weaving technologies into empathetic intercultural collaboration among international children...
TRANSCRIPT
Weaving Technologies intoEmpathetic Intercultural Collaboration
among International Children
Toshiyuki Takasaki
Vice-president, CTO
NPO Pangaea
Agenda
1. Background
2. Issues of intercultural collaboration via ICT
3. Case1: PangaeaNet
4. Case2: Communicator
5. Case3: Webcam
6. Conclusion
Background: Pangaea
Pangaea provides “Universal Playground,” where children across the world can come and enjoy to foster bonds each other through experiences of fun activities.
No F-t-F meeting, only online communication
Target age: 9-15
© NPO Pangaea
Obstacles of Intercultural Communication
LanguageDistanceCultural backgroundEconomic circumstances…etc
> ICT has a great possibility to overcome these obstacles if it is designed and utilized in a ‘right’ way.
Merit of introducing ICT to intercultural collaboration
Borderless The Internet is connected around the world.
Low cost You can communicate almost free of charge
as long as you have Internet infrastructure.
CopyIt is easy to share digital materials online.
Issues: Demerit of ICTSafety
Anonymous communicationSpoofing: behaving as a different personFlaming
Information loss by digital discretenessDifficult to transmit “warmth” in communication
e.g.: Easier to flame in email communication from misunderstanding
Anti-diversity tendencye.g.: language death / English-centered knowledge
Requiring Imagination of other’s existence
Weaving technologies into field
Technologies in Pangaea is regarded as a tool for scaffolding empathetic intercultural collaboration.
If all activities are done digitally, it won’t work.
Pangaea combines ICT solution and social solution.e.g. Participants gather in real Pangaea center and they c
annot access to PangaeaNet at home.e.g. Pangaea Activity Contents are designed to be fun, les
s-verbal, and giving empathetic experiences through digital work and pen&paper work.
Case1: PangaeaNet
Communication Platform in Local Activity Sharing creation work Personal info as bonding catalyst 4 clicks to the earth
House > Village > Country > Earth
© NPO Pangaea
Issues and solutions in PangaeaNet
Issue of SafetyRequire one-time password / No access from homeNo anonymous and spoofing login
・ Deterrence: Facilitator and other local participants
Issue of Information loss by digitalArt work by pen & paper is utilized richly and delivers
‘warmth.’Issue of other’s imaginationShowing photo, voice, and workSharing personal information
© NPO Pangaea
Case2: Communicator
Pictogram messaging web application Rich expression
Allowing layout pictograms vertically & horizontally, and overlapping.
© NPO Pangaea
Case2: Motivation of Communicator Dev.
Flat communication platform: mother tongueThere are no inferior or superior languages.
Willingness to communicate
Heart-to-heart communicationThe purpose is not to transmit precise information.
Fostering bonds
Allows uniqueness of each culture Facilitating cultural diversity
Issues and solutions in Communicator
Issues of Information loss by digitalMuch richer expression than textFacilitating cultural diversity
Inventing own message style Personal dictionary function to be released
Issues of other’s imagination in digitalShowing photos and ‘thank you’ voice.Delivering emotional & empathetic messages
Case3: Playful Webcam Platform
Web application for Webcam activity Accommodating Webcam activity menus
© NPO Pangaea
Issues and solutions in Webcam platform Issues of Information loss by digitalPaper materials are prepared by staff and made by participants
effectively.
Issues of other’s imagination in digitalSimultaneous visual communication is one of the most powerful
ways to imagine the other side of the line.
Social aspectParticipants had experienced Local Activity at least once.Less-verbal activity menus are designed and provided.Staff (MC, Facilitator, Tech staff) supports the communication
from time to time.
Conclusion
ICT is applied to Pangaea’s intercultural collaboration.
Before applying technologies into the actual field, merit and demerit of the technologies should be considered.
In Pangaea, technologies are weaved into the actual field with social support and ‘analog’ element.