Integrating technology

Reggio Emilia International Study Group 2016

Indigo & Alex playing in the Digital Landscapes atelier at the Loris Malaguzzi Centre, summer 2016

"People laugh at our technology." The technology you see in digital ateliers is not cutting edge by any means. However, it is integrated to the landscape. It is "NOT functional" (i.e not to be operated) and by being part of the landscape it is "artisan" and "the hands of children and adults would be very important to create things in these spaces". The technology is always there but never the most important thing.

Here are some examples:

• The digital ateliers often help change points of view/ perspective, offering the view of an animal or a dinosaur using a webcam. 
•  They encourage manipulation of objects to explore how projections change when the projector is pointed at unusual surfaces. 
•  They allow a new understanding of movement, for example through examining stop motion and video captured of children jumping. The children were then able to observe and study how complex the movements were when jumping.

Change

Another exhibit that surely intrigues every adult that sees it - and also children. This provocation gives us the chance to see something that we'd never normally see as the everyday vegetables and fruits change. Observational sketches and models in a variety of mediums accompanied this study. The glimpse of an otherwise hidden world works in the same way as this creative writing exercise I developed using slow motion videos.