Schedule

Overview

Below is a basic outline of the activities you’ll engage in as part of this course.

Week 1: Introductions

The first week will coordinate teams across both courses in building a common understanding of the challenges and opportunities involved in designing technologies that suppport memory.

Assignments Type Due
Introductions: Digital Selfie Independent Thursday, January 18th, noon
Introductions: Think Piece I Independent Tuesday, January 23rd, noon

Week 2-10: Investigations

We will follow a three-week cycle of research, investigation, design and review. Each design exploration module will include an introduction lecture, a guest speaker, reading discussions, screenings, desk crits and a final project critique. The projects will involve a speculative prompt for critical making.

Assignments Type Due
A: Investigation - Objects of Memory Independent Thursday, Feb 8th
B: Investigation - Forgotten Objects Collaborative Thursday, Mar 1st
C: Investigation - Hybrid Memorial Collaborative Tuesday, Apr 3rd

Week 11: Synthesis

Following the investgations, we’ll take stock, reflect on the outcomes to date and examine where we’re at. This will lead to a synthesis of ideas into a full scale proposal which blends memory, space and technology as an installation/intervention.

Assignments Type Due
Synthesis Report Independent Tuesday, April 3rd
Integrated Proposal Collaborative Tuesday, April 5/10th

Weeks 12-15: Application

The remainder of the semester will be used to build a full-scale physical prototype for deployment at CMU. The organization of schedules, build time, and delegation of tasks will be accomplished by the student teams.

Assignments Type Due
Final Project Collaborative Thursday, May 4th

Detailed Schedule

Introductions

Date Activities Assignments
Tues, Jan 16 Introduction to the course and concepts
Memory Exercise & Discussion of memory
Digital Memory
Intro Assignment I Given
Thurs, Jan 18 Screening on Memory
Lecture and Discussion: From Memory to Digital Memory
Intro Assignment II review
Intro Assignment II given
Review for Tues, Jan 16: On Memory
  • Preface and Chapter 1 & 2. Daniel Schacter (1997) Searching For Memory: The Brain, The Mind, And The Past. Basic Books, New York.

Investigations I: Objects of Memory

Date Type Description
Tuesday, Jan 23 Intro Topic: Objects of Memory
Thursday, Jan 25 Screening ‘Total Recall’, Screening: [The Entire History of You]http://rme2018.daraghbyrne.me/modules/investigation-1#screening)
Tuesday, Jan 30 Methods Critical Engineering
Thursday, Jan 1 Tech Tools for Sousveillance and Tangible Memories
Tuesday, Feb 6 Desk Crits Feedback on creative project development; 5 mins per person + office hours
Thursday, Feb 8 Review ZipCrit of creative project. Prepare a lightning Demo - 2 mins per student.

Investigations II: Forgotten Objects

Date Type Description
Tues, Feb 13 Intro Forgetting in a Networked Age
In Class Exercise
Thurs, Feb 15 Screening Rituals for Forgetting
Screening - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Tues, Feb 20 Methods Diagetic Prototypes + Futurescapes
In Class Exercise
Thurs, Feb 22 Tech Tech Talk: Designing networked objects
Tues, Feb 276 Desk Crits Feedback on creative project development; 5 mins per person + office hours
Thurs, Mar 1 Review ZipCrit of creative project. Prepare a lightning Demo - 10 mins per group; 10 mins discussion

Investigations III: Hybrid Memorial

Date Type Description
Tues, Mar 6 Intro Digital Legacy and Sites of Remembrance
In Class Exercise
Thurs, Mar 8 Screening The Final Cut (2004)
Tues, Mar 20 Methods Developing Futures & Backcasting
In Class Exercise
Thurs, Mar 22 No Class Meet in teams develop project / proposal
Tues, Mar 27 Tech Tech Talk: Designing networked spaces
Thurs, Mar 29 Desk Crits Feedback on creative project development; 5 mins per person + office hours
Thurs, Apr 2 Review Crit of creative project. Prepare a lightning Demo - 10 mins per group; 10 mins discussion

Synthesis

Date Activities Assignments
Thurs, Apr 5 In-Class Synthesis Reports - 3 minutes per student
Introduction to Final Project
Synthesis Report due
Tues, Apr 10 Proposal Discussion  

Application

Date Activities Assignments
Tues, Apr 10 Proposal Reviews
In Class Activity
 
Thurs, Apr 12 Desk Crits/Group Work Milestone I Assigned
Tues, Apr 18 Milestone checkin
In Class Activity
 
Thurs, Apr 20 Desk Crits/Group Work Milestone II Assigned
Tues, Apr 25 Milestone checkin
In Class Activity
 
Thurs, Apr 27 Desk Crits/Work session Milestone III Assigned
Tues, May 2 Milestone checkin.  
Thurs, May 4 Internal Crit Milestone IV Assigned