Computing gains first artist-in-residence

Theatre as a teaching tool for new technologies will be the research focus of recently appointed Department of Applied Computing artist-in-residence, creative writer and theatre director Maggie Morgan.

Ms Morgan will help develop one of the strands of work for which the Department has become renowned - helping make new communication and information technology more easily accessible for older people.

The ten month appointment has been funded by a £12,000 grant to the University from the Leverhulme Trust.

"I have already done some work with the Department on addressing the issues that face older people as they try to adapt to new technology, and this grant gives us a wonderful opportunity to build further on that," said Ms Morgan.

Peter Gregor, Head of Applied Computing at the University, said, "The University has been a leader in researching information technology and the challenges it presents to older people and disabled people.

"We believe that the key to developing technology which is appropriate for older people is that the design process should include effective dialogue between the designers and ethnographers and experts in the characteristics of older people. Having Maggie working in the department as artist-in-residence will help us develop that dialogue more effectively."