Register to attend Memory Machine workshops

The Memory Machine project team would like to invite you to a series of workshops (4 in total) to explore how new technologies can help us preserve memories that are important for us.

The workshops will be led by artist Rachel Jacobs and dementia expert Neil Chadborn. These will be interactive and creative and we welcome older adults, those caring for people with early onset dementia, historians and tech developers.

Participants will receive a £10 and travel expenses to the venue covered. The workshops will take place at the Institute of Mental Health.

The first workshop takes place on Friday 27th of April at the Institute of Mental Health, Innovation park, Jubilee Campus, University of Nottingham.

Please register to attend via Eventbrite

My Memory Machine

A collection of filing boxes with a post-it note that reads "Dominic's little bits from the past"

In one of those odd cases of Universal synchronicity, as I was struggling to write a blog about memory, my parents arrived the weekend just gone, bearing boxes of my ‘childhood memories’ that they had been saving for me and now wanted me to go through. As I write this blog, those boxes sit next to me on the desk, unopened. I expect for many people their immediate reaction would have been to dive straight in and revel in the nostalgia. For me though, my approach to memory seems to be much more about caution. I’m wary of what emotions a memory might trigger, will I be embarrassed? will I feel sad? Chances are that the feelings evoked will be pleasant ones but I prefer to be in control, to stabilise myself beforehand and to look through when I feel ready. It could be weeks before I get around to going through the boxes.

Although I suspect that this may be the minority approach to memory, I also suspect that it is far from uncommon. In relating my own personal perspective on memory to the Memory Machine, I can see that technology is increasingly becoming an important gatekeeper to memory. Take for example social media platforms such as Facebook, so much of our daily lives are now being stored on these; and these platforms are also taking advantage of these memories, a common feature is to highlight an ‘on this day’ memory. Yet, not always are these memories wanted, a reminder of a bereavement or break-up are quite common; not all memories are equal, they can be important whilst still being negative. It will be interesting in the Memory Machine workshops, and the development of the technology, to see these tensions discussed and see the role that technology can play in safeguarding both memory and an individual’s emotional state.

Dominic Price, Research Fellow, Horizon Digital Economy Research

The Memory Machine – would you like to participate in our project?

Save the date: Friday 27th April from 12:00 until 16:00, lunch and refreshments included.

Researchers at the University Nottingham would like to invite you to the first of a series of workshops (4 in total during 2018), to explore how new technologies can help us preserve memories that are important for us.

The workshops will be led by artist Rachel Jacobs and dementia expert Neil Chadbord. These will be interactive and creative and we welcome older adults, those caring for people in the early stages of dementia, historians and tech developers.

Participants will receive a £10 voucher and travel expenses to the venue covered. The workshops will take place at the Institute of Mental Health. Everyone welcome.

Please register your interest with Associate Professor Elvira Perez

More information on the Memory Machine project can be found here.

In My Seat – Would you like to participate in our project?

Do you regularly use public transport in Nottingham?

Would you like it to be more enjoyable/informative?

 We are creating a digital experience which aims to enhance your everyday public transport journeys, making them more enjoyable and interesting by linking you to various types of content, including local information, mini-games, and user-generated content, through your specific seat or vehicle.

You are invited to take part in a workshop on the 25th of April, 2.00pm at the Geospatial Building (room A19), Jubilee Campus, University of Nottingham. The workshop will last approximately 1 hour.

The aim of the workshop is to:

  • develop the types of content that you would find most useful and enjoyable
  • discover how you would like content to be presented to you
  • design forms of interaction between users and the content / experience

This will involve paper-based activities and discussion, and you will be thanked for your time with a £10 high street/Amazon voucher.

For more information, and to sign up for the workshop, please email Dr Liz Dowthwaite