Dear Keith Baker,

	Thank you for your continuing interest in the Interactive Media seminar.

	In response to the questions you raised...You asked about the focus of the workshop and how it differs from other activities on campus.  The goal of the workshop is to define an emerging area of research that does not fit into any current disciplinary boundaries such as  computer science, philosophy, or media studies.   Therefore the investigation has to proceed on parallel lines:  (1)  examine and critique examples of the new arts, and (2)  examine the theoretical bases for this new field.   This involves bringing together sources outside the ordinary span of the more established disciplines.  (Please see the Readings list.)
	On the large scale, our strategy has been to gain some familiarity with the major features and problematics of this new field by looking at performances and artifacts, and then to begin to construct a conceptual framework for research.   In a typical workshop, a speaker starts by introducing his/her research or piece of work, followed by a general discussion in which we would attempt to relate this to the broader concerns of the group.
	During the year we moved from an examination of exemplars to an study of some of the theoretical issues, such as materialities of representation -- "visual language"; scripts, software, performable writing; and architecture and urban design in the cybernetic era.  (Please see the Agenda for the most recent topics.)
	As for our use of the Web, it served as a convenient place to organize the complex and far-flung material that we assembled for study.  It also served as an appropriately public -- in a contemporary sense of the University -- record of our investigation and a place where we could all propose for future discussions or performances.   But it should be understood that our principal arena was the seminar sessions in which we conducted our friendly if critical discussions.
	Because of the interdisciplinary nature of the workshop, we attracted an unusually wide range of graduate students and faculty.   The core group (of approximately ten) was supplemented by other participants who varied according to the topics of current interest.  Some people attended because it was a convenient forum to work out ideas that did not fit into their ordinary work.   For example Prof. Tversky gave a talk about diagrams informed both by her detailed research on children's interpretation of diagrams and a much wider reading of pictographic languages and other sign systems.
	As for our future plans, following this exploratory phase, we propose to carry out a set of more focussed investigations.   As it stands, our themes for the next three terms will be: social and expressive problems in interactive media (Fall), the materiality of performable writing (Winter), and the relationship between media and information (Spring).   Each quarter we propose to appoint a discussion organizer who will assemble references, and prepare a series of informal lectures to stimulate discussion.   We have volunteers for next year's Winter and Spring terms, and intend to leave the Fall term fairly open.   As always, the we will accommodate special presentations by graduate students, faculty and professionals who can supplement the workshop's field of discussion.
	If you have any other questions, please give one of us a ring.

		Best regards,

		Larry Friedlander
		Sha Xin Wei, 725-3152

Attached:
	Agenda of recent topics and sessions
	Readings
	Original proposal