Dr Phil Watten
| Post: | Associate (Informatics) |
| Location: | CHICHESTER 1 CI119 |
| Email: | P.L.Watten@sussex.ac.uk |
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Biography
I am a creative technologist. I founded the Media Technology Lab (MTL) in 2000 as part of the work undertaken by the Interactive Systems Research Group in the School of Engineering and Informatics and now specialise in high-level digital strategy and creative solutions, app design and development, digital broadcast technologies and content creation and distribution.
My current research is focused on the design, development and usage of new educational technologies and pedagogies. The development of new paradigms brings the methodologies together into high-quality social-based learning environments. This uses entertainment technology and approaches to deliver learning resources that the learners feel most comfortable with.
Learning systems and practices developed in the MTL work symbiotically with the design and development of processes, techniques and technology to enable supported learning experiences and environments. Many of our approaches have their roots in the broadcasting and film industry. Our research has resulted in the reorientation of these complex and expensive systems and methodologies to enable production of high-quality learning resources that are cost effective and accessible within normal budgeting constraints and appropriate for today’s learners.
Until recently production of these learning assets has been limited to the research rig built within the Media Technology Lab. This process is being rolled out as a fully automated production unit for the generation of educational resources specifically targeting distance-learning requirements.
The resulting learning assets are a combination of new pedagogically informed presentation methodologies and visualisations, new production technologies and new production paradigms and processes. These high-quality learning resources form the core of a wider learning platform.
I am also interested in using production in other areas of technology-based research. This has lead to the production a number of Design Fictions that visualise how technology is to be used before development takes place. Using a combination of film making, visual effects and virtual prototyping new products and large systems are visualised and iterated at the concept stage ahead of costly fabrication and physical prototyping processes.
For more info, have a look at my website.
Role
I am the Media Technology Manager at Sussex and Director of the Media Technology Lab. I specialise in high-level digital strategy and creative solutions, app design and development, digital broadcast technologies and content creation and distribution.