Eat, Cook, Grow: Ubiquitous Technology for Sustainable Food Culture in the City

Research Grant
ARC Linkage LP100100232
2010 – 2012

Abstract
Healthy and sustainable food is gaining more attention from consumers and industry. Yet many approaches to date are limited to information dissemination, advertisement or education. This collaboration with Intel, Queensland Health and local partners will explore urban food practices – growing, cooking, eating – to support the well-being of people and the environment. User centred design research will inform the development of entertaining, real-time, mobile and networked applications, engaging playful feedback to build motivation. The study will deliver usable and useful prototypes employing individual and group strategies to foster a food culture that employs new ways to produce, share and enjoy food that is green, healthy and fun.

Raising people’s awareness of healthy and ecological food options with nutritional data and educational information does not foster a sustained practice towards a more environmentally friendly food culture. This study seeks to develop a better understanding how to go beyond just informing and into supporting and sustaining action and change. Drawing on interaction design, ubiquitous computing and real- time information, the study will deliver research findings that inform viable new design approaches and information interfaces which will strengthen Australia’s position to resolve the problems of obesity, malnutrition and ecological issues of mass food processing, and contribute to the sustainability of life in Australian cities.  The study will be carried out in Brisbane, Australia; Portland, Oregon, USA; and Seoul, South Korea.

Team

  • Assoc. Prof. Marcus Foth (Chief Investigator)
  • Prof. Greg Hearn (Chief Investigator)
  • Dr Jaz Hee-jeong Choi (Australian Postdoctoral Fellow – Industry, APDI)
  • Assoc. Prof. Eli Blevis, Indiana University, USA (Partner Investigator)
  • Prof. Younghui Kim, Hongik University, Seoul, South Korea (Partner Investigator)
  • Dr Tad Hirsch, Intel Corp. (Partner Investigator)

Partners