Vote for Me @SxSW 2012 Panel Picker: Brains, Games & Design

Vote for Rutledge SXSW

I am always looking for ways to get people to think about the psychology behind media, mediated communication, and technology. SxSW (South By Southwest or 'South By' if you're on a first name basis) is a music, film, and interactive media conferences held annually in Austin, Texas and it is a perfect place to do that.  I like to think of myself as an ambassador for media psychology because at SxSW Interactive, I get to talk and hang out with the people I don’t normally see, who are doing a lot of the inventing, communicating, and producing.  Aside from getting some psychology into the greater global consciousness and I always learn a humbling amount about technology and emerging media development and use.  SxSW would be more accurately called a celebration than a conference.  It has grown exponentially because it brings together a fascinatingly diverse group in all senses of the word--artists, thinkers, and doers from across industries around the globe. The energy from that … [Read more...]

The Warm and Fuzzy Side of Technology

My 85-year old Dad took issue with an LA Times interview with Dr. Sherry Turkle warning about the inhuman side of technology and the dangers of virtual companionship. In fact, my parents were sufficiently worked up that they emailed me the whole article along with a list of all the benefits of the digital age from their eyes. According to Lori Kozlowski's article, Dr. Turkle, a well-known social scientist, has concerns about what she perceives as a growing tendency to rely on technology above human interactions. She also worries about what she sees as a mounting teenage anxiety over posting on Facebook, the potential vulnerability of people if they become attached to things like robots because of the human need to nurture, and the inadequacy of Twitter's 140 characters messaging relative to face-to-face interaction. I wouldn't have seen this article if my folks hadn't sent it to me, but felt it worth comment. My dad just had open heart surgery. He's doing great, thanks for … [Read more...]

Lowlifes: Transmedia Crime Mystery Story

Calling all mystery buffs:  thanks to  Transmedia producer Robert Pratten and colleagues, you can experience a transmedia Crime Mystery.  Transmedia stories usually make us think of major franchise efforts, such as the Matrix, or Avatar.  Transmedia storytelling is not about budget, however.  It’s about the power of the story and the story experience.  So check out Lowlifes (http://lowlifes.tv).  Pratten recently launched this innovative application of transmedia storytelling that enables you to join in the fictional world of a San Francisco homicide detective named Larry Hayes from multiple perspectives. This is “an expanding universe of digital mobile downloads, video episodes, blogs and interactive challenges that meld San Francisco's past and present with a fictional narrative designed to blur the boundaries of what's real and what's not.”  PR Web I like this project because it is driving transmedia out to wider audience by making it accessible, easy to use, and … [Read more...]

Nation branding needs will increase as FDI sources dry up, Korea embarks on rebuild http://is.gd/oBzv # Just added myself to the http://wefollow.com twitter directory under: #media #psychology #positive_psychology # Powered by Twitter Tools. … [Read more...]