Ambient Intelligence (AmI) refers to research and development of electronic environments that are sensitive and responsive to the presence of people. Born in the technophilic 1990s, AmI is a product of the cybernetics legacy, technological utopia, and profit-oriented experience industries. These conflicting vectors make AmI both a fad to avoid as well as an opportunity to embrace; a chance to rethink the possibility of technology in both private as well as public spaces.
In this seminar we will attempt to map a broad understanding of AmI and to expand the default utilitarian role of information processing technologies. Information control and modification is slated to become, just as environmental control already has, a critical design problem within architectural and media arts practices. Readings will range from texts on early cybernetics, robotics, sociological studies of home appliances, pop-culture, to AmI research such as Smart Homes, Ambient Agoras and more. Seminar participants will be challenged towards conceiving satisfying engagements between information processing technologies and built structures in discussions as well as individual and team-based designs.

An example of student work from a previous course:

2009: Albert Chao: Energy Harvesting