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CKS visit to Kitchen Budapest

CKS visit to the MBE Speech Lab in Budapest

Tajikistan Mission visits CKS

Food System Design: Innovation & Conservation by Zack Denfeld at CKS

Talk on Mobile Voices; an open source mobile storytelling platform by Charlotte Lapsansky

CKS at the Glen Cove Conference on Strategic Design and Public Policy

Pecha Kucha Night - Another successful one.

Pecha-Kucha Night, Bangalore on 26th Feb ‘10.
 
Information Communication Technology for Development in India: Possibilities and Challenges.
 
How user-centered innovation can change the way you do business" workshop on 15th Dec 09.

Pecha-Kucha Night,Delhi on 16th Dec 09.

Abstract Backyard at CKS - Delhi

Pecha-Kucha Night, Delhi on 15th Oct 09

Work of CKS Showcased in Lisbon(9th Sep 09 - 8th NOV 09)

Electronix City by CKS at AEDES ; Exhibition in Berlin

Appropriation, Design, and Social Change

Pecha Kucha in the Rain

Book Release by Sridala Swami

Dikhtatone

Doors 9 New Delhi

Used around the World!

Pecha-Kucha at CKS

Mobile Mondays at CKS

CKS Talk: Molly Wright Steenson

CKS Workshop: Sophia Lerner

Juice: Doors Ideation Workshop at CKS

CKS Artist in Residence: Zack Denfeld

CKS Artist in Residence: Welcome Party

Is Light the First Form of Media?

Used in India

Wim Klerx Exhibition

Voice and Data in India

Exhibition of CKS Work

Development Pavillion

E-Culture Fair

Visualisation and Spatilaity
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Tajikistan Mission visits CKS
CKS had the honour of hosting an esteemed mission comprising of Presidential Advisors, eminent NGOs, Heads of Mobile Networks and E- health experts from Tajikistan.

The mission, in its visit to Bangalore, tried to understand the ICT development scenario in India. Saswati Saha Mitra, the Head of Projects at CKS; discussed with the group on the growth of ICT in India, the role of private – public collaboration, information areas which will require further focus and the new generation of ICT beneficiaries who are likely to emerge. Considerable interest was felt in the domain of health consequences of mobile use.

The visit ended with discussions around how research around the health effects of mobile phones will need to be undertaken in a consolidated fashion by public interest groups across the world, to prevent drastic health consequences for nations in the next two decades to come.

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Talk on Mobile Voices; an open source mobile storytelling platform by Charlotte Lapsansky
On the 6th of May 2010, CKS played host to a research presentation on Mobile Voices; Mobile Voices (vozmob) is an open source storytelling platform for low-wage immigrant workers in Los Angeles to create and publish stories about their lives and communities directly from cell phones. Vozmob helps people with limited computer access gain greater participation in the digital public sphere. . In addition to exploring the potential of such technologies to give voice to marginalized communities such as these, the initiative will study the technological appropriation process as well as the impact of participatory program approaches on the technology design processes.

The project is a partnership between the Annenberg School for Communication at University of Southern California and the Institute of Popular Education of Southern California (IDEPSCA), a NGO serving low-income Latino immigrants in LA. Charlotte Lapsansky, a PhD Candidate from the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Southern California is currently based in India for her dissertation field work with an NGO in New Delhi.

CKS looks to collaborate and explore the potential of this participatory platform in various disciplines such as remote healthcare and education, m-governance, rural sustainable behaviours and open source innovation.
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CKS at the Glen Cove Conference on Strategic Design and Public Policy
CKS is participating at the Glen Cove Conference on Strategic Design and Public Policy in Glen Cove Mansion Hotel and Conference Center in New York on 09-11 June 2010, a Joint Event by the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research, the Center for Local Strategies Research, University of Washington, and the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford.

The conference is a unique opportunity to gather experts and leading institutions from the three domains of cultural research, design and public policy (particularly security,development and humanitarian action) in order to advance a shared vision of how to address one of the crucial public challenges of the 21st century: How to design local social action in cross-cultural contexts for mutual benefit?

The event will host about 25 people with expertise and interest in this topic and who are now working in government, UN agencies, the World Bank, renown university departments, as well as private-sector firms.

Connect with Dr. Aditya Dev Sood at the Conference or on email on - aditya@cks.in.
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Information Communication Technology for Development in India: Possibilities and Challenges.
CKS' interest in engaging with young minds led us to conduct an interactive session with a diverse group of students of the University of Manchester. The university has one of the pioneering courses in Information Communication Technology for Development. The students subscribed to this program, visit CKS annually to understand the how technology has forayed into emerging economies like India. The focus of this event was the nature of tele-services in India. The participatory nature of the students resulted in discussions around the socio-economic impact of such technology on the life of users; the ways in which players in the Indian market have been exploring communication technology; new areas in which there is scope for development through ICT, as well as challenges in the telecom space contextualized to the Indian community. .
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How user-centered innovation can change the way you do business workshop on 15th Dec 09..
CKS is conducting an interactive innovation workshop in Collaboration with the India Design Festival under the 9th Design Summit, on ‘How user-centered innovation can change the way you do business’. In today's one-world economy, informed innovation is key for maintaining a competitive edge. While most global business practices are striving for innovation, the processes or methodologies for achieving such innovation are not cognizant. This single-session workshop will introduce participants to each stage of our user-centered innovation process. It will promote lateral-thinking behaviors and enhanced collaborative ideation, leading to business decision-making that will actually succeed in the marketplace. Focus on telecom, healthcare, rural technology, consumer goods, development and non-profits industries. The workshop is scheduled at 0900 hrs, Tuesday, 15th December 2009 at the Kamal Mahal, Hotel Maurya Sheraton, New Delhi. .
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Abstract Backyard at CKS - Delhi
CKS is proud to host a photographic exhibition, “Abstract Backyard” by Lohash Sood, from the 26th to the 29th of November, 2009 at the CKS House, New Delhi.

ABSTRACT BACKYARD --- This series is an ode to nature. Lohash Sood has tried to capture the many shapes and forms that one experiences by just being at home, looking. Sometimes looking at plants, it is as if one can hear the music they play, as if they are swaying and whistling just for you. His motivation for this project came after he returned from a beautiful road trip with some friends. Lohash found himself getting extremely agitated being back in the city. The traffic was too loud. The people were too pre-occupied. It made him realize what we allow our minds to normalize. It also made him question whether this lifestyle was ever meant to be part of the grand design.

The purpose of this project is to remind people of where nature began - to show them a bit of what our lives have forgotten, to re-connect with the earth at the most basic level. Lohash believes that even a few moments in one’s backyard can allow the most frenetic person to take a break from his day-to-day life and find his way back to the source and feel the love nature surrounds us with.

About the Artist
Lohash Sood, born in 1978, has worked in different media--- ad films, feature films, photography and graphics- all of which, in some way, has helped his photography. It taught him to be versatile, leaving him with only the question of what to shoot as opposed to how to shoot it. His portfolio includes fashion, design and architectural photography. He has a background in Diploma in Film Editing and a Diploma in Photography, from the International School of Professional Photography, Australia (affiliated to Pearl Academy). He has also worked with various leading ad and film directors.
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Work of CKS Showcased in Lisbon(9th Sep ‘09 – 8th NOV ‘09)
CKS is being showcased among the seven key design houses around the world in the exhibition by ExperimentaDesign in Lisbon. Dr. Aditya Dev Sood from CKS has been invited by EXD and will share his thoughts on the inaugural day of the exhibition. Time is the theme of the 5th edition of this biennial of contemporary design, architecture and creativity taking place in the cutting-edge and beautiful city of Lisbon, Portugal. ExperimentaDesign is an international Biennale dedicated to design, architecture and creativity. The EXD team visited CKS in May ’09 and was influenced with the innovation and techniques of the designers, the deep understanding of culture and practices and moreover with the intellectual conversation with Dr. Sood. EXD fosters and analyses contemporary culture through discussion and reflection. It is a springboard for up-and-coming talent and experimentation in disciplines across the creative spectrum, showcasing original projects and ideas in different formats, from exhibitions to urban interventions, debates and lectures. Themed “It’s About Time”, EXD’09 looks at time as material, resource and challenge: time to take action, time to collaborate, time to make, time to reflect. This focuses on creating innovations and excellence; widen the education services, developing projects on local and transnational issues and many more


+ EXPERIMENTA DESIGN LISBOA 2009
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‘Electronix City’ by CKS at AEDES’ Exhibition in Berlin
Electronix City, a presentation by CKS on the transformations and translations that occur from rural areas to urban environments, is being showcased at AEDES’ exhibition titled ‘What makes India Urban’ in Berlin, Germany. The original Aedes Land, located in the S-Bahn arches at Savignyplatz, has been a popular meeting place for architects and designers for over twenty years. Aedes' popularity has consistently grown due to its informative exhibitions on contemporary architecture. Electronix City is the continued efforts of two generations at CKS - those who saw the beginning of an evolving urban mediascape in India around 2003 and those who carry forward their legacy today by continuing to document the new, the quirky and the future ways in which Indian cities will continue to define themselves through access to technology, redefined spaces and phantasmal media creations. Electronix City! comprises of a series of images aggregated by CKS researchers working in urban Indian streets, markets, informal settlements, and other contexts within everyday life. These images are enhanced using visual design techniques including text overlay and drawing so as to generate greater insights into local media cultures evolving from a confluence of electricity, technology, and new media inspirations, which animate everyday life in India.


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Appropriation, Design, and Social Change: Catalytic Possibilities around New Media by Professor Ramesh Srinivasan at CKS
On 5th June, 2009; Dr. Ramesh Srinivasan, Assistant Professor in UCLA, Department of Information Studies, visited CKS to share with our clients, alumni and internal team, his experience around working with ethnically-diverse populations. He delved into the interactions between diverse communities, technology co-production/design, and social/behavioral impacts. Taking the audience through a wide variety of exciting projects spanning Kyrgyzstan, Native Americans,South India, and more, he explained how understanding cultural priorities and structures of knowledge can impact the design and ultimate sustainability of database-driven new media systems. Some of his findings demonstrated how locally-grounded, participatory and ethnographic approaches can successfully fit together with economic and public policy-based notions of scale, data comparability and cross-cultural technology initiatives.


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Book Release by Sridala Swami
On the 26th of July 2007, CKS played host to the launch and book release of the eminent film editor, critic and a Friend of CKS, Sridala Swami. Her collection of poems ‘A Reluctant Survivor’ was introduced by the eminent Kannada poet and playwright, Mamta G.Sagar. Sridala’s emotive rendition of her oeuvres left the audience spellbound. Another wonderful event at the CKS House where literary enthusiasts of all age came together to enjoy an evening of poetry reading.
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Dikhtatone
CKS’ interest in developing a dynamic cultural community in Bangalore, lead us to an evening of an open house discussion on art, culture and creativity in Bangalore. With discussions on the problems of space availability to the nature of such a desired platform, our guests Naresh Narsimhan of Venkatramanan Associates, Jayna Kothari of Ashira Law, independent artists like Abhishek Hazra and Karthikeya Acharya and others all voiced their opinions regarding the need for such a community. After the discussions, came the music and the whole evening was livened up by DJ Justy who added a great swing to the event.
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Doors 9 New Delhi
CKS will be producing the famous Doors of Perception Design Conference at the India International Center in New Delhi. The theme for Doors 9 is ‘Juice: Food Fuel Meaning’. Doors of Perception will be held from 28 February to 4 March 2007.
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Used around the World!
CKS researchers and designers have been traveling all around the world discovering interesting user innovations and customizations of media and technology. This multimedia exhibition will be open to the public at CKS house beginning February 2007.
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Pecha-Kucha at CKS
Inaugural Pecha Kucha night will be held at exactly Eight-Twenty (20.20) on the 29th of September at CKS House, Bangalore.

In the series, next Pecha Kucha night will be hosted by CKS in collaboration with British Council, in Delhi on 13 December 2006.
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Mobile Mondays at CKS
CKS hosted Bangalore’s second Mobile Mondays event on the 28th of August 2006. Rishit Jhunjhunwala, CTO of Verity Technologies, Bangalore, spoke on 'Mobile VAS scenarios in India'.
Otherwise known as MoMo, Mobile Mondays is a global community for Wireless Industry Professionals.
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CKS Talk: Molly Wright Steenson
CKS hosted a talk, 7th of Auguat 2006, by Molly Steenson on 'Fun places and Mobile architecture: Networked, Mobile spaces in Sixties and Seventies.'
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CKS Workshop: Sound Design by Sophia Lerner
CKS hosted a workshop on sound design by Sophia Lerner of the Sibelius Academy and the University of Art and Design in Helsinki, Finland in June 2006.
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Juice: Doors Ideation Workshop at CKS
An ideation workshop was held at CKS in June 2006 on the theme of ‘JUICE’! Specialists in design and technology helped create conceptual associations to develop the topics and focus areas for the 9th Doors of Perception Conference, which will be held in March 2007 in New Delhi.
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CKS Artist in Residence: Zack Denfeld
Zack Denfeld, of University of Michigan, Ann Arbor was Artist and Scholar in Residence at CKS in May and June 2006. Every year, CKS invites scholars, artists and designers from all over the globe to share knowledge and skills with the Bangalore community.
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CKS Artist in Residence: Welcome Party
Zack Denfeld, Artist and Scholar in Residence, stunned people at party with his VJ-DJ skills at his own Welcome Party!
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Is Light the First Form of Media? CKS Celebrates Diwali
CKS hosted a party to celebrate Diwali. Bangalore’s art, design and technology community came together to celebrate festival of lights until the police shut the party down!


Used in India
Used in India, a multimedia installation, which showcases media devices and narratives of their use, has been showcased in multiple locations. In March 2005, it was showcased at the British Council in New Delhi and at the India Habitat Centre as part of the Doors of Perception 8 conference. It has since been shown at the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art in Helsinki, as a part of the PixelAche festival of electronic arts. It is now a permanent exhibit at the CKS office premises in Bangalore.
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Wim Klerx Exhibition
A photo exhibit on Indian Cultures and Technology with photos by Wim Klerx, and text by Ananya Vajpeyi was displayed in the CKS Gallery. Wim Klerx is a photographer who captures technology and its manifestations in day to day life in new and surrealistic ways. Ananya is a scholar and widely published writer, who is presently a Scholar of Peace with WISCOMP, a non-profit think-tank based in New Delhi.
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Voice and Data in India
CKS organized a photo exhibition on the theme 'Voice & Data in India' in May 2003, with exhibits by Sridala Swami, a film-maker and CKS media consultant. Sridala's images brought to life the various situations of use for information and communication technologies in India, thereby also providing a strong visual reference for the undeniable value of ethnography in research.
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Exhibition of CKS Work
A retrospective of CKS work was exhibited during Doors East 2: 2003. On display were representations of CKS projects, and other media artifacts like posters, publications and films. The exhibition served to show the diverse interventions that CKS has been involved in during its relatively short history, as also the multiplicity of media and technology used in every area of CKS activity.
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Development Pavillion
The Development Laboratory Network came together to mount a common exhibit on the possible uses of Network technology for rural development at the 2001 BangaloreIT.com trade fair. The Development Laboratory is a common platform created by Madhyam, Voices, Mahiti.org, and the Center for Knowledge Societies to create, test and develop new applications and services that benefit non-elite communities in both urban and rural environments across South Asia.
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Exhibition of CKS Work
A retrospective of CKS work was exhibited during Doors East 2: 2003. On display were representations of CKS projects, and other media artifacts like posters, publications and films. The exhibition served to show the diverse interventions that CKS has been involved in during its relatively short history, as also the multiplicity of media and technology used in every area of CKS activity.
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Visualisation and Spatiality
CKS organized a full day workshop at Development By Design (DYD), an international conference on Open Collaborative Design for Sustainable Innovation at Srishti School of Design, Bangalore on the 1st & 2nd December 2002. The workshop titled 'Visualization, Spatiality, and I' sought to introduce participants to an understanding of the use and manipulation of GIS technologies. The workshop allowed participants to use handheld GPS-enabled devices to map their own context and in the process learn how their own bodies and the immediate interactional space are hypermediated through their use of the GPS.

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