyofiber.com/en/

CONFERENCE ::: ORGANIC PHOTOVOLTAICS 2009
April 27 - 29, 2009
Philadelphia, PA, USA
Now in its third year, Organic Photovoltaics 2009 is the industry’s only conference dedicated exclusively to the applications, technological developments and markets for organic photovoltaics (OPV). Attendees will meet and network with important players, key innovators and decision makers from the technical and business sides of the PV, OPV and organic and printed electronics industries.
http://www.organicphotovoltaics2009.com/

WORKSHOP CALL FOR PARTICIPATION ::: DIY WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY
DEADLINE: May 3, 2009
May 16-17, 2009, 10am - 6pm
V2_, Eendrachtsstraat 10, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
I am very pleased to announce that my former student Mika Satomi and Hannah Perner-Wilson (aka KOBAKANT) will give a two-day workshop on DIY wearable technology. V2_Lab will organize a wearable technology workshop with an emphasis on DIY techniques and performing arts. The aim of the workshop is to provide participants with hands-on experience on DIY wearable technology. The outcome of the workshop will be workingprototypes, which will be demonstrated by means of a short performance during Test_Lab.The participants will partake inhands-on sessions that involve both conceptual as well astechnical development. Developers from both V2_Lab and KOBAKANT are available for assistance throughout the workshop. The workshop is open to students and professionals in the fields of art, design, and engineering. Although anyone with an interest in wearable technology and basic knowledge of electronics or of sewing is welcome to join, we especially encourage people with an expertise in fashion design, technology in performance arts, and/or wearable technology engineering to sign up. Participants are invited to demonstrate the workshop outcome during Test_Lab: Fashionable Technology on May 20. The number of participants to the workshop is limited. The fee for participation is €50,- (to be paid before the workshop).
For more information about the workshop, please contact Piem Wirtz, [email protected]
http://www.v2.nl
http://www.kobakant.at

CONFERENCE ::: NANOMATERIALS
June 16 - 18, 2009
Bonn, Germany
In order to offer the breadth of information and at the level of detail required for Europe’s leading event on nanomaterials, the conference begin on the 16 June with an afternoon forum on Proactive Nanotechnology Risk Management. The next two days will be structured into two plenary's and five parallel sessions: Printed Electronics, Nanocomposites, Nanobiotech & Consumer Products, Coatings, Inks & Pigments, Clean Technology. Remaining loyal to its conceptual origins, NanoMaterials09 will focus on the commercialisation of nanomaterials, rather than theoretical benefits. This is what sets it apart from other events and was the key to our success last year – practical solutions for practical challenges.
http://www.nanomaterials09.com/

WORKSHOP ::: MME'09 - MEASURING MOBILE EMOTIONS: MEASURING THE IMPOSSIBLE?
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION: May 4, 2009
September 15, 2009
Bonn, Germany
Emotions are a key element in the analysis of user experience. Observational analysis, interviews and questionnaires can be supported by various physiological measurement methods (e.g. GSR or EMG) to investigate such emotions. This workshop addresses approaches to mobile emotion measurement. The workshop addresses particularly the state-of-the–art in the emotion research and investigates the possibilities to apply and adopt these methods in the field of mobile HCI and user experience research. We will select participants with diverse backgrounds based upon the relevance, insightfulness, and originality of their submissions. Particularly important is the challenge of portability of the available solutions and their applicability in the field.
http://mme.cure.at/

CONFERENCE ::: 2nd INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON FLEXIBLE ORGANIC ELECTRONICS
July 8 - 10, 2009
Porto Carras, Halkidiki, Greece
The field of Flexible Organic Electronics is one of the most rapidly growing sector of the modern science and technology. Today, many resources and investments from government agencies, research institutes and local industries are devoted to the developments of materials, processes, instrumentation, equipment for flexible organic electronics. The IS-FOE is the Premier Scientific & Research Event in Organic Electronics devoted to gather scientists, engineers and industrials from all around the world and to exchange information and provide access to the latest developments of several topics covering organic electronic printable materials, device structures, system integrations, manufacturing processes, characterization and monitoring, product applications and business opportunities.
http://isfoe.physics.auth.gr/

EXHIBITION ::: SMART TEXTILE SALON
DEADLINE FOR CALL: May 15, 2009
September 25, 2009
Ghent, Belgium
The programme is organised together with 80th Anniversary of the Department of Textiles at Ghent University (http://www.textileconferences.be) and 6th International Conference on Textile and Polymer Biotechnology (http://www.intb.org). The exhibition introduces the latest demonstrator and prototype developments in the field of smart textiles and intelligent wearable systems. The displayed items will be explained and demonstrated by the developers. Tool Time gives you the opportunity to create your own smart textile. Two workshops will be offered: elucidating textiles, temperature changing textiles. The award ceremony will be held to honor a student for outstanding work with the SysTex award. The work will be shown in the exhibition area.
http://www.systex.org
http://www.smarttextilessalon.com

CONFERENCE ::: TEXTURES
DEADLINE FOR ABSTRACT SUBMISSION: August 16, 2009
June 15 - 20, 2010
Riga, Latvia
The SLSA-EU 2010 conference is dedicated to exploring fabrics, structures, surfaces, and interfaces in a world that has been transformed to a large extent through technoscience and networked media. This transformed world is highly textured, partly through verbal and non-verbal 'texts' but also by mixtures of human-made and given environments whose complexity offers resistance to symbolic readings. Through the term, 'textures,' we aim to bring together transitional figures of thought in many fields.
http://www.e-text-textiles.lv/SLSAeu2010/home.htm

WORKSHOP ::: WEARABLE ART AND INTERACTIVE PERFORMANCE
May 25 - June 5, 2009
Lunar Outpost
Tempe, Arizona, USA
Herberger College Dance and the School of Art at Arizona State University are offering a two-week workshop on Wearable Art and Interactive Performance. In response to initiatives to create a fully occupied operational base on the moon by 2024, the theme for this year's workshop is: Lunar Outpost. As artists how do we respond to extreme environments that are so unlike our home environment? At the Lunar Outpost people will experience micro gravity, a different atmospheric propagation of sound, an essentially black-and-white environment, and a profound sense of loneliness. Workshop participants will explore emergent electronic technologies for performance and installation framed by the theme Lunar Outpost. Interactive technologies offer the means to extend, manipulate and add color to our environments in a new manner.
Workshop leaders from Herberger College Dance and the School of Art include:
John D. Mitchell, mediated performance designer,
Galina Mihaleva costume and fashion designer,
Hilary Harp, media artist and sculptor,
joined by a special guest, Keiko Courdy, French artist and director of KI transdisciplinary performance structure.
http://wearableart-interactiveperformance.com/

CALL ::: TRANSMEDIALE AWARD 2010
DEADLINE: July 31, 2009
February 2010
Berlin, Germany
As leading international festivals for art and digital culture as well as adventurous music and related visual arts, respectively, transmedialeand CTM (club transmediale) are inviting submissions to the transmediale Award Competition 2010 and the Vilem Flusser Theory Award 2010. Invited are art works, projects and positions that respond to the challenges of our rapidly changing digital, technological and networked cultures. The transmediale Award seeks innovative, experimental and visionary works across a wide scope of form, process and practice that embrace, question and enrich our understanding and relationship to our immersed media and technologically driven society. Entries that exemplify new and critical forms of digital expression and interaction are encouraged, as are works from countries and regions in which digital art and culture are emergent. Submissions of art works for both festivals participate in the transmediale Award 2010 while theoretical abstracts, papers and research oriented positions are invited for the Vilem Flusser Theory Award, with prizes totaling 10.000 EURO.
http://www.transmediale.de/en/call2010-main

FASHIONABLE TECHNOLOGY REPORT March 2009

BOOK PRESENTATION & SYMPOSIA ::: FASHION IN CONTEXT (in German)
March 26 - 27, 2009
Schloss Hetzendorf
Vienna, Austria
In den Medien unbetextete Mode wird nicht gekauft, Mode ohne Label nicht wahrgenommen, Mode, die nichts aussagt ist fad, ebenso wie eine Kollektion, die keine Geschichte erzählen kann. Der Begriff fashionized bezeichnet die Visualisierung einer neuen Mode – ist quasi grafische Geburtshilfe und Transformation. Im Keynote von Gerda Buxbaum geht es um Begrifflichkeiten und darum, wie Kleidungsstücke zu einer Botschaft werden. Sabine Seymour's Vortrag behandelt: Der Einsatz von Bekleidung als interaktive Fläche eröffnet eine Reihe neuer Anwendungen. Neue Entwicklungen im Bereich interaktiver und tragbarer Bekleidungsöberflächen (Text und Bilder) verwenden Datenquellen wie beispielsweise Sensoren und Mobiltelefone. Sabine Seymour gibt einen Einblick in Projekte, Materialien und Inspirationen zu Fashionable Technology, deren Fokus die Oberfläche der Kleidung darstellt.
http://www.modeschulewien.at/web/archiv/10-hetzendorf-gespr.html

CALL FOR PAPERS ::: ISWC'09
September 4-7, 2009
Linz, Austria
SUBMISSION DEADLINES: Papers & Posters (March 30, 2009), Late Breaking (May 18, 2009), Design Contest (May 18, 2009)
ISWC'09, the thirteenth annual IEEE International Symposium on Wearable Computers, is the premier forum for wearable computing and issues related to on-body and worn mobile technologies. ISWC'09 will bring together researchers, product vendors, fashion designers, textile manufacturers, users, and related professionals to share information and advances in wearable computing. ISWC'09 explicitly aims to broaden its scope to include cell phones and cell phone applications as they have become the most successful wearable computer to date.
http://www.iswc.net

CONFERENCE ::: SCIENCE BEYOND FICTION: THE EUROPEAN FUTURE TECHNOLOGIES CONFERENCE
April 21 - 23, 2009
Prague, The Czech Republic
CIANT will run a conference session at SCIENCE BEYOND FICTION: THE EUROPEAN FUTURE TECHNOLOGIES CONFERENCE on Wednesday, April 22, 2-3.30 PM with accepted title "Bridging the Gap between Brain and Machine: New Challenge for Art and Science”. We will discuss state-of-the-art and future of BMI (brain-machine interface) technology.
http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/events/fet/2009

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS ::: SUPER HUMAN: REVOLUTION OF SPECIES SYMPOSIUM
November 23 - 14, 2009
Melbourne, Australia
DEADLINE: March 30, 2009
Inspired by the 150th publication anniversary of Darwin's evolutionary treatise, 'On the Origin of the Species', ANAT presents the Super Human: Revolution of the Species Symposium. A single-stream high calibre event, the Symposium turns the spotlight on contemporary art and science collaborative research and practice and its interpretations of - and impacts upon - the human body now and into the future. The Symposium is open to any format or style of presentation so long as it directly engages with one or more of the Symposium themes: Augmentation, Cognition, Nanoscale Interventions.
http://www.superhuman.org.au

CALL FOR COLLABORATORS ::: INTERACTIVOS?' LIMA'09: MAGIC AND TECHNOLOGY
April 13 - 28, 2009
Escuelab
Lima, Peru
DEADLINE FOR COLLABORATORS: April 7, 2009
Open call for collaborators for the INTERACTIVOS? LIMA'09: Magic and technology advanced project development workshop (Lima, April 13 - 28, 2009). The aim is to build software pieces and interactive installations which propose a rethinking of the usual scenario in magic tricks. Collaborators can join any of the developing teams that will carry out the selected proposals, depending on their particular interests and skills, thus contributing with their knowledge and skills and at the same time learning from the other group members and from the leading tutors (Julian Oliver, Clara Boj, Diego Díaz, and Kiko Mayorga). Collaborators' profile: artists, magicians, engineers, musicians, programmers, designers, architects, hackers, psychologists, or any other person interested in presenting a project on this topic.
http://www.medialab-prado.es
http://www.ccelima.org

EXHIBITION ::: CORPUS EXTREMUS (LIFE+)
February 28 – April 18, 2009
EXIT ART 475 10th Ave @ 36th Street NYC ph: 212-966-7745
Prior to the eighteenth century, art and science were not separated as distinct disciplines, and were often joined. Thus a hybrid bio-art discipline is nothing radically new. Yet, the work in Corpus Extremus (LIFE+) represents a revolution in interdisciplinary research and practices and offers a critical evaluation of science and technology through art. This direct involvement of artists in scientific research and lab practices aims to demystify science through a cross-disciplinary approach; to provoke discussion about art and science as creative stimuli to each other; and to pose ethical questions to society.
The artworks in this exhibition deal with the transformation of our notions of life and death due to the implementation of biotechnological advances in everyday life. Recent innovations in science and technology are causing us to confront and challenge our conventional understanding of the body. Trying to reveal “the secret of life,” and to retain health, we are finding new ways to create living transplants and sustain life outside of the body. This possibility gives ground for the design of new organisms – hybrids, cyborgs and extended human bodies – that might be a new stage in an evolution with a questionable future.
http://www.exitart.org/site/pub/exhibition_programs/corpus_extremus/index.html

CALL FOR PAPERS ::: 3rd INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON MIUX'09
Internet access on mobile devices changes the way the Internet is used. In addition to accessing ordinary Internet content with mobile devices, mobilizing the Internet enables totally new kinds of Internet content and services. This workshop will discuss the latest user study results and developments of mobile Internet from the end user perspective, identifying solutions that make Internet usage on a mobile device an enjoyable experience. Mobile Internet solutions cover Internet services specifically designed for mobile use, mobile access to full Web sites, full Web sites and mobile services complementing each other, Web feeds, Web widgets, and Internet based communication systems (e.g. email, instant messaging, VoIP).
http://wiki.research.nokia.com/index.php/MIUX09

FASHIONABLE TECHNOLOGY REPORT February 2009

BOOK ::: FASHIONABLE TECHNOLOGY
Fashionable Technology, The Intersection of Design, Fashion, Science and Technology is now available as PAPERBACK! The interplay of electronic textiles and wearable technology, wearables for short, and fashion, design and science is a highly promising and topical subject. Offered here is a compact survey of the theory involved and an explanation of the role technology plays in a fabric or article of clothing. The practical application is explained in detail and numerous illustrations serve as clarification. Over 50 well-known designers, research institutes, companies and artists, among them Philips, Burton, MIT Media Lab, XS Labs, New York University, Hussein Chalayan, Cute Circuit or International Fashion Machines are introduced by means of their latest, often still unpublished, project, and a survey of their work to date. Given for the first time is a list of all the relevant information on research institutes, materials, publications etc. A must for all those wishing to know everything about fashionable technology.
www.fashionabletechnology.org

LECTURE ::: INNOVATION EMBEDDED IN THE FABRIC
February 19, 2009
Plug.in, Basel, Switzerland
After the lecture by Moritz Waldemeyer (mechatronic engineer based in London who collaborated with Hussein Chalayan) the series continues with a lecture by Martin Leuthold, Art Director at Jakob Schlaepfer. Many international top designers buy luxurious cloth for their evening gowns in St. Gallen at Jakob Schlaepfers. Leuthold will bring a selection of these fabrics and will talk about the entangelment of craft and technology, and specifically about the appearing and vanishing of electronic technologies in his collections.
http://www.iplugin.org/en

CONFERENCE ::: SMART FABRICS 2009
March 10 - 12, 2009
Rome, Italy
Analysing technology  and design innovations and examine business trends of the smart fabrics industry. The competitive advantage of the future will be the development of technologically advanced products offering consumers extensive functionality. Smart fabrics are holding a significant position in this area with estimated compound annual growth rate of 32% for the period of upcoming two years. In order to expand your knowledge and learn about the opportunities ahead, IntertechPira will bring you the 5th annual Smart Fabrics conference. This well-established two day event will expand its focus in this year and analyse business, design and science aspects of the smart textiles field. Leading experts of the industry will deliver fundamental presentations appealing to all players throughout the supply chain.
http://www.smartfabricsconference.com/

KONFERENZ ::: INTELLIGENTE VERBINDUNGEN (in German)
March 12 - 14, 2009
Krefeld-Linn, Germany
Das netzwerk-mode-textil e.V. organisiert in Kooperation mit der Hochschule Niederrhein, Fachbereiche für Textil- und Bekleidungstechnik eine interdisziplinäre Konferenz, die die Interdependenzen zwischen neuen Technologien und der Gestaltung von Textilien und Mode in Vergangenheit und Gegenwart untersuchen will.
http://netzwerk-mode-textil.de/

EXHIBITION ::: HUSSEIN CHALAYAN
January 22 - May 17, 2009
Design Museum, London, UK
Leading the forefront of contemporary fashion design, the twice named 'British Designer of the Year,' Hussein Chalayan, is renowned for his innovative use of materials, meticulous pattern cutting and progressive attitudes to new technology. This exhibition is the first comprehensive presentation of Hussein Chalayan’s work in the UK. Spanning fifteen years of experimental projects, the exhibition explores Hussein Chalayan's creative approach, his inspirations and the many themes which influence his work such as cultural identity, displacement and migration. Exhibits include ‘Afterwords’ which explores the notion of ‘wearable, portable architecture’ in which furniture literally transforms itself into garments; ‘Airborne’ - bringing the latest LED technology to fashion design with a spectacular dress consisting of Swarovski crystals and over 15,000 flickering LED lights; ‘Before Minus Now’ a dress made of materials used in aircraft construction which changes shape by remote control and ‘Readings’ a dress comprising of over 200 moving lasers presenting an extraordinary spectacle of light.
http://www.designmuseum.org/exhibitions/2009/hussein-chalayan

SYMPOSIUM ::: SUPER HUMAN REVOLUTION
DEADLINE for Call for Abstracts: March 30, 2009
Super Human Revolution of the Species is an international event comprising a symposium, exhibition, masterclass and public talk investigating collaborative art and science practices and their relationship with the human body. Symposium abstracts are invited from either individual or team-based researchers, artists and scientists. Submitted abstracts will undergo a double-blind referee process, with successful applicants invited to submit their paper prior to final acceptance. Taking place in Melbourne on 22 - 25 November 2009, the Super Human symposium will present an invigorating and inspiring mix of keynote speakers and collaborative research projects engaging with one or more of the symposium themes: Augmentation, Cognition and Nanoscale Interventions.
http://superhuman.org.au/

CONFERENCE ::: IFAI Advanced Textiles 2009
April 2 - 3, 2009
Hotel BLOOM, Brussels, Belgium
AT '09 will provide decision makers in the complex value chain of technical textiles with valuable business intelligence and face-to-face connections.  This event is a unique opportunity to meet on a professional platform, gaining useful insights from user-oriented management levels, the latest studies of new technology, challenges and applications.
AT '09 is your platform because it's specifically geared to company representatives whose core business is technical textiles.You'll see the examples of interesting applications in a variety of growth areas in technical textiles —
    * Smart textiles – challenges + bottlenecks + panel discussion
    * Medical applications of technical textiles
    * Textile membranes and architecture
    * Transportation, logistics, automotive
    * Technology solutions and textile surfaces
http://www.ifai.com/Home/AdvancedTextiles09.cfm

WORKSHOP ::: LUNAR OUTPOST
The theme for this year’s workshop is: Lunar Outpost – a response to initiatives to create a fully occupied operational base on the moon by 2024. As artists how do we respond to extreme environments that are so unlike our home environment? At the Lunar Outpost people will experience micro gravity, a different atmospheric propagation of sound, an essentially black and white external environment, and a profound sense of loneliness. In this workshop participants will explore emergent electronic technologies for performance and installation framed by the theme Lunar Outpost. Interactive technologies offer the means to extend, manipulate and color our environments in a new manner. We will look at how interactive systems for physical performance and environmental installation could supplement and augment conditions experienced in extreme environments like the moon. Students will work with Arduino microcontrollers and blue-tooth technologies to create networked sensor systems for the control of lights, video projection and sound. Projects will emerge from group discussions and experimentation and can include interactive costumes, props and sets or
responsive environments.  Students will learn methods for creating soft, sew-able electronics as well as more traditional circuit building.
The workshop fee is $1100 plus housing. On campus housing is available through Arizona State University at Tempe campus. All workshop participants will receive, a Bluetooth enabled Arduino controller board and sensors suitable for use in wearable settings as part of the workshop fee.
http://wearableart-interactiveperformance.com/

FASHIONABLE TECHNOLOGY REPORT January 2009

CALL FOR COLLABORATORS::: INTERACTIVOS?'09: GARAGE SCIENCE
International Project Development Workshop
Deadline for collaborators: January 25, 2009
Workshop & Seminar dates: January 28 - February 14, 2009
Venue: Medialab-Prado (Madrid, Spain)
Interactivos?'09: Garage Science is an intensive project development workshop led by Critical Art Ensemble, Julian Bleecker, and Natalie Jeremijenko. Collaborators will participate in the development of selected prototypes, that combine open software, hardware and biology. Collaborators' profile: biology, chemistry, anthropology, physics, mechanics, electronics, free software/hardware, handcraft, DYI, low budget design, Arduino, microcontrollers, GPS, Java, AS3, Processing, Pure Data, C++, physical computing, fabbing, interface design, A/V creation, text analytics/information extraction/NLP, urban/permaculture/organic farming, etc.
http://medialab-prado.es/article/interactivos09_ciencia_de_garaje_convocatoria_para_colaboradores

COMPETITION::: PRIX ARS ELECTRONICA 2009
Online Submission Deadline: March 6, 2009
From its very inception in 1987,  the Prix Ars Electronica has been conceived as an open platform for various disciplines at the intersection of art, technology, science and society. More than 3,000 submissions in 2008 have further enhanced the Prix Ars Electronica’s reputation as an internationally representative competition honoring outstanding works in the cyberarts.
The aim of the competition is to continually keep the Prix Ars Electronica updated in line with leading-edge developments in the dynamic field of cyberarts. This year, six Golden Nicas, twelve Awards of Distinction and approximately 70 Honorary Mentions as well as [the next idea] Art and Technology Grant and the Media.Art.Research Award are presented to participants. The 2009 winners will receive a total of 122,500 euros in prize money.
http://prixars.aec.at

CALL FOR PAPERS::: MENSCH UND COMPUTER 2009 (in German)
09.03.2009: Einreichung von Vorträgen, Design-Präsentationen, System-Demonstrationen, Postern und Workshops
13.04.2009: Einreichung von Tutorien
Die Tagung findet im 20. Jahr nach dem Mauerfall in Berlin statt. Das darauf bezogene Motto der Tagung „Grenzenlos frei!?“ weckt viele Assoziationen. Begriffe wie Ubiquitous Computing oder Seamless Interaction versprechen, dass die Anwendungsmöglichkeiten für Computer grenzenlos werden und der Zugang zu computerbasierten Dienstleistungen überall und ohne Aufwand möglich sein soll. Die Open Source Bewegung, der freie Austausch von Software und freie Online-Systeme haben den Erfolg des Web 2.0 begründet. Der Zugang zu interaktiven Systemen sollte für alle Benutzer frei von Barrieren sein.
Aber muss nicht Freiheit in der Gestaltung auch Grenzen kennen? Dürfen Entwickler und Designer alles, was sie können? Wie erreichen wir eine Balance zwischen innovativen Lösungen und der Berücksichtigung von Konventionen und Standards?
Diese und weitere Fragen möchten wir auf der Tagung diskutieren. Fachleute aus der Informatik, Psychologie, Arbeitswissenschaft, den Ingenieurwissenschaften, und den Designdisziplinen sind aufgerufen gemeinsam mit Anwendern interaktiver Systeme in einen freien Austausch von Erkenntnissen, Meinungen und Erfahrungen zu treten.
Die Tagung hat u.a. die folgenden thematischen Schwerpunkte:
Grundlagen für die Analyse, Gestaltung und Bewertung interaktiver Systeme
http://www2.hu-berlin.de/mc2009/callforpapers.html

FASHIONABLE TECHNOLOGY REPORT October 2008

MOONDIAL FASHIONABLE TECHNOLOGY REPORT
Visionary Insights on Epidermis & Technology
by Sabine Seymour
October 2008