The Institute of Creative Technologies
The IOCT is a university-wide research institute that concerns itself with the practice, theory and history of creative technologies. All its projects are either interdisciplinary (applying the methods from one discipline to another), multidisciplinary (teams from various disciplines combining to investigate a research question) or transdisciplinary (across and beyond all disciplines). IOCT Research focuses upon three areas:
Creative Computing
This addresses the challenges of reconciling the objective precision of computer science with the subjective ambiguities of the arts and humanities. It has applications in the arts and entertainment, games and mobile applications, product and web design and other interactive systems. Funding has come from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Technology Strategy Board and the European Union.
Interactive Arts and Media
This examines the nature of human interactions with new technologies, in particular through creative practice as research. It has applications in pervasive media, computational art, live performance and digital heritage. Funding has come from Arts Council England, the Arts and Humanities Research Council, Leverhulme Foundation, the British Academy, Leicester City Council and a number of charities.
Networks and Collaboration
This interrogates the histories and futures of connectedness, examines transliteracy (converging literacies across platforms, tools and media) and explores enhanced skillsets enabled by social media. It has applications in social and artistic projects, audience development, and transdisciplinary collaborations of all kinds. Funding has come from the National Endowment for Science Technology and the Arts, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, and several Knowledge Transfer Partnerships.
The IOCT has a core team of Professors and Research Fellows, a group of high-profile Visiting Professors, and many Faculty-based Researchers. We welcome PhD students, and we run a cross-Faculty Masters programme.
We actively engage with local industry, and have close relationships with several large companies, SMEs, and government organisations. We would be delighted to talk to you about our research projects and commercial opportunities.
The IOCT's facilities comprise the Main Lab (a large flexible space with a vast array of technologies, and including social and exhibition areas), a Fused Media Lab, a Usability Lab, and a Virtual Environment Centre. We regularly exhibit work and run seminars and other events in Leicester's new Digital Media Centre Phoenix Square.
For further information or to be kept informed about IOCT activities, please contact:The Director, Institute of Creative Technologies,
De Montfort University, The Gateway, Leicester, LE1 9BH
Tel: (+44) 0116 250 6146
Email: eedmonds [at] dmu.ac.uk
www.ioct.dmu.ac.uk