Context-Aware

Website: http://placemap.mit.edu/press/

PlaceMap is a theoretical (as in thoughts) and practical (as in code) framework for building spatial applications. We say that spatial applications are any kind of app (web app, phone app, desktop app) that uses spatial information like where you are or who’s nearby to do intesting things. These things can be social, practical, or somewhere in between. The main focus for us to explore how to build these applications in novel (hopefully better ways). Right now the focus is on “user centered mapping” which is all about putting the user at the center of their map and letting that map conform to them (not the other way around).

The Watchers” installation which explores the relationship between real and virtual space as well as models of user attention is complete. More information is available at the project page. This project makes heavy use of attention tracking and mouse tracking software.