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Spark | Sep 20, 2013 | 7:57

Ambient Noise in the Workplace

Research suggesting that the right amount of noise at work can enhance creativity, sparked a website called Coffitivity, that provides a steady stream of ambient coffee shop sound. Sound expert Julian Treasure on how ambient noise helps us work.

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Spark - Against the Smart CityOct 3, 2013 | 23:39Spark Against the Smart City Audio
Spark Against the Smart City Oct 3, 2013 | 23:39Nora Young interviews urbanist Adam Greenfield about his new pamphlet "Against the smart city." In it, Greenfield argues that there is a "deep conceptual problem with the smart city at virtually every level."
Spark - Falling in Love with A.I., Context-aware Computing, Soldiers and robots, and the Beauty of Glitch ArtSep 29, 2013 | 53:59Spark Falling in Love with A.I., Context-aware Computing, Soldiers and robots, and the Beauty of Glitch Art Audio
Spark Falling in Love with A.I., Context-aware Computing, Soldiers and robots, and the Beauty of Glitch Art Sep 29, 2013 | 53:59(Spark 226): Julie Carpernter on soldiers and their field robots. Phillip Stearns on glitch art. Brian Christian on falling in love with artificial intelligence. Hossein Rahnama and Saul Greenberg on context-aware computing and common ground.
Spark - Soldiers and A.I.Sep 27, 2013 | 9:29Spark Soldiers and A.I. Audio
Spark Soldiers and A.I. Sep 27, 2013 | 9:29Julie Carpenter studies how military personnel interact with the field robots they use they use in bomb disposal. Although they recognize them as tools, soldiers still like to name their robots, and some also see them as extensions of themselves.
Spark - The Beauty of Glitch ArtSep 27, 2013 | 7:23Spark The Beauty of Glitch Art Audio
Spark The Beauty of Glitch Art Sep 27, 2013 | 7:23When your phone's screen goes black, or a DVD you're watching suddenly pixelates and freezes, it can be really frustrating, but glitch artist Phil Stearns sees the beauty in malfunction.
Spark - Falling in Love with A.I.Sep 27, 2013 | 10:52Spark Falling in Love with A.I. Audio
Spark Falling in Love with A.I. Sep 27, 2013 | 10:52In the upcoming movie Her, a guy falls in love with his operating system. Sure, it helps it's the voice of Scarlett Johansson, but STILL. Brian Christian on whether it's possible to actually fall in love with artificial intelligence.
Spark - Context-aware ComputingSep 27, 2013 | 19:04Spark Context-aware Computing Audio
Spark Context-aware Computing Sep 27, 2013 | 19:04As our relationship with computers becomes more and more personalized, it's not a leap to think of our technologies as personal assistants. Hossein Rahnama and Saul Greenberg on the challenges to making context-aware computing work.
Spark - Future of Autonomous Cars, Always-on Video systems, and Ambient Sound in the WorkplaceSep 20, 2013 | 53:59Spark Future of Autonomous Cars, Always-on Video systems, and Ambient Sound in the Workplace Audio
Spark Future of Autonomous Cars, Always-on Video systems, and Ambient Sound in the Workplace Sep 20, 2013 | 53:59(Spark 225): Danny Robinson and Saul Greenberg on always-on video systems in the workplace. Julian Treasure on ambient sound in the workplace. Ryan Chin and James Pisz on autonomous cars and the future of cities.
Spark - Always-on Video Portal in the WorkplaceSep 20, 2013 | 9:25Spark Always-on Video Portal in the Workplace Audio
Spark Always-on Video Portal in the Workplace Sep 20, 2013 | 9:25Saul Greenberg on how understanding the subtleties of the way humans communicate in person, will help us make two-way always-on video systems an effective workplace tool.
Spark - Ambient Noise in the WorkplaceSep 20, 2013 | 7:57Spark Ambient Noise in the Workplace Audio
Spark Ambient Noise in the Workplace Sep 20, 2013 | 7:57Research suggesting that the right amount of noise at work can enhance creativity, sparked a website called Coffitivity, that provides a steady stream of ambient coffee shop sound. Sound expert Julian Treasure on how ambient noise helps us work.
Spark - Autonomous Cars (Part 1)Sep 20, 2013 | 11:32Spark Autonomous Cars (Part 1) Audio
Spark Autonomous Cars (Part 1) Sep 20, 2013 | 11:32A primer on autonomous cars, followed by Toyota's James Pisz, on why fully autonomous cars won't be mainstream for at least a generation, until we overcome social hurdles like trust.
Spark - Autonomous Cars (Part 2)Sep 20, 2013 | 10:33Spark Autonomous Cars (Part 2) Audio
Spark Autonomous Cars (Part 2) Sep 20, 2013 | 10:33Ryan Chin of the MIT Media Lab, on the potential benefits of autonomous cars and how they may change the way we design and use cities.
Spark - Autonomous Cars and the Future of Cities (Full Interview)Sep 16, 2013 | 14:43Spark Autonomous Cars and the Future of Cities (Full Interview) Audio
Spark Autonomous Cars and the Future of Cities (Full Interview) Sep 16, 2013 | 14:43Ryan Chin, managing director of the City Science Initiative at the MIT Media Lab, on the potential benefits of autonomous cars and the impact they may have on urban centres.
Spark - Nourishing Community Online, Designing Workplace Culture, NSA Surveillance, and "Rewire"Sep 15, 2013 | 53:59Spark Nourishing Community Online, Designing Workplace Culture, NSA Surveillance, and "Rewire" Audio
Spark Nourishing Community Online, Designing Workplace Culture, NSA Surveillance, and "Rewire" Sep 15, 2013 | 53:59(Spark 224): Wendy Powley and Caterina Fake on nourishing online community. Dan Misener on The NSA, surveillance and encryption. Teresa Brazen on designing workplace culture. Ethan Zuckerman on his book "Rewire."
Spark - Long-term Online CommunitiesSep 13, 2013 | 7:59Spark Long-term Online Communities Audio
Spark Long-term Online Communities Sep 13, 2013 | 7:59Wendy Powley on her 18 year membership in an online support group for parents. She says the emotional bonds transcend the technology.
Spark - Always-on Video Portal with Danny RobinsonSep 13, 2013 | 5:04Spark Always-on Video Portal with Danny Robinson Audio
Spark Always-on Video Portal with Danny Robinson Sep 13, 2013 | 5:04Perch is a Vancouver-based company that recently released an iOS app for "always-on video communication". Host Nora Young used Perch to interview CEO Danny Robinson about it.

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