– studying emerging technologies in real-world settings
Abstract
The presentation introduces Smart City of Oulu, located in Northern Finland. Over the years, the University of Oulu, the City of Oulu and different companies have jointly built several large-scale technological implementations in the city center, and these infrastructures have also been investigated from an anthropological perspective. These real-world pilots include an open access wifi network (2003-), a network of public, large interactive displays (2009-2017) and interactive adaptive lighting (2013). In her PhD thesis Smart futures meet northern realities (2015), Johanna Ylipulli studied both the design process of these technologies as well as their appropriation processes and meaning for citizens.
In addition, she will introduce her most recent research in which she has been exploring 3D virtual city models, Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality. The focus has been on the possibilities these technologies can offer to different stakeholders of the city, such as the City planning department and the City Library. Within this research, Dr. Ylipulli has experimented with new methods combining anthropological and design perspectives. She has also been in charge of the creation of a Virtual Library, a concept and concrete prototype of a virtual reality that enhances the services of library and forms an imaginary, digital “fifth floor” for the City Library of Oulu.
Bio Johanna Ylipulli
Cultural anthropologist, Dr. Johanna Ylipulli is working as a postdoctoral researcher at the Center for Ubiquitous Computing, University of Oulu, Finland, where she leads anthropological research activities. She is specialized in interdisciplinary research which combines perspectives from anthropology, HCI (Human-Computer Interaction), architecture and design. Her research interests include smart cities, emerging technologies and creative methods that draw from anthropology and design. Ylipulli’s most recent research focuses on virtual reality and augmented reality in urban spaces.
Personal research website: https://johannaylipulli.wordpress.com/
The Center for Ubiquitous Computing is the largest cluster of Ubiquitous Computing and Human-
Computer Interaction researchers in Finland, and one of the largest in Europe.
Website of the Center: http://ubicomp.oulu.fi/about/