UrbanitiesLab

UrbanitiesLab (© 2015-2025)

The UrbanitiesLab is an initiative to explore, theorize, and engage with people on their experiences with aware technologies affecting information interactions, engagement, literacies, and learning in urban life.

Responsive & Interactive

The UrbanitiesLab fosters spaces for discussion and action about open, vibrant, people-interactive, responsive, livable, and sustainable cities.

Activities & Events on Smart 2023-2024

Conversing with our Cars and the Drive for more Aware Experiences, Applying Ambient Theory to Mobile Design (June 2024)
Exploring the Potential of Cognitive Flexibility and Elaboration in Support of Curiosity, Interest, and Engagement in Designing AI-Rich Learning Spaces, Extensible to Urban Environments (June 2024)
An exploration of theory for smart spaces in everyday life: Enriching ambient theory for smart cities (June 2024)
Creativity and innovation in civic spaces supported by cognitive flexibility when learning with AI chatbots in smart cities (February 2024) Chauncey & McKenna
A framework and exemplars for ethical and responsible use of AI Chatbot technology to support teaching and learning (November 2023) Chauncey & McKenna
An Exploration of the Potential of Large Language Models to Enable Cognitive Flexibility in AI-Augmented Learning Environments (November 2023) Chauncey & McKenna
HCII2023 Paper on The nurturing of theory for smart environments and spaces: The case of ambient theory for smart cities (July 2023)
Urban life and the ambient in smart cities, learning cities, and future cities. IGI Global, 2023.

Literacies and Urban AI Project ...

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What: Work in progress
Title: AI in Urban Life
When: 2024-2025.
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What: Work in progress
Title: The Ambient in Urban AI
When: 2024-2025.
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What: Work in progress
Title: Improving our Awareness of Data Generation, Use, and Ownership ...
Where: HCII 2025, Gothenburg, Sweden
When: June 2025.
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Activities & Events on Smart Cities 2016-2022

HCII2022 Paper on Exploring the usefulness and usability of ambient theory for smart cities (June-July 2022)
IHSI2022 Paper on Ambient theory for smart cities: Is it a good theory? (February 2022)
FTC2021 Paper Is ambient theory for smart cities even a theory? An affirmative assessment (2022)
Elements to Consider in Critiquing a Theory: The Emerging Case of Ambient Theory for Smart Cities. November 2021. Video presentation prepared in response to an invitation to speak to students in a Doctoral Course on Critiquing Theories, De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines
HCII2021 Paper on The importance of theory for understanding smart cities: Making a case for ambient theory (July 2021) [Best Paper Award]
Seeing Smart Cities Through a Multi-Dimensional Lens: Perspectives, Relationships, and Patterns for Success. Springer. 2021.
Visibilities and Invisibilities in Smart Cities: Emerging Research and Opportunities. IGI Global. 2021
HCII2020 Paper on Adaptability and attuning in smart cities: Exploring the HCI grand challenge of learning and creativity (July 2020)
Journal article, Human-Smart Environment Interactions in Smart Cities: Exploring Dimensionalities of Smartness, Future Internet, special issue, Smart Cities, Innovation, and Multi-Dimensionality (April 2020)
Book Chapter, Awareness and smart city implementations: Sensing, sensors, and the IoT in the public sector. In J. R. Gil Garcia, T. A. Pardo, and M. Gascó (Eds.). Beyond smart and connected governments: Sensors and the Internet of Things in the public sector. Springer, Public Administration and Information Technology (PAIT). (March 2020)
FICC2020 Paper on Urban sensibilities, sharing and interactive public spaces: In search of a good correlation for information and communication in smart cities (March 2020)
IHSI2020 Paper on Beyond confluence, integration and symbiosis: Creating more aware relationships in smart cities (February 2020)

HCII2019 Presentation on Getting smarter about data and access in smart cities (July 2019)
CSC2019 Reflections on evolving urban correlations for connected smart cities (July 2019)
Ambient Urbanities as the Intersection Between the IoT and the IoP in Smart Cities. IGI Global. 2019.
Innovating metrics for smarter, responsive cities. Data, Special Issue - Big Data Challenges in Smart Cities, March 2019
Future Technologies Conference (FTC) 2018 Presentation on Exploring the quantified experience: Finding spaces for people and their voices in smarter, more responsive cities Nov 2018
HCII2018 Presentation on Creativity & ambient urbanizing at the intersection of the Internet of Things & People in smart cities (July 2018)
Collaboration in the 1st Victoria Design Nerds Jam, Upcycled Urbanism: How Might We Upcycle &/or Memorialize the Blue Bridge? (Mar 2018)
Smart Cities & Learning Cities booth at Discover Tectoria featuring a local smart city project (Feb 2018)
VICTA2017 Presentation on Adaptive reuse of cultural heritage elements and fragments in public spaces: The Internet of Cultural Things (IoCTs) and applications as infrastructures for learning in smart cities (Dec 2017)
iCERi2017 Presentation on Re-conceptualizing jobs, work & labour: Transforming learning for more creative economies in 21st century smart cities (Nov 2017)
HCII2017 Presentation on Civic Tech & Ambient Data in the Public Realm (July 2017)
Course on Learning Cities (24 May 2017)
Invited Speaker (Oct 2016): Emerging Green Builders for Smarter Cities/Communities
Workshop (PreConference, April 2016): BCNET2016
Workshop (Jan 2016): CitySmarts

For more information about the UrbanitiesLab please contact the Director, Patricia McKenna