Social Traces: sociological topographies for enhancing search, community and social science

Social Traces: sociological topographies for enhancing search, community and social science
Marc Smith a sociologist from Microsoft Research

The overwhelming majority of data objects are, in nature, relational. They are often from one person to another. As they travel from place to place, these digital messages leave traces. Like footprints on an ocean beach, these traces tell stories about people. Given these traces, Marc is interested in collecting these traces and discerning those stories/patterns/etc…

Today, Marc gave a grabbag talk about all of this and some more, too:

Intel Research

Beverly L. Harrison (Senior Scientist at Intel Research Seattle) gave us a project sampler of research at Intel.

Issues in Lifestyle Computing (and Mobile Computing)

Arnie Lund, from Microsoft, works on personal technologies and natural interaction. He is the Director of User Experience for Microsoft’s Mobile and Tailored Platforms Division.

Issues in Lifestyle Computing

Intro:
When the telephone came out, people became attracted to the services for reasons that were beyond the functionality. Examples include the princess phones and the customized services that switchboard operators offered. When the cellphone came out, people became attracted to features that were also beyond the functionality. For example, young professionals enjoyed the social statement of using a new technology in public. Today, cellphones become an extension of the self, including self-expression. This trend is an important aspect of the design of mobile computing.