Digital Ground：Architecture, Pervasive Computing, and Environmental Knowing

DigitalGroundisanarchitect'sresponsetothedesignchallengeposedbypervasivecomputing.Onecenturyintotheelectronicage,peoplehavebecomeaccustomedtointeractingindirectly,mediatedthroughnetworks.Butnowasdigitaltechnologybecomesinvisiblyembeddedineverydaythings,evenmoreactivitiesbecomemediated,andnetworksextendratherthanreplacearchitecture.Theyoungfieldofinteractiondesignreflectsnotonlyhowpeopledealwithmachineinterfacesbutalsohowpeopledealwitheachotherinsituationswhereinteractivityhasbecomeambient.Itshiftspreviouslyutilitariandigitaldesignconcernstoaculturallevel,addingnotionsofpremise,appropriateness,andappreciation.MalcolmMcCulloughoffersanaccountoftheintersectionsofarchitectureandinteractiondesign,arguingthattheubiquitoustechnologydoesnotobviatethehumanneedforplace.Hisconceptof"digitalground"expressesanalternativetoanytime-anyplacesamenessincomputing;heshowsthatcontextnotonlyshapesusabilitybutideallybecomesthesubjectmatterofinteractiondesignandthat"environmentalknowing"isaprocessthattechnologymayserveandnoterode.Drawingonargumentsfromarchitecture,psychology,softwareengineering,andgeography,writingforpracticinginteractiondesigners,pervasivecomputingresearchers,architects,andthegeneralreaderondigitalculture,McCulloughgivesusatheoryofplaceforinteractiondesign.PartI,"Expectations,"exploresourtechnologicalpredispositions--manyofwhich("situatedinteractions")arisefromourembodimentinarchitecturalsettings.PartII,"Technologies,"discusseshardware,software,andapplications,includingembeddedtechnology("bashingthedesktop"),andbuildingtechnologygenresaroundlifesituations.PartIII,"Practices,"arguesfordesignasaliberalart,seeinginteractivityasacultural--notonlytechnological--challengeandapracticalnotionofplaceasessential.PartIV,"Epilogue,"acknowledgestheepochalchangesoccurringtoday,andarguesfortheroleof"digitalground"inthenecessaryadaptation.