Johanna Ylipulli

Urban computing in theory and practice: towards a transdisciplinary approach

In this paper we present a multi-themed discussion on urban computing. We call for a more transdisciplinary approach to the field, and point out that urban computing systems are always necessarily an amalgamation of three interrelated components -- space, people, and technology. Because of these three elements, we argue that computer scientists cannot expect to stand alone and create systems that would respect the complex and messy sociocultural context in which these technologies operate. It is only through a deeper understanding of the existing social, cultural, and political contexts that we can hope to build deployments that respect and enhance the experience of living a technologically mediated life, and this understanding can only be achieved by including researchers from the social sciences as well as architecture and urban design. We will conclude by presenting our vision for a more transdisciplinary approach to urban computing.

Contesting ubicomp visions through ICT practices: Power negotiations in the meshwork of a technologised city

This article discusses the case of the Finnish city of Oulu which is designed and constructed as a prototype of an intelligent city equipped with ubiquitous computing technology. By analysing ethnographic materials, the authors explore how the strategies, i.e. the conceptions and goals of urban development by the designers and decision-makers, meet the tactics (i.e. the everyday practices of the ageing and young adult city dwellers. By looking at this specific urban space as a meshwork, the authors argue that the design visions are based on the assumption that this high-tech city is full of competent and enthusiastic ubicomp users. The stories of the urbanites, however, show that though they utilise and appreciate the ubiquitous technology to a certain extent, they also resist the new enabled practices by refusing to attend to personal matters in public places. The study also unravels the notion that age as a singular category can explain people’s relations with information and communication technologies (ICTs).

Nonanthropocentric design and smart cities in the anthropocene

Abstract While the smart city agenda is critiqued for its focus on technology and business led solutions, a new approach to design has been introduced: nonanthropocentric design aims to decenter the human as the focus of design. We build on relevant works in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) through discussing and comparing relevant theories in the social sciences and by analyzing design examples. This approach to HCI is necessary if humanity is to meet the challenges of the Anthropocene, the era in which human activity affects the Earth on a geological scale.

Characterizing 3d city modeling projects: Towards a harmonized interoperable system

3D city models have become common geospatial data assets for cities that can be utilized in numerous fields, in tasks related to planning, visualization, and decision-making among others. We present a study of 3D city modeling focusing on the six largest cities in Finland. The study portrays a contradiction between the realized 3D city modeling projects and the expectations towards them: models do not appear to reach the broad applicability envisioned. In order to deal with contradiction and to support the development of future 3D city models, characteristics of different operational cultures in 3D city modeling are presented, and a concept for harmonizing the 3D city modeling is suggested.

Northern Urban Lights: Emplaced Experiences of Urban Lighting as Digital Augmentation

The shift towards interactivity in the design of spaces and places has persuaded both architects and HCI practitioners to acknowledge that there is a need to work together. However, there is little knowledge of how we actually experience dynamic adaptation, informational services and interactivity in the built environment. As such, there is a pressing need to empirically study actual implementations of media architecture, urban interaction design and urban computing from an emic perspective. Consequently, this article examines participant experiences of an interactive urban lighting pilot, Urban Echoes (UE), which took place in a northern urban park. Collected as video and audio recorded material in walking interviews and semi-structured interviews, we examine the emplaced experiences of two differing participant groups, young adults (20–29 years old) and seniors (over 65 years old). Furthermore, we argue that the concept of emplacement, which highlights the importance of place and the embodied mind, can be a useful tool both as an analytical lens and as an effective way to conceptualize and communicate some essential aspects of architectural thinking in the interdisciplinary arena of media architecture and urban interaction design. Finally, building on the work of Paul Dourish on embodied interaction design, we argue for emplaced interaction design.