Author: ITI Webmaster

One of our recent workshops was held at Kino Siska in Ljubljana, Slovenia, from January 25th to 27th. Our researchers, Diogo Cabral and David dos Santos from the Institute of Interactive Technologies, are mentoring the artistic project “Baby,” led by Viktor Szeri and Tamás Páll.

“Baby” is a research-based multimedia performance project that integrates choreography with multi-modal AI technologies. It explores how art collectives can serve as a form of care-work and offer an alternative to the traditional nuclear family model. Building on the foundation of Hollow—a multidisciplinary group founded in 2018—the project reimagines art-making. By drawing parallels between nurturing a child and fostering a creative collective, “Baby” examines how a group is birthed, nurtured, and loved within its cultural context. The project asks how do we relate the functions of collective parenting to participatory performance, how we can queer care work, and what role could technology play in this within a theatrical setting? For the artists, amid the current political atmosphere in Hungary, this act of creation becomes a form of resistance and the ultimate means of survival for the community.

Hosted at Kino Siska, this artistic residence provides a dynamic platform for exploring the intersections of technology, dance, and audience interaction. It is yet another milestone in MODINA’s project to foster contemporary performance through digital innovation and collaborative creativity.

Supported by the Creative Europe programme, MODINA unites academic institutions, dance centres, and creative professionals across Europe, driving forward innovation in the performing arts and interactive technologies.

#MODINA #ProjectBaby #DigitalArt #ContemporaryDance #ArtificialIntelligence #CreativeEurope #KinoSiska #Ljubljana

The URBAN Workshop Series is back, bringing together researchers to explore innovative approaches to urban challenges. The next session, titled “Community-Based Approaches for Technology Design and Development,” will take place on February 21, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, at the ITI facilities in the Hub Criativo do Beato.

Led by Paulo Bala, a Postdoctoral Researcher at ITI, this workshop will highlight human-centered methods in technology development, particularly in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), games, and eXtended Reality. Bala, who holds a Ph.D. in Digital Media and has contributed to several EU and FCT-funded projects, will share insights on engaging communities in research and design processes.

As public engagement becomes increasingly crucial for securing research funding, this session will provide participants with key methodologies and best practices for involving stakeholders in their projects. The workshop will feature two main components: a presentation on fundamental concepts and methods for community engagement in research, followed by a hands-on exercise where attendees will ideate ways to integrate stakeholder involvement into future LARSyS projects, fostering collaboration across research units.

The Institute of Interactive Technologies (ITI) is excited to announce the next ITI Talks, a monthly event dedicated to the exchange of cutting-edge research and innovative ideas. This dynamic initiative brings together  the community of researchers at ITI and renowned invited speakers, to foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing across disciplines.

The upcoming session will take place on February 14 at 12:30 PM in a hybrid format, with in-person gatherings at Hub Criativo do Beato in Lisbon and ITI in Funchal, as well as remote participation via Zoom.

This edition will feature three distinguished speakers:

• Mathilde Gouin and Anna Bertmark (ITI, Lisbon)
• Eva Freitas (ITI, Funchal)

Mathilde Gouin and Anna Bertmark will present “Nature: Culture Probes: Opening up Dialogues in Natural Heritage(s) Landscapes”. Their research introduces participatory methodologies designed to enhance engagement with natural and cultural heritage. Drawing insights from the Loga Culture project, they will share findings from field studies at two UNESCO World Heritage sites, demonstrating how interactive tools can transform the way communities connect with and preserve heritage landscapes.

At 1:00 PM, Eva Freitas will take the stage to introduce “Fit Fest Exergame: Designing a Narrative-driven Exergame to Engage Active Seniors in Physical Activity.” A researcher at eGamesLab in Funchal, Freitas has developed an interactive digital game aimed at promoting physical activity and cognitive stimulation among older adults. Through extensive collaboration with fitness professionals and senior focus groups, she has crafted an immersive exergame that blends engaging narratives with sociocultural elements, transforming traditional exercise into an interactive and enjoyable experience.

Each presentation will be followed by an interactive Q&A session, offering attendees the chance to engage with the speakers and explore new ideas. The event will conclude with a networking lunch, generously provided by the laboratory, fostering further discussions and collaborations.

Don’t miss this opportunity to immerse yourself in pioneering research, connect with experts, and be part of a vibrant intellectual community.

Speaker

Alex is a sociologist by training, with longstanding commitments to critically investigating and intervening in the proliferation of technology and machine intelligence. His work has been shaped most heavily by a critical yet hopeful scholarship in feminist technoscience, including works from Ruha Benjamin, Simone Browne, Vinciane Despret, Donna Haraway, and Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing. He’s currently a Reader in Design Informatics at the University of Edinburgh and an AHRC BRAID Fellow, and co-runs the Critical Data Studies Cluster at the Edinburgh Futures Institute. He is also a Fellow of the RSA and holds visiting roles at the University of Sweden and City, University of London.

Abstract

This spring, I’ll be embarking on fieldwork investigating the outsourced labours and operational logics associated with red teaming. Currently linked to responsible AI (RAI) programmes across the tech sector, red teaming is being touted as a way to identify weaknesses in language and multi-modal AI models through adversarial or provocative prompts. My fieldwork will take place across so-called ‘data enrichment’ centres in the Philippines and examine red teaming from two standpoints. First, it will interrogate the portrayal of red teaming as a sector-wide solution to the toxic tendencies of data-driven models, such as large language models (LLMs). Second, it will analyse red teaming as a case of what I term the operationalising of responsibility. Across both dimensions, my focus will be on the global flows of capital and the forms and concentrations of labour being mobilised to “responsiblise” AI. I see implications here not just for a more responsible AI but vital questions about notions of responsibility in late capitalism.

In preparation for this work, I’ll use this talk to think with an audience about some of the assumptions behind and controversies surrounding red teaming. I’ll begin by elaborating on ways red teaming is being approached and put into practice in R&D. I’ll then set this technical work in a wider context of RAI in the sector to raise and invite questions about the adequacy of a ‘solution’ that continues to valorise technological innovation whilst failing to reward or indeed recognise the extractive conditions necessary for AI’s proliferation. 

Event Details

Date: February 3rd, 2025
Time: 14:00-15:30 (GMT)
Location: In Person and Online
Registration: https://forms.office.com/e/UHjXMkr6tY

Following a successful session in Madeira, we are excited to host a two-day workshop at the Institute of Interactive Technologies (ITI) on January 30–31, 2025. The workshop, led by Professor Marty J. Wolf, Chair of the ACM Committee on Professional Ethics from the United States, will engage participants in critical discussions around ethics and responsibility in academic research, writing, and publication.

This exclusive workshop aims to foster thoughtful reflection and practical knowledge for members of the ITI community, including doctoral students, faculty, and postdoctoral researchers. The focus will be on ethical considerations related to research processes, academic collaboration, and the evolving landscape of scholarly publishing.

Workshop Goals and Overview

Professor Wolf’s workshop will address key ethical challenges that researchers face in their work, particularly as they navigate the complex academic publishing process. Participants will explore the PCARE tool, a framework that facilitates discussions about ethics and responsibility. This tool loosely aligns with the ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and will be applied to various stages of research, from writing to publication.

Preparation for the Workshop

Participants are encouraged to review the ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, specifically the Preamble and the 25 high-level principles, before the workshop. These principles will be referenced throughout the session to guide ethical decision-making and discussion.

This workshop promises to be an enriching experience for our community, providing both practical tools and a platform for deep ethical reflection. Due to the exclusive nature of the event, registrations for this session are now closed. However, we look forward to hosting a diverse and engaged group of participants for what promises to be a stimulating and insightful two days.

Stay tuned for more updates and future events hosted by the Institute of Interactive Technologies (ITI).

On January 15–16, 2025, researchers Diogo Cabral and David dos Santos from the Institute of Interactive Technologies (ITI) hosted the second MODINA Networking Event at Unicorn Factory Lisbon, bringing together nearly 30 international artists, mentors, and partners to explore the intersection of dance, art, AI, and technology.

Over two days, participants engaged in hands-on workshops, captivating presentations, and thought-provoking discussions, fostering new creative collaborations and pushing the boundaries of artistic expression through technology.

Welcoming the 2025 MODINA Artists

This edition also marked the introduction of the 10 selected artists for 2025, who will embark on a journey of artistic residencies, showcases, and seminars across Slovenia, Estonia, Hungary, Romania, and Germany. The selected artists are: Bruno Martelli, Ruth Gibson, Pierre Godard, Elizabeth Santoro, Tamás Ádám Páll, Viktor Szeri, Liis Vares, Taavet Jansen, Uroš Krčadinac, and Marko Milić.

The MODINA project, coordinated by Tallinn University (Estonia), brings together leading institutions in the fields of art, dance, and technology, including Sõltumatu Tantsu Lava (Estonia), Hochschule Düsseldorf (Germany), tanzhaus nrw (Germany), ITI, IST-ID, University of Lisbon (Portugal), Kino Šiška (Slovenia), Trafó (Hungary), and CNDB (Romania).

By strengthening connections between artists, researchers, and institutions, MODINA continues to shape the future of interdisciplinary artistic innovation.