Title: Software aesthetics: from text and diagrams to interactive spaces

Authors: Paul A. Fishwick

Addresses: Computer and Information Sciences Department, University of Florida, PO Box 116120, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA

Abstract: Ubiquitous computing suggests that the computers and their information are located everywhere – inside walls, rooms, people and trees. A complementary scenario occurs along the virtuality continuum, where scripts and data are located separately in virtual 3D objects. A natural consequence of ubiquitous computing in physical and virtual environments is that information and software begin to transition from ethereal artefact to design object. Currently, this trend is being seen in ambient devices that display information. We describe how this trend will also lead to other forms of software being similarly expressed in a variety of human-interactive forms. The end result is a new vision for software representation that brings it into the public sphere.

Keywords: aesthetic computing; information aesthetics; information visualisation; software aesthetics; ubiquitous computing; software representation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJART.2008.019884

International Journal of Arts and Technology, 2008 Vol.1 No.1, pp.90 - 101

Published online: 13 Aug 2008 *

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