Sensing Heritage

SENSING HERITAGE

Sensing Heritage

Exploring Creative Approaches for Capturing, Experiencing and Safeguarding the Sensorial Aspects of Cultural Heritage

Sensing heritage - a workshop at DIS 2024

Whilst there is increasing work investigating the role of digital documentation, interpretation, and augmentation of cultural heritage, such interventions have largely focused on visual and sometimes auditory modalities, neglecting the full spectrum of human senses. With this workshop we seek to bring together an interdisciplinary group of researchers, designers, practitioners and community members to explore creative approaches for documenting and experiencing cultural heritage’s rich sensory dimensions extending beyond visual-based approaches to encompass sound, smell, taste, and touch. The workshop directly aligns with the conference’s exploration of “Why Design?” by utilising design as a powerful, empathetic, and participatory tool for safeguarding cultural heritage. Our goal is to extend our understanding of concepts, methods and technologies for capturing and experiencing sensory heritage, advocating for a holistic approach that celebrates and communicates the profound sensory diversity of human cultures, inspiring a shift in how we document, interpret and share cultural heritage.

Workshop context and topics

The “Sensory Heritage” one-day workshop aims to explore creative ways for documenting, interpreting and experiencing the rich sensory diversity of heritage, seeking to convey its essence in ways that go beyond the visual modality. We invite researchers from both academia and industry, designers, practitioners and people with an interest in the topic to join our discussions. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to the following:

CONCEPTS

Explorations of how integrating multiple senses can enrich the documentation, interpretation and appreciation of cultural heritage.
Work on the impact of sensory experiences on cultural identity and the role of communities in preserving these sensory heritages.
Ethical considerations in capturing and sharing sensory aspects of cultural heritage, focusing on respect, consent, and cultural sensitivity.

METHODS

Strategies for capturing and conveying the multisensory dimensions of intangible cultural heritage.
Techniques for fostering active audience participation in the dynamic experience and safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage through multisensory interaction.
Developing accessible and inclusive approaches to experiencing intangible cultural heritage, catering to diverse sensory needs and preferences
Case studies that engage communities in the multisensory documentation process.

TECHNOLOGY

Innovations in capturing olfactory, gustatory, and tactile elements of heritage, including olfactory sensors, taste simulation, and haptic feedback devices.
Innovative uses of technology (VR, AR, AI, IoT) in enhancing the sensory aspects of intangible cultural heritage, including but not limited to soundscapes, tactile exhibits, and olfactory experiences.

IMPORTANT DATES AND DEADLINES

Submission deadline: ~~1st June 2024~~ 10th June 2024
Notifications: 10th June 2024
Camera ready submissions for sharing due: 20th June 2024
Workshop date: 2nd July 2024
At least one of the authors of each accepted submission must attend the workshop. The organising committee can be contacted via email to answer relevant questions.

Our workshop promises an engaging platform for sharing insights, methodologies, and technologies that can bridge the gap between traditional heritage safeguarding methods and the potential offered by multisensory documentation and dissemination. We welcome a variety of contributions including position papers, empirical research, design investigations (max 4 pages) and pictorials (max 6 pages). These should follow the ACM one column format and be submitted to hci@cyens.org.cy

We also invite alternative submission formats expressing diverse perspectives on our topic, such as interactive demos, annotated portfolios, sketched visions, videos, blog posts, recorded talks or abstracts. Moreover, given the generative nature of the workshop theme and agenda, we highly encourage contributions that do not neatly fit in existing categories, methodologies, or epistemological frames.

Tentative Schedule

The workshop is structured to take place over one day during DIS 2024.
We expect to have around 10-20 participants. Lunch and morning/afternoon
breaks will be factored into the program after timings are confirmed.

Schedule

9.00 - 9.30        Welcome and icebreaker activities
9.30 - 10.30       Opening talk and discussion
10.30 - 10.45      Short Break
10.45 - 11.15      Lightning presentations
11.15 - 12.00      Collaborative brainstorming and analysis session
12.00 - 14.00      Sensory walk and lunch break
14.00 - 14.30      Sharing is caring
14.30 - 14.40      Rapid ideation session
14.40 - 15.10      Collaborative design session
15.10 - 15.25      Short break
15.25 - 15.40      Collaborative design session
15.40 - 16.00      Design outcomes showcase
16.00 - 17.00      Lessons learned, reflective discussion and wrap-up
17.00 Onwards      Optional dinner

Luigina Ciolfi will deliver the opening keynote

Luigina’s extensive research into how digital technologies shape human practices and experiences in everyday life, particularly in the space of cultural heritage and museum technologies, aligns perfectly with our workshop’s focus on innovative, participatory approaches to multisensory heritage experiences. The keynote will set the stage for the day’s discussions by highlighting key questions and themes. This will transition into a panel discussion with the organisers, offering insights into the workshop’s focal points.

Luigina Ciolfi (she/her) is Professor of Human Computer Interaction in the School of Applied Psychology, University College Cork (Ireland). She researches human practices and experiences of digital technologies in everyday settings, with a focus on collaboration, participation, materiality, and placemaking. Her work connects computing, social sciences and design, with Cultural Heritage being one of her core domains of expertise. She co-authored (with Eva Hornecker) “Human-Computer Interactions in Museums”, and has participated in many research projects and initiatives in the domain of digital technologies for cultural heritage. She is an Associate Editor of the CSCW Journal, and a scientific referee for many conferences and journals in her field. She is a senior member of ACM SIGCHI and member of EUSSET – the European Society for Socially Embedded Technologies and of the British Psychological Society.