Conference and PhD workshops 
12-14 January 2011 
Aarhus University, Denmark

Conference website

The event brings together researchers from Aarhus University, University of Plymouth, and guests to address the broad theme of Public Interfaces as part of the ongoing research in Digital Urban Living. It is organized by Center for Digital Urban Living and DARC (Digital Aesthetics Research Centre), Aarhus University in collaboration with Dept. of Aesthetic Studies, Aarhus University.

Emerging from Digital Urban Living’s ongoing research around interface aesthetics and criticism, the aim is to broaden issues to encompass the development of urban interfaces, and the changing concept of the ‘public’. What do we mean by public interface now?

Background

The interface as a cultural paradigm
In the case of computers, interfaces mediate between humans and machines, between machines and between humans. Interfaces thus involve an exchange between data and culture. In this sense, the computer interface can be described as a cultural interface combining cultural content (images, text, movies, sound) with machine/media control (buttons, menus, filters, etc.) and networks (World Wide Web). As such, the interface can be seen as a cultural paradigm affecting not only our creative production and presentation of the world but also our perception of the world.

From private to public
In the past decade, interfaces have been expanding from the graphical user interface of a computer to meet the needs of different new technologies, uses, cultures and contexts: they are mobile, networked, ubiquitous, and embedded in the environment and architecture. The purpose of the conference and Ph.D. workshops is to investigate the aesthetic and cultural implications of a situation where interfaces not only appear in public space but are also platforms for both private activities in public spheres and offer public interference in the private sphere. In other words, we aim to investigate these new interfaces that affect relations between public and private realms, and generate new forms of civic communication and creative production.

Across disciplines
The events aim to bring together researchers within diverse fields: across aesthetics, cultural theory, business, architecture and urban studies, united by the need to understand public interfaces and the possible paradigmatic changes they pose to these fields. The event stresses dialogue between fields of study, institutions and individual researchers who are engaged with common issues but not usually in a situation where they are able to openly discuss and reflect interdisciplinary concerns and approaches. Although our starting point derives from a concept of the public informed by network theory and the social practices around computing, we aim to expand this view in recognition of the ways in which contemporary power and control are structured.

Research questions
Whilst experimentation and developments in the culture of free software reflects emergent and self-organizing public actions, how does this modify our understanding of public interfaces? Can the public interface be used as a useful concept for understanding changing relations between public and private realms within other fields? Does the public interface offer a way of further examining relational aesthetics, the cultural regeneration agenda and public art? Does the public interface provide new understandings of the relationship between creative production and the free market sphere? How does the possible dissolution of the public and private spheres relate to bio politics and contemporary forms of power? Does the public interface suggest new borders or even the dissolution of borders between the public and private, humans and machines, the centre and periphery?

Three thematic strands
The conference and workshop are organised into three thematic strands. - The public interface as art - The public interfaces of urban space - The public interface and capital.

Organizers
- Geoff Cox, Post Doc, Digital Urban Living, Dept. of Information and Media Studies, Aarhus University
- Jacob Lund, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Aesthetic Studies, Aarhus University
- Christian Ulrik Andersen, Associate Professor & Chair of DARC, Digital Urban Living, Dept. of Information and Media Studies, Aarhus University.

Program

(Schedule and details to follow.)

Day 1: PUBLIC INTERFACES PhD workshop (maximum 12 persons)
The workshop is designed to give the PhD students and their supervisors an opportunity to meet and discuss their projects and future plans. Participants are expected to attend the symposium and are encouraged to also present papers. The workshop is accredited: 1,5 ECTS for workshop, 3 ECTS for workshop and conference. Participation is by application and the deadline is Nov 1, 2010.

Days 2 & 3: PUBLIC INTERFACES Conference
... Schedule and details to follow.

Confirmed Speakers
- Malcolm Miles, Professor of Cultural Theory, University of Plymouth
- Jacob Lund, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Aesthetic Studies, Aarhus University.
- Joasia Krysa, Associate Professor, Reader, University of Plymouth
- Søren Bro Pold, Associate Professor, Digital Urban Living, Dept. of Information and Media Studies, Aarhus University.
- Morten Breinbjerg, Associate Professor, Digital Urban Living, Dept. of Information and Media Studies, Aarhus University.
- Lone Koefoed Hansen, Assistant Professor, Digital Urban Living, Dept. of Aesthetic Studies, Aarhus University.
- Geoff Cox, Post Doc, Digital Urban Living, Dept. of Information and Media Studies, Aarhus University
- Jan Stephensen, External Lecturer, Dept. of Aesthetic Studies, Aarhus University.
- Brett Bloom, Temporary Services/Jutland Art Academy.
- Christian Ulrik Andersen, Associate Professor & Chair of DARC, Digital Urban Living, Dept. of Information and Media Studies, Aarhus University

(... list to be continued)

Important Information

PhD Workshop (1,5 ECTS, 3 ECTS with conference paper)
The PhD workshop is an open call and PhD students taking part in the workshop are also actively encouraged to present papers at the conference.

Call for papers: Please send title and abstract (200 words), relating your PhD project to the theme of the event; a biography (100 words), suitable for publication on our website; and (as benefits the applicant) an abstract for a conference paper (200 words). Geoff Cox: geoff [at] anti-thesis.net.

Deadline: October 25th.

Travel expenses are to be covered by the participants but can be reimbursed upon request. Ryanair flies directly to Aarhus from London Stansted; Billund Airport, covering several airlines, is located 95km south of Aarhus; trains leave from Copenhagen to Aarhus every half hour (approximately 3 hours).

Accomodation is to be covered by the participants but can be reimbursed upon request. We have pre-booked Aarhus University’s guest house, please confirm your interest when applying and registering.

Lunch & Dinner is provided by the organizers. Bursaries: If the applicant does not have the means to cover travel and accommodation costs, some bursaries are available. Please include a request and an incentive when applying.

Registration

Conference
Admission: The conference is open to the public.

Travel (How to get to Aarhus):
- Ryanair flies directly to Aarhus from London Stansted
- Billund Airport, covering several airlines and international destinations, is located 95km south of Aarhus
- Trains leave from Copenhagen (Airport) to Aarhus every half hour (approximately 3 hours journey).

Accommodation: a number of rooms for conference presenters have been pre-booked at Aarhus University’s guest house (to be payed by the participant). Please confirm your interest when registering.
A number of hotels, hostels, etc. can also be found at VisitAarhus. Lunch & Dinner We encourage all presenters, organizers and participants to take part in the conference lunch and dinner. Guests, however, will need to pay a fee when registering.

Registration

Registration

Participants:
All participants (conference presenters, PhD workshop participants as well as DARC/DUL members) are requested to register by Nov. 1st. Registration includes signing up for lunch/dinner (free) and booking Aarhus University’s guest house (DDK 345 per night, reimbursement for PhD students upon request)

Guests:
Guests who wish to attend the conference are requested to sign up for conference lunches (DKK 80 per meal) by Nov. 1st. Guests who do not participate in the conference lunches do not need to register.

Registration website: https://webshop.dpu.dk/HUM_Public_Interfaces_2011