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Jon Kennard

Freelance

Freelance writer

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Much of my time…

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...late last week was spent at Bristol's Watershed media centre. My first talk was a 'twilight talk'on early Thursday evening. Organised by Bristol University's Psychology department and presented by Professor Marcus Munafo, 'Do I look happy to you?' investigated the relationship between happiness, depression and the psychology of both. What can you really tell from the expression on someone's face? If you are predisposed to thinking negative thoughts then you will automatically see sadness in someone else's face, when that may actually not be the person's mindstate at all. Fascinating stuff.
 
Next up was a Friday lunchtime session at the Pervasive Media Studio (the more experimental wing of the Watershed), and a discussion entitled 'Designing with fiction'. Through pretty obvious cultural references such as Minority Report, the talk aimed to make the link between how the ergonomics of fictional new technologies can inform real-life product reseach and development. More on that here.

And finally... events-wise, the next big thing on the agenda is TrainingZone Live 2012. But I'm afraid, dear reader, we'll have to keep our cards close to our chest until next week on that one. ;-)
 

Author Profile Picture
Jon Kennard

Freelance writer

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