Working Symposia

Designing the Digital Future: A Human-Centered Approach to Informatics

To many, informatics means big data. But as the 2014 Obermann Working Symposium, Designing the Digital Future: A Human-Centered Approach to Informatics, demonstrated, informatics technology intersects with narrative, the arts, collaborative learning, dance, diversity, social justice movements, values sensitive design, visual thinking, and more. Moreover, our guest speakers were especially committed to welcoming girls and women, diverse communities, and older people into the widening spheres of informatics.

Organized by University of Iowa Computer Science Professor Juan Pablo Hourcade and Obermann Center for Advanced Studies Director Teresa Mangum, in co-sponsorship with the Iowa Informatics Initiative, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and departments across the University, the second Obermann Working Symposium focused on the diverse forms informatics takes across arts, humanities, social sciences, and technological disciplines.

During two days, with participants from across the University of Iowa and surrounding community, keynote speakers, local panelists, and the symposium organizers explored:

  • To encourage more departments to participate in the Informatics Initiative.
  • To assess campus resources for joint programming, courses, and research groups that engage not only science and technology, but also the arts, humanities, and social sciences.
  • To clarify the opportunities, challenges, and obstacles faced by researchers in human-computer interaction (HCI) and informatics, including funding, tenure and promotion, research and publication, curriculum, disciplinary differences, and institutional barriers.

Outcomes

  • The symposium was actively tweeted by participants and the Obermann HASTAC Scholars. Read the Storify compilation.
  • Participants in an Agenda Lunch shared their suggestions, which can be viewed here.

Learn more about our Working Symposia here.