KMDI - Knowledge Media Design Institute

Knowledge media are building blocks of a knowledge society


The University of Toronto's
Knowledge Media Design Institute

Designing & critiquing the media,technologies and policies
of the Knowledge Society

Bahen Centre
The Knowledge Media Design Institute (KMDI), founded in 1995, is a leader in interdisciplinary research and teaching at the University of Toronto. The work of this largely graduate research and teaching institute spans the scientific study of the ways in which media and media technologies shape, and are shaped by, human activity, and the practical work of founding an interdisciplinary nexus for the design of such media. Adopting a human-centred and participatory approach to design, our goal is to enhance human skill rather than diminish it, and to encourage creativity and innovation. People and their practices are at the heart of all we do.

Collaboration and innovation are our hallmarks. Our strengths as an institute include:

  • the ability to foster interdisciplinary, inter-divisional, and tri-campus research and teaching at the University of Toronto
  • innovation in the design and development of new media and media technologies
  • our role as an intellectual incubator bringing important new ideas to the University of Toronto and the broader community.

KMDI is an exemplar for the design, production and sharing of knowledge in the university, in particular, illustrating how a human-centered design philosophy and practice can make a difference in people's everyday experience of media and technology.

Learn more

KMDI at 13: 2009 Lecture Series

Lectures on Digital Media Research and Innovation at the University of Toronto: Part 1
Series Poster

For 13 Years, KMDI faculty and students have advanced the frontiers of digital media, creating, interpreting, and studying novel digital media while always asking the fundamental question, "How does this improve society?" These talks celebrate the innovation and thoughtfulness of our knowledge media desginers and researchers in exploring answers to this question.

ENABLING ENHANCED COMMUNICATION AND COMMERCE
Thursday, January 15, 4:10 p.m. BA1130

"Social Networks Meet Computer Networks" - Barry Wellman
"Spending Together: Commerce in a Socially Networked World" - Mark Fox

LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD
Tuesday, February 10, 4:10 p.m. BA1210

"Leveling the Playing Field for Citizen Intelligence" - Ron Deibert
"Leveling the Playing Field for Optimal Health" - Alex Jadad

SUPPORTING LEARNING AND TEACHING
Thursday, February 26, 4:10 p.m. BA1130

"New Ways of Teaching and Learning with Technology" - Jim Slotta
"Digital Communications Technologies: Educational and Social Practices" - Clare Brett
"Technologies for Higher Education" - Jim Hewitt

SUPPORTING ENHANCED COGNITION AND STEMMING COGNITIVE DECLINE
Thursday, March 12, 4:10 p.m. BA1130

"Technology for Cognitive Support" - Ron Baecker
"Video Games as Tools for Research in Cognition" - Ian Spence

These events will be webcast live and archived using ePresence Interactive Media. For registration please visit ePresenceTV.

 

Knowledge media are the specific class of media and media technologies designed to support and enhance the ability of people, groups and communities to work, learn, play, and create knowledge.

NEWS

U of T Crest Copyright © 2006 KMDI, a research institute in the School of Graduate Studies, University of Toronto.

Privacy | Accessibility | Sitemap