Distance Lab holding first major open studio event

21st May 2007

A unique opportunity to visit a cutting edge research institute is offered to those who are interested in learning about how digital media technologies will be transforming our lives in the future.

Distance Lab, located in the Enterprise Park at Forres, is opening its doors on Saturday 2 June for the first time since it was launched at the start of the year. However places, which are free of charge, are limited and anyone interested is asked to request an invitation online as soon as possible.

Supported by Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the lab has the remit of developing new digital technologies to overcome the disadvantages of distance for people and businesses in remote and rural areas. It is hoped its work will have major implications in rural health care, distance learning, and tourism.

Distance Lab chief executive Dr Stefan Agamanolis said the June 2 event has been organised in part to keep the local community informed of what is happening at the Lab. He said: "It's a chance for anyone to check out what we're doing in the opening months of our existence."

Two respected researchers, Dan Stiehl and Elena Corchero will give presentations at the event about the projects they are currently working on. Mr Stiehl will talk about the 'Huggable' - a robotic teddy-bear being developed by the Robotic Life research group at the USA's Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Media Lab where he is a PhD candidate.

The Huggable is one of a number of research projects that MIT students and professors are carrying out in the Highlands and Islands, in collaboration with UHI and Distance Lab and supported by HIE. The bear has been constructed to incorporate a mass of electronic sensors that allow it to interact with its owners. Among other applications, it's anticipated that the bear will be used in nursing homes and hospitals to monitor patient activity. Mr Stiehl will also discuss current plans for Highlands and Islands companies and organisations to take part in the development of the Huggable.

And Ms Corchero, an experienced fashion and interaction designer from Spain with a background in fine arts, will present her latest work on how electronics and solar power technology can be incorporated into garments and fashion accessories. One of her creations is the 'whiSpiral," - a spiral-shaped shawl with integrated voice recorders that store audio messages from friends. Ms Corchero is currently a Masters candidate in Textile Futures at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London.

Dr Agamanolis added that the presentations and a light lunch would be followed by open studio time during which participants could visit the lab space, check out its equipment, talk to the researchers and see early project demonstrations. He said it was intended to hold up to four similar events per year. This particular event is part of the Six Cities Design Festival, an initiative celebrating design and creativity in Scotland's six cities over the period from 17 May - 3 June.

Distance Lab Web Site
http://www.distancelab.org/

The Six Cities Design Festival is running in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Stirling. There are many events in each city and an information centre for tickets and details. Interesting places to visit for an hour or longer.

www.six-cities.com

Full Programme - Pdf
http://www.6cities.co.uk/download.php?id=1632198,140,1