Summary

Research in all fields is increasingly concerned with, and inseparable from, the technologies and cultures producing information, algorithms and large-scale data sets. Whether studying, designing or using algorithms, researchers need to understand how their questions intersect with the logics of automation and scale underpinning networked, computational platforms. The course focuses on the design process from the initial formulation of a problem to creation of digital prototypes. The class structure is a mix of classroom activities, lectures, and design critiques of student work by peers and instructor. In this graduate seminar, students will also analyze various procedural algorithms, their relationship with their structured data, and their impact on the contemporary. Students will be expected to conduct weekly presentations, write and comment on the blog, and develop one interactive prototype.