What is locative media?

Locative media or location-based digital media that are linked to place through geo-location technologies such as GPS. They include hardware such as smartphones, tablets and GPS devices, and software such as digital maps and location-based smartphone applications.

What’s it all about?

We invite 36 participants from around the world to join us for two weeks this July to learn about and experiment with how locative media can be used to understand issues of (im)mobility, climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic. If you are interested in how this technology can be used to engage in these locally-global issues, then this course is for you!

What can I expect?

Our two week programme will be delivered online and involve asynchronous and synchronous learning activities including scheduled online lectures with experts in the field of locative media, discussion seminars, technical tutorials, interactive games and group projects.

What will I be asked to do?

Participants will be encouraged to attend live online lectures and seminar discussions with the course leaders and invited guests, and will be expected to work in groups of 6 people to produce a locative media project that they will showcase at the end of the course. Participants will be matched in groups taking in account their level of experience and their background. The course is designed so that participants will work 2 hours per day on a scheduled program, and be able to access a cyber cafe for additional interactions.

What do I need to sign up?

Participants from a broad variety of fields and practices are encouraged to apply. This school is aimed at beginners. No previous experience with locative media or specialist technologies is necessary. We do ask however that prospective participants have:

• An interest in locative media • An interest in local and global geographical and ecological issues • An interest in independent group working • A smartphone and access to the internet