KMDI - Knowledge Media Design Institute
Knowledge media are building blocks of a knowledge society
The University of Toronto's
Knowledge Media Design Institute
Designing & critiquing the media,technologies and policies
of the Knowledge Society
The Knowledge Media Design Institute (KMDI), founded in 1995, is a leader in interdisciplinary research and teaching at the University of Toronto. The work of this largely graduate research and teaching institute spans the scientific study of the ways in which media and media technologies shape, and are shaped by, human activity, and the practical work of founding an interdisciplinary nexus for the design of such media. Adopting a human-centred and participatory approach to design, our goal is to enhance human skill rather than diminish it, and to encourage creativity and innovation. People and their practices are at the heart of all we do.
Collaboration and innovation are our hallmarks. Our strengths as an institute include:
- the ability to foster interdisciplinary, inter-divisional, and tri-campus research and teaching at the University of Toronto
- innovation in the design and development of new media and media technologies
- our role as an intellectual incubator bringing important new ideas to the University of Toronto and the broader community.
KMDI is an exemplar for the design, production and sharing of knowledge in the university, in particular, illustrating how a human-centered design philosophy and practice can make a difference in people's everyday experience of media and technology.
News
KMDI Distinguished Lectures
Spring Seminar Series: Design Research: Views from Across the Disciplines
Series Poster
Epistemologically, what do designers ‘know’? Are there ‘designerly ways of knowing’ distinct from the recognised scientific and other scholarly ways of knowing? Speakers from different disciplines will take these questions as their point of departure to explore what, for them, constitutes a legitimate knowledge claim. And, since research in knowledge media design is typically trans-disciplinary, we will also explore ways of fostering communication across disciplinary boundaries and bridging traditional epistemological divides.
March 6: Nick Woolridge Seminar Poster Background Paper
March 13: Michael Longford&Barbara Crow Seminar Poster Background Paper Authors Bio
March 20: Rodney Hoinkes Seminar Poster More Information Author Bio
March 27: Li Shu Seminar Poster Background Paper Author Bio
April 3: Tomás Dorta Seminar Poster Background Paper 1 Background Paper 2 Author Bio
April 25 : Bill Buxton Seminar Poster Background Paper 1 Background Paper 2 Author Bio
May 1: Danielle Lottridge, Kate Sellen, Karen Smith, Joan Touzet Seminar Poster Background Paper: Sanders, Elizabeth. 2006. Design research in 2006. DRQ: Design Research Quarterly 1: 1, 4-8. Following a six-month embargo, DRQ becomes an open-access journal. To access the DRQ archive, you need to register (free) by going to “registration” and completing the form.
May 14 : William Gaver Seminar Poster Background Paper 1 Background Paper 2 Author Bio
Open Source Licensing at U of T
The University of Toronto has released an information sheet on its research services site about open source licensing at U of T. This PDF document describes how open source works, how to select an open source license, and answers many other FAQs regarding open source at U of T.
ePresence in the News
The latest release of ePresence Interactive Media, version 4.0, has been receiving attention in NEWS@UofT and in an article in IT World Canada. From the IT World Canada article: “The development of the tool is tied to the history of KMDI, which needed to help its staff members convene across what was a ‘virtual institution’, said Kelly Rankin, ePresence business manager. ‘It was out of a need to keep a group of people connected, and then from there it just grew’.” ePresence is a Webcasting, conferencing and rich media publishing tool; among the new functionality is ePresenceTV, a user portal where visitors can share their presentations much like on YouTube, and the ability to host small interactive Web conferences with desktop sharing.
Toward a Broadband Research Agenda for Ontario
The Ministry of Government Services (MGS) is providing leadership for a series of conversations with key stakeholders to support the development of a shared research and development agenda for broadband in Ontario. KMDI is partnering with MGS to work on various parts of this intiative. Check out the website for full details on the Call and other plans.
Quick Links
Knowledge media are the specific class of media and media technologies designed to support and enhance the ability of people, groups and communities to work, learn, play, and create knowledge.
Dateline KMDI
In Brief
- Congratulations to Ian Lancashire (English, KMDI), John Mylopoulos (CS, KMDI) and Barry Wellman (Soc, KMDI) on being elected Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada.
- Congratulations to Ron Baecker (CS, KMDI) who received the 2007 ORION Leadership Award of Merit.
Copyright © 2006 KMDI, a research institute in the School of Graduate
Studies, University of Toronto.
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