engage! and converse! – Designing Interactive Creative Spaces
ABSTRACT
Looking at early examples of Human-Computer Interaction (e.g.
Sutherland’s Sketchpad 1964 or Bolt’s Put-that-there 1980), we
see a strong connection between technology and the support for
creative practices. These examples contrasted absolutely with
common computer use at that time, which required systematic
development of programming solutions to well specified
problems. However, the ongoing shift from desktop- to
ubiquitous computing, has again put the focus on designing not
just individual functions and features, but interactive
creative spaces.
At ICT AG, we are excelling in creating such spaces as brand
experiences for companies such as Audi, Siemens, or
Mercedes-Benz. Thereby, my talk about our work will give a
brief glimpse into how the future of interactive creative
spaces might develop and which challenges are still on our
way.
Dr. Jens Gerken
Jens Gerken is the Head of Software Products for ICT AG,
overseeing and driving the software development for
smartPerform, ICT’s platform for creating interactive creative
spaces in (semi-) public environments such as museums,
corporate showrooms, and trade shows for companies such as
Audi, Daimler, or Siemens. From tabletop interfaces to large
touch walls and gestural interaction, Jens’ expertise is
to find innovative, exciting, and usable solutions for
visitors and customers alike.
Since 2011 he holds a PhD in Information Science with focus on
Human-Computer Interaction from the University of Konstanz,
Germany. His research focused on empirical research methods
for HCI, new forms of interactive information visualization,
as well as multi-touch, gestural or tangible input modalities.
In 2009 he joined Microsoft Research Cambridge for 6 months to
work on tabletop interactions “Beneath the
Surface”.
At ICT AG he helped to commercialize the research concepts
from that time (ZOIL) into a successful product platform
smartPerform for multi-touch and multi-display environments
(www.smartperform.de).
