Digital Media Takes Centre Stage at Congress 2010

Four Canada Research Chairs took part in a panel discussion during Congress 2010 on the impact of digital media on Canadian society. The panel event also served to launch the 10th anniversary celebrations of the Canada Research Chairs Program.

The panel comprised Catherine Middleton, Canada Research Chair in Communication Technologies in the Information Society at Ryerson University; Pierre Lévy, Canada Research Chair in Collective Intelligence at the University of Ottawa; and Xin Wei Sha, Canada Research Chair in New Media Arts at Concordia University. Each gave a brief overview of their research, providing insights into the various ways digital media can be made to work for Canadians. The session was skillfully moderated by Sandeep Bhagwati, Canada Research Chair in Inter-X Art Practice and Theory at Concordia University.

Catherine Middleton’s presentation focused on how Canadians access and use the Internet—and the barriers to participation in digital society that many still face. While Canada offers adequate connectivity and accessibility, other countries have developed strategies to ensure large-scale access for their citizens. Middleton argued that having a strategy for a digital economy is only a necessary first step, as citizens must also have the knowledge and ability to engage in a digital society.

Pierre Lévy’s research focused on developing a new semantic way to organize the Internet, one which would provide "concept" addresses rather than the "data" addresses that are inherent in web addresses, or URLs. Lévy argued that the current format provides insufficient nuance to take into account the human dimension of the web in search functions. Using IEML (information economy meta language), Lévy explained how it is possible to provide a practically unlimited method of semantic expression for more nuanced search functions while remaining within the limits of modern computation.

Xin Wei Sha opened his presentation by asking how we might imagine and build a world that is richer, yet less complicated. By blurring and crossing boundaries between disciplines as diverse as engineering, philosophy, mathematics and fine art, Sha explained how his Topological Media Lab combines physical and computational matter to visualize scientific data and geometric structures, which can lead to advances in art, building design and the experiential use of the Internet.

Following a moderated panel discussion and a question-and-answer session with the audience, the panelists shared some thoughts on the future of digital media during this interview.

For more information on this panel, contact:

Michael Adams
Media Relations Advisor
Canada Research Chairs
michael.adams@sshrc-crsh.gc.ca
613-994-1758