Ella Tallyn

Audiophotography: practice and prospects

The value and practice of recording sound with still photographs was explored in an audiocamera field trial. The findings challenge the current industry view that the value of sound capture lies in the voice labelling of photos. Instead they suggest that ambient sounds-of-the-moment have far higher value as a way of bringing photos to life and improving human memory for events.

The SENSE project: a context-inclusive approach to studying environmental science within and across schools

This paper describes a project designed to provide children with a context-inclusive approach to collecting scientific data. The term context-inclusive refers to the collection of data which records the process of scientific data collection itself. We outline the design process carried out within two partner schools with the aim of engaging children in taking part in, and reflecting upon, the scientific process involved in collecting and analysing scientific data. We provided children with the ability to share and compare their data with children at their own and other schools. Our contextinclusive approach involved the design of tailored sensors and a bespoke interface displaying video data synchronised with environmental pollution data. Through evaluation of the data collection, analysis and sharing sessions, we describe how the context-inclusive approach impacts on childrens understanding of the scientific process. We focus on childrens discussion and reflection around understanding the constraints of measuring. We argue that the collection and presentation of contextual data engenders reflection on constraints, and may enable improved understanding of that process.

Augmented paper: developing relationships between digital content and paper

Some of the most interesting developments within computer system design in recent years have emerged from an exploration of the ways everyday objects and artefacts can be augmented with computational resources. Often under the rubric of “ubiquitous computing”, research programmes in Europe, North America and Japan have directed substantial funding towards these initiatives, and leading industrial and academic research laboratories have developed a diverse range of ubiquitous computing “solutions”. These developments mark an important shift in system design, a shift that is having a corresponding impact on social science research. Surprisingly though, given the growing commitment to the ubiquitous and the tangible, there is a mundane, even humble artefact that pervades our ordinary lives that has received less attention than one might imagine. This artefact is paper.

Using paper to support collaboration in educational activities

This paper describes findings from a pilot study that compared the collaborative use by children of three different media formats: a paper book, a CD-ROM in a standard PC set-up, and a paper booklet augmented with digital content. These findings show how the book’s ergonomics provide a flexible and easily accessible interface which engenders fluid collaboration between pairs of children. These qualities are also observed when children work with the augmented paper booklet. The value of digital content is demonstrated in a participatory design activity, where we find how digital media can ‘bring to life’ the information presented on paper. In contrast to developments focused narrowly on new technologies, this study presents evidence for the use and value of paper, and paper augmented with digital media, in educational settings.