UT Austin Portugal International Collaboratory for Emerging Technologies, CoLab Interdisciplinary Research, Education, and Capacity Building in Advanced Digital Media 2008-2009 ANNUAL REPORT & FUTURE STRATEGY Prepared for the External Review Committee January 2010 UT Austin Portugal International Collaboratory for Emerging Technologies, CoLab Interdisciplinary Research, Education, and Capacity Building in Advanced Digital Media 2008-2009 ANNUAL REPORT & FUTURE STRATEGY Prepared for the External Review Committee January 2010 CONTENTS 1 CoLab Strategy Vision & Mission Why Advanced Digital Media Strategy for Future 3 Research Research Projects Strategy for Future 10 Education Education Opportunities Strategy for Future 25 Special Events & Communication Special Events Communication Strategy for Future 31 CoLab Governance CoLab Strategy Vision & Mission1 environments and serious games, and (4) exploratory R&D in March 2007 the Portuguese science and Technology projects in interactive and digital media. These resarch Foundation (FCT) working with the University of Texas at proposals were due on December 11, 2009. Austin (UT Austin) launched The international Collaboratory for 2. in September 2009, a new joint PhD degree in Advanced Emerging Technologies (CoLab). The main objective of this 5-Year Digital Media was established between the Universidade collaboration was, and continues to be, to strengthen Portuguese nova de Lisboa (UnL) and Universidade de Porto with dual scholarly research and graduate-level education, industrial links, degree collaborations with the University of Texas at Austin. and academic entrepreneurship. 3. Two Media Ground Collaboratories were established to pro- The first two years of this collaboration focused on building strong vide interdisciplinary students and faculty with a common and mutually beneficial scholarly relationships among Portuguese space for research and training: one at the Universidade and UT Austin faculty and students in three academic areas: Digital nova de Lisboa and another at the Universidade de Porto. Media, Advanced Computing, and Mathematics. Emphasis was focused on establishing collaborative research, faculty and student exchange, and capacity building though conferences, workshops, Why Advanced DiGital MediA and academically-related events. As CoLab research and education opportunities became more defined during years 1 and 2, Advanced Digital Media emerged as We have had many successes to date. As of summer 2009 we a prominent transdisciplinary keystone academic area. Advanced have held classes and events in Austin, Porto, and Lisbon reaching Digital Media facilitates new devices, methods, and processes hundreds of students and professionals, providing an array of both for industry, education, and entertainment applications. From theoretical investigations as well as media-making training. We medical diagnostics, learning modules, and telecommunications have crafted graduate programs at both the doctoral and the MA devices, to musical experiences and multi-site multi-player level. Research proposals have been funded by FCT, and that work gaming – Advanced Digital Media is at the leading edge of is now ongoing. Faculty and students are visiting each other’s technology and product development, as well as transdiciplinary campuses and beginning to work together. scholarly contributions. This domain reporesents the blending Beginning in Year 3, and increasingly with the planned programs of old and new media and incorporates the mathematical and and activities of Year 4, the emphasis is on building research computational bases for many innovations and applications. and educational excellence and collaborations across the three While media technology and applications are evolving at an academic programs in support of a new CoLab focus: Advanced astounding rate, there is rapid saturation of these technologies Digital Media. To this end, three major initiatives were launched at into our cultures and, as a result, new social structures emerge. the end of CoLab's third year, August 31, 2009: Because new media forms are interactive, questions arise to go 1. on July 31, 2009, The FCT issued a call for joint research beyond the bounds of old style notions of meeting market needs. and development projects with a focus on (1) the future As the audience becomes author, new challenges arise concerning of television, (2) the future of news, (3) interactive media the role of the media itself, as traditional roles are challenged or displaced. To keep pace with these diverse phenomena, Colab will 1 1 A fourth component of CoLab is the University Technology Enterprise Network increasingly focus on the following strategic activities: (UTEn) which has the objective of training university-based Technology Transfer • Digital Media Content Creation (TT) officers to establish a globally competitive and sustainable TT network in Portugal. UTEn's report for year 3 activities and year 4 strategy is a separate • Evolving Media industries document. (Also see www.utenportugal.org). • interactivity: new horizons for Technology, software, of research opportunities and international research publications interface Applications and conferences. • Creating a Climate for Creativity in Digital Media in Portugal As well, the borders between computational research and Strategy for Future capabilities and digital media research and capabilities are blurring. The broad scope of our program in advanced digital media Bridging these two programmatic areas and uniting them under recognizes the significant cultural currency of media in all of its one broader program, advanced digital media, will serve to better forms. Whether in advertising, film, television and radio, Internet- convey the possibilities that this domain represents. Our plan is based applications, the range of social networking tools, or to create environments and opportunities in which computer embedded in architecture, performance and art, media saturate scientists can actively work with people in the arts and social our world, informing our sense of identity, shaping our imagination sciences, each enriching the other’s perspective and imagination. even as it is shaped by our creativity. To this end, linking the UT Austin advanced digital media program with the parallel efforts of the Portugal-Carnegie Mellon program We recognize in particular the necessity of creating robust (particularly in interface design and entertainment technology) networks of colleagues in this arena inasmuch as in the current will enhance our overall achievements. century, it is networks and flows of information that will have critical roles in defining and channeling intellectual collaboration our goals for the next two years will focus on these domains: and accomplishment. Meaningful networks penetrate many 1. Cultivating digital media content creation capabilities institutions and organizations and epitomize the notion that 2. Exploring and improving evolving media industry innovation and knowledge can come from many quarters. organizational structures and opportunities networks composed of professors, students, and people working 3. Understanding the dimensions of interactivity in industry and government and civil society will be called on 4. Enhancing resarch skills and the repertoire of research to work together in an increasingly complex society; having the approaches new doctoral program in place is a major contribution to creating a deeper and resourceful network. Creating the relationships 5. Creating a climate for creativity in advanced digital media. among these constituencies that will be most fruitful for the future 1. Cultivating digital media content creation capabilities represents a critical component of the UT-Portugal program. We plan to bring new digital media production competencies and now that we are at the midpoint of our collaboration with an expanded sense of narrative structures and user interactions to Portugal, it is time to reassess and rechannel our efforts. new industry and academic knowledge frameworks. Advanced courses partners have sought us out and we are anxious to expand our can introduce new concepts and explore industry applications efforts to new universities and research units. Our trajectory for prompted by new media opportunities. The newly created Ph.D. 2 the next two years must grapple not only with changes in the and retooled MA programs create opportune venues for nurturing broader world of media and internet-based communications new content creation modes and ideas. systems but also with the need to integrate the regular presence of our Summer Institute courses, generally intensive two-week long more Portuguese scholars and media businesses into the top rank classes taught by UT Austin professors, will continue to provide instruction in the basic structures and production of narrative and challenges. documentary media as well as advanced graphics and effects, alongside courses in online journalism and media theory and The proposals requested by the last research call under the research. As well, the intensive, advanced workshops offered at category of strategic Research will have catalyzed ideas about venues such as the fall Digital Media Festival Future Places will the needs of various media organizations in Portugal and perhaps provide students and members of the professions with opportunities more broadly the world. Two of the focus areas in that call were to acquire specific skills and to network with each other. “online