In his Tedx talk, “Is Iron Man 2 Right? Re-investigating 3D User Interfaces” York University professor and GRAND researcher Wolfgang Stuerzlinger asks whether 3D technology, the kind used in blockbuster movies, is even possible. He then delves into the potential and limitations of 3D technology in our everyday lives.

GRAND researcher Ron Wakkary of Simon Fraser University has been named co-editor of interactions, a bi-monthly publication of the ACM (Association for Computing Machinery) on applied computer human interaction. Wakkary will co-edit the influential magazine with Erik Stolterman of Indiana University in the United States.

A radio interview with GRAND's Frank Russo about music without sound and his Emotichair, which is a chair that allows deaf people to feel music through vibrations.

GRAND researcher and Ryerson professor Dr. Deborah Fels has been appointed to the Interadvisory Panel on Research Ethics (The Panel or PRE). She brings to the panel a unique perspective drawn from her groundbreaking research in innovative interfaces for people with disabilities and multi-modal computer applications such as emotive captioning and vibrotactile systems.

Join us in Vancouver for the second annual GRAND conference, May 12-14, 2011.

Registration now open.

Computing science professor Duane Szafron and fellow University of Alberta researcher Maria Cutumisu proved that if you want to get more females interested in computing science, you have "to rewrite the program, so to speak."

GRAND has the opportunity to participate in an NSF-Funded Doctoral Symposium on Social-Computational Systems. Social-Computational Systems, as defined in the NSF solicitation of the same name, "seeks to reveal new understanding about the properties that systems of people and computers together possess, and to develop theoretical and practical understandings of the purposeful design of systems to facilitate socially intelligent computing."

Two Canadian doctoral awards, valued at $1,000 each, in areas related to GRAND's research are seeking nominations for "best dissertation" in 2010. Both awards will be presented at the annual Graphics Interface conference, May 25-27, 2011 in St. John's Newfoundland. The two awards are the Alain Fournier Ph.D. Thesis Annual Award and the Best Canadian HCI Thesis Award.

GRAND's DreamThrower project is featured on the Year of Science website, which is a Government of BC initiative to get students interested in science.

GRAND researcher and Dalhousie professor Dr. Gruzd’s social media research on the 2010 Winter Olympics studied the use and impact of Twitter during the event and how sentiments spread over online social networks. He is expanding his research to include another big sporting event, the 2011 Canada Games which are currently being held in Halifax, his home turf.

GRAND researcher Eleni Stroulia profiled by the Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology.

As someone interested in social networking, you undoubtedly have seen "The Social Network", the Academy Award nominated film about the founding of Facebook. What I want to suggest is that you think of it as a way to learn about the legal dangers that threaten start-up companies.

SFU West House, an eco-friendly, state-of-the-art sustainable laneway home, is part of HCTSL (Human Centred Technologies for Sustainable Living), one of 34 projects within the GRAND research network.

GRAND researchers wrote Computer Games and Canada’s Digital Economy: The Role of Universities in Promoting Innovation.

The report clearly demonstrates why Canada’s $2 billion video game industry is one worth getting to know.

GRAND graduate student Lesley Northam attended a 3D stereoscopic workshop that focused on the history, theory and challenges of filming documentaries in 3D.

Read her review of the event.

Dr. Anatoliy Gruzd talked to The Globe and Mail about the role of social media in this year's federal election. Dr. Gruzd will be monitoring various social media platforms to see what people are saying about the election and whether social media will motivate voters to get involved and place their votes.

A CTV news piece (TV and web) on GrabApple - a GRAND GAMFIT game published at ICEC.

It is an article of faith for Intellectual Property (IP) lawyers that IP protection promotes creativity and is necessary for strong cultural industries. However, two recent experiences have caused me to pause and reflect on these sacrosanct dictums.
Might there be circumstances where IP protection frustrates or at least is not required for creativity?

GRAND PhD student Tiffany Inglis participated in a demo session attended by Joe Marks, Vice President, Disney Research. Later in the day, she heard Joe's presentation, part of the University of Waterloo's Distinguished Lecture Series. Here is her review.

GRAND researcher and internationally renown sociologist Barry Wellman talks to the New York Times about Web-centric family time.

GRAND's Jason Nolan and his research team, the Experiential Design and Gaming Environments (EDGE) Lab, is pioneering research on the design and teaching of adaptive techniques for children with disabilities using cardboard and DIY electronics at Ryerson’s Digital Media Zone (DMZ).

A review of a GRAND project, where an experimental touch screen uses variable friction to make different areas feel sticky or rough.

Bending the flexible device will allow users to make calls and play music

GRAND researcher Roel Vertagaal's paper computer reported on by Nick Bilton in the New York Times.

A group of GRAND researchers have developed a screen that comes with built-in "programmable friction" - a technique for adjusting the stickiness of the screen.

A description of the 2011 GRAND conference by Madeline Ashby.

GRAND researcher, Vincent Levesque, demonstrates the functions of the LATPaD -- their prototype that uses TPad technology.

A team at Ryerson University’s Department of Psychology made a vibrating chair that was designed to let the deaf experience sound.

GRAND's Joshua Tanenbaum is the winner of the SFU Office of Graduate Studies’ 40th Anniversary contest for his fun and creative winning contest entry.

More and more of our lives, our personal interests, our hobbies and activities are leaving an electronic trail.

Unwittingly we entrust this trail to the people who design, implement and manage data security for the numerous online enterprises with whom we interact.

Can we trust these people to do a good job?

Four GRAND Ph.D students from across the country were selected to participate in the SoCs symposium. Find out who they met, what they learned and how the experience improved their research.

Study uses games to explore whether children with FASD can develop techniques to rewire their thinking patterns to overcome certain deficiencies they were born with.

Xiaolin (Jo-Lynn) Zhuo won the prestigious University of Toronto Excellence Award (UTEA) in Social Sciences and Humanities. The award will be applied to her work this summer on NAVEL, one of 34 projects within the GRAND network.

GRAND doctoral student Lorna Boschman, SFU, Surrey is looking into the effectiveness of fitness games. Woman over 40 are invited to join the study.

GRAND Masters student Alan Goldman (ECUAD) shares his thoughts on the first annual Toronto 3D Stereoscopic Conference, a one of a kind international gathering of experts in the stereoscopic 3D art and entertainment arena.

Sonic Cradle, a GRAND project, is featured on Vice Magazine's "Motherboard.tv".

GRAND's Dr. Frank Russo, along with his team at Ryerson University's SMART LAB, are interviewed by CBC Radio about the Emoti-chair.

Canada is famous for tax breaks and other forms of support for major publishers but can and should the country do more to build up the indie movement? Jason Della Rocca speaks to developers referencing key findings from games report by GRAND researchers.

Rita Orji, a University of Saskatchewan PhD computer science student and GRAND member, has developed an app to promote healthy eating and address Canada’s obesity epidemic.

A positive review of the LudicVoice/PLAYPR iPhone app project, The Victorianator. The article describes the game and how it was made, and records an interview with GRAND's PLAYPR member Jason Camlot about the origins of the project, and how it works.

A review of the LudicVoice/PLAYPR iPhone app, The Victortianator, in the Book Bench section of the New Yorker Magazine. The app is described as a cross between a poetry reading and Wii Sports.

GRAND receives a major boost thanks to federal funding through Western Economic Diversification Canada.

The Canadian government, through Western Economic Diversification (WD), announced a two-year funding commitment that supports technology transfer, start-up creation, prototype development and networking events.

An article published in Carleton's Library News describes GRAND's Heritage Passages project to create an exhibit and locative app for the Virtual Museum of Canada.

The SIRT Centre was recently approached by medical researchers from the University of Western Ontario associated with GRAND. Two GRAND initiatives support the University of Western Ontario’s research into the potential of augmented reality for training healthcare professionals. SIRT is consulting on the design of 3D training tools for prospective surgeons.

The Carleton Now describes a GRAND project about the architectural and cultural history of the construction of the Rideau Canal. The project will create an exhibit and locative app for the Virtual Museum of Canada.

On August 12, 2011, researchers at SFU's School of Interactive Arts and Technology (SIAT), Surrey opened their laboratory doors to GRAND students and postdocs for the inaugural GRAND Café.

Six GRAND doctoral students representing universities across the country were selected to attend the Summer Social Webshop, a 4-day interdisciplinary workshop hosted by the University of Maryland, College Park.

An enthisiastic review of GRAND's LudicVoice/PLAYPR iPhone game, The Victorianator, by the popular tech blog GeekDad. This review focuses on gameplay, as well as the steampunk art design of the game.

GRAND is pleased to announce the Young Network Investigator Award. The YNI Award provides bridge funding for former students and postdoctoral fellows who wish to continue their involvement in GRAND projects after they become faculty members with a research role at eligible Canadian universities.

GRAND will be funding a limited number of new projects beginning April 1, 2012.

The Call for New Projects application process starts with Letters of Intent which are due November 7, 2011.

GRAND researcher Frank Russo is working to understand how different senses contribute to the expression of emotion and may lead to developing better therapies for those who have communication deficits.

The University of Alberta Faculty of Arts magazine interviews three members of the University of Alberta's GRAND team about how video games will change the world.

GRAND researchers have demonstrated a new technique capable of stealing personal information from Facebook.

GRAND researcher Dr. Anatoliy Gruzd, the director of Social Media Lab, monitors how scholars are using social media tools.

The Transforming Pain Research Group, led by GRAND researcher and SFU professor, Dr. Diane Gromala, are exhibiting their work at the UCLA Art | Sci Center + Lab from November 30 to December 9. Members of this group are exploring ways that new technologies may help people who suffer from chronic pain.

GRAND researcher and UBC prof Konstantin Beznosov along with Tim Hwang and Maria Bakardjieva discuss the world of socialbots and how they may soon be influencing opinions and changing the shape of social networks. Check out the full CBC interview on Spark with Nora Young.

The digital media world is ever changing.

Stay current by reading blogs written by members of the GRAND network.

GRAND students Shannon Lucky and Shane Riczu promote the Return of the Magic geo-locative game on local Edmonton Breakfast Television (CityTV).

The multidisciplinary GRAND network addresses 34 projects cross-pollinated around 5 themes.

GRAND's Jay Vidyarthi created the Sonic Cradle, which allows people to shape music using their own respiration in complete darkness in an attempt to provide non-meditators with a meditative experience.

In today's complex world with our many specializations, collaborative research is often a necessity. One of the reasons why many such projects fail to achieve full success is that the participants do not properly prepare for the problems that are inherent in the process.

GRAND researcher and TAGlab Director Ronald Baecker has been named a Fellow by the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), for his foundational contributions to human-computer interaction and computer animation. Congratulations!

Join us in Montreal for the third annual GRAND conference, May 2-4, 2012.

Registration and Call for Participation now open!