Events
The journal IMEros of the Foundation of the Hellenic World (FHW) organized in May 2002 at
the Cultural Centre "Hellenic Cosmos" the meeting "Culture - New Technologies - Education".
The objective of the meeting was to demonstrate the relations developed during the last years
between research and promotion of cultural issues and phenomena within the framework of the Humanities,
museology and the activity of cultural institutions through the applications of new digital technologies
(Internet, electronic publications, 3D reconstructions, virtual reality) and educational practice in
university level.
The presentations covered a wide range of issues: P. Konstantopoulos spoke about the
"Systems of
Cultural Information and Management of Cultural Heritage: Issues of Interdisciplinary Approach and
Experiences from a Post Graduate Studies Programme" and V. Pappas developed
"Issues on Teaching
Information Technology Through the Case of Geographic Information Systems". P. Kiriakoulakos presented
the "Aesthetic Trends in Informative Cinematography (1960-2000):
an Anthropological Appoach". D. Papalexopoulos examined the problem
"New Technologies and the Destabilized Object of (Architectural)
Education" and M. Lafazani dealt with
"The Transformation of the Educational Space and the Architecture
of Information". Finally, P. Santorinaios spoke about "The Utilization of Robotics in Education of Digital Art.
"Project Kandinsky". Kandinsky's Theories as the Pretext for the Creation of a Robot that Paints,
as Well as the Comparative Study of the two Eras".
Finally, the Editorial Committee expresses its thanks to Maria Roussou and Dr Martha Mihailidou
for their significant contribution to the success of the meeting.
Abstracts
Panos Konstantopoulos,
Systems of Cultural Information and Management of Cultural Heritage. Issues of Interdisciplinary Approach
and Experiences from a Post Graduate Studes Programme
One of the fields where informatics and the Humanities meet is the one of collecting,
organizing, managing and processing information in order to achieve the management and study of
cultural heritage data or even contemporary cultural production. This activity has assumed large
proportions, which result in the need for suitably educated scientific personnel: the occasional
interdisciplinary collaborations are not enough. At the same time, epistemological differences
appear more clearly, which demand additional attention and perhaps will lead to interesting changes.
We examine some of the issues of this interdisciplinary approach both during research at the
Centre for Cultural Informatics of the Institute of Computer Science of the Foundation for
Research & Technology and during the interdepartmental Programme of Post Graduate Studies at
the University of Crete.
Vassilis Pappas,
Issues on Teaching Information Technology through the case of Geographic Information Systems
Geographic Information Systems (G.I.S.) is a demanding and interdisciplinary branch of
informatics that has more than fifteen years of history and presence in Greece as a scientific,
technological and commercial subject having numerous applications and therefore a continuously
increasing demand for educational and training activities and programs. All these educational
activities differ in terms of approach, depth, width and characteristics of recipients, but they
share a common attribute: their cognitive topic is continuously changing. More and more people
are educated in new technologies, while new media appear continuously. Regarding the available
software and hardware, but also the enhanced teaching abilities, new fields of applications are
created every day and as a result the required knowledge and skills, therefore education,
are constantly changing. This paper examines and presents, in a critical way, the methodological
assumptions of G.I.S. teaching process, mainly regarding higher education, whose main thematic
topic is not directly related to information technology, but they require GIS as one of their
main methodological and technological tools.
Panagiotis Kyriakoulakos,
Aesthetics Trends in Informative Cinematography (1960-2000): An Anthropological Approach
The simultaneous study of the development of the technological tools and the
aesthetic trends in informative cinematography allows us to ascertain the technical
foundations of representation in art and demonstrates the common roots of the abstract
and the visual. Information cinematography is the principal field of application of the
theory of Andre Leroi-Gourhan regarding the language of forms, as presented in his important
treatise Gesture and Speech. The analysis of the techniques of materializing composite short
films that are at the borderline of the two aesthetic tendencies mentioned above demonstrates
the common anthropological basis, which supports the aesthetical enjoyment derived from
viewing these films.
Dimitris Papalexopoulos,
New Technologies and the Destabilized Object of (Architectural) Education
To the destabilized object of architectural theory and practice corresponds
a destabilized object of architectural university education. The artefacts lose (again)
their autonomy, are transformed into web sites, and finally they are identified as
"almost objects". The question is whether these correspond to "almost architects".
Since new fields of activities appear continuously, the University should restructure
its educational and research direction. Therefore, we start to talk about cultural
co-productions and not about the simple communication of information or knowledge.
At the same time, attractive suggestions emphasise its role as the manager and producer
of information and not just as the creator of opinions.
For the examination of the above, we suggest a reference to an educational practice that deals
with the alterations of architecture in information society (www.ntua.gr/archtech), where successively,
during the last years there has been a reference to the design of libraries, museums and universities
in information society, as well as the creation of new fields of activity.
What we propose is that the University does not have any other option than becoming one of the sites -
public forums, where discussion takes place regarding the re-definition of its subject, participating
thus actively in the formulation of a collective, inter-local knowledge.
Maria Lafazani,
The Transformation of the Educational Space and the Architecture of Information
This particular essay initially refers to the contemporary idea of spatiality and
the general exploration of it. The research continues in order to visualize specific spatial
forms, structures-cities and their gradual transposition into digital space. Then, we make a
reference to the peculiar historical relation between structural materials and the means of
transportation, in order to approach new relations and the materials that support them.
Confronting the fundamental changes in the perception and essence of space is something
that requires immediate revision of the courses of all educational levels, but mainly demands
alterations to the image of the educational building itself, indicating the traditional
"covering" of knowledge.
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE Cultural Convergence and Digital Technology
The Foundation of the Hellenic World, under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture,
organized in Athens, from May 15th to May 17th, an International Conference entitled:
Cultural Convergence and Digital Technology.
The aim of the Conference was to demonstrate issues that have to do with the use and
dissemination of cultural information through digital technology and its contribution in
shaping a new framework of convergence and promotion of different cultures.
The issues developed in the conference were structured around three units:
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