NSF IGERT
Mission
AME aims to develop research and training mechanisms for the creation of a new class of media scientists. These scientists will produce new approaches for the integration of computational elements and digital media in the physical human experience. Their work will result in hybrid physical-digital environments that address significant challenges in key areas of the human condition such as health, education, societal communication and everyday living.
The development of experiential media systems requires a new model of media computing allowing highly integrated research across four areas:
Experiential Construction and Knowledge Creation: The work of the above three areas must be integrally combined with the physical world to produce an enhanced, user-oriented, physical-digital experience. Learning and knowledge: The knowledge produced by the resulting physical-digital experience must be evaluated.
Interaction and Feedback: Appropriate devices and modes of communication must be developed for optimally connecting user(s) into the experiential media environment.
Perception and Modeling: The computational modeling of human functioning and sensing allows cognitive and perceptual principles to be incorporated into the control and feedback systems.
Sensing: multiple types of sensors are used for sensing and recording the physical world and human activity.
The knowledge required to create experiential media systems is fragmented across engineering, sciences and arts. The development of experiential media systems must be achieved through the training of a new generation of hybrid media engineers-scientists-artists who are equipped to overcome these divisions. This requires a large interdisciplinary network of faculty and students working under a common research and education agenda. The Arts, Media and Engineering Program (AME) at ASU integrates all the required expertise for research and education in experiential media. The College of Engineering, the College of Fine Arts, the College of Education and the Psychology Department are the main participating entities. Our common agenda organizes research activities along two dimensions: (a) the research area dimension that is primarily discipline-related and lines up with one of the four constituting research areas and (b) the application area dimension that is consistent with our four areas of applications and provides the connectivity amongst contributing disciplines. The accompanying education model combines discipline centered courses in one of the constituting research areas with interdisciplinary holistic training in media and integrates course work and research. Our training mechanisms are implemented through formally approved concentrations within the graduate degree programs of our effort. AME also offers a Media Arts and Sciences PhD for the training of transdisciplinary media experts who specialize in knowledge fusion for media development.
Our framework allows for methodology found in the sciences to be combined with creativity found in the arts. Two areas formerly considered incompatible are seen coming together for tangible results with broader social impact. Our education model allows departments to step out of their silos and offer interdisciplinary education. It can thus serve as an exemplar for effective transition from discipline specific to trans-disciplinary education. Our experiential media research framework will bridge the gap between computation and the physical experience, advance human-centric technologies and produce major advances in education, rehabilitation, communication, and everyday living.