The ecosystems approach encounters and develops the interface abstracted as a multidimensional border zone between people, activities, codes, components, and systems. In an ecosystem, dynamic relationships between heterogeneous elements are more significant than any element itself. For example, a multi-player location-aware cell phone game connects communication, play, physical movement, local geography, human computer interaction, information, networking, gps satellites, distributed architectures, design, semiotics, and anthropology, as well as consumers, device manufacturers, developers, and service providers. The ecosystems approach understands and develops human oriented systems in terms of dynamic interactions between heterogeneous elements.
The Interface Ecology Lab invents new media and information by exploring new relationships between human beings and technology. We instantiate the ecosystems approach, with a focus on connecting sensation, computation, media, networks, ontologies, methodologies, and cultures. We develop digital systems, environments, components, and compositions with the intention of elevating the role of human expression in experiences with technology.
Our research begins by asking why? What roles can technology play in social, political, and economic contexts? We articulate human values. We develop and connect concepts and processes. We use this grounding as the basis for science, engineering, art, and iterative design.