23 September 2005
Computing gains a theatrical edge
Creative writer and theatre director Maggie Morgan has been appointed as artist-in-residence
with the Department of Applied Computing at the University of Dundee.
Ms Morgan's appointment has been funded by a £12,000 grant to the University from the Leverhulme
Trust, with the post to last for ten months.
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.
"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.
Working in collaboration with the Foxtrot Theatre in Education Company and the Department of
Applied Computing, Ms Morgan has previously produced two series of videos that illustrated some of
the problems that do occur and have proved a valuable tool in changing the attitudes of designers
to the wants and needs of older people.
"We have already shown that theatre can be an effective form for showing the challenges technology
can pose," said Ms Morgan. "This has let us develop a dialogue with the designers and researchers
who are working on these new and changing forms of technology."
The internet, mobile telephones and digital television, can be life enhancing particularly for
socially isolated older people, but many such people find it difficult to adapt to constantly
changing everyday technologies and are often baffled and intimidated by their apparent complexity. It is thus vital that designers and engineers become sensitive to the needs and wants of older people and the challenges they face in using such technology. In her post as artist-in-residence, Maggie Morgan will work alongside a team of researchers in Applied Computing who are developing systems for older people, and will investigate the most effective ways in which theatre can be used to transmit these important messages.
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."
Ms Morgan takes up her post as artist-in-residence on October 1st, 2005.
NOTES TO EDITORS.
The Department of Applied Computing at the University of Dundee contains one of the largest and
most influential academic groups in the world researching into information technology for older
and disabled people. It has over thirty researchers with a unique blend of disciplines including
computer engineers, psychologists, therapists, creative designers and staff who have benefited
from interdisciplinary careers.
Applied Computing is a partner with the School of Design in Duncan of Jordanstone College in an
Interactive Media Design undergraduate degree programme and a newly developed Interaction
Design Laboratory. This exciting facility is bringing together computing, creative design, and
mechanical engineering academics in a consortium researching novel methods of interaction across
the disciplines.
By Angela Durcan, Press Officer 01382 344768, out of hours: 07968298585, a.durcan@dundee.ac.uk | 
