Скачать или смотреть Between Scripts and Applications: Computational Media for the Frontier of Nanoscience

Between Scripts and Applications: Computational Media for the Frontier of Nanoscience
Midas Nouwens;Marcel Borowski;Bjarke Fog;Clemens Nylandsted Klokmose

CHI'20: ACM CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems
Session: Computational notebooks & tutorials

Abstract
The popularity of computational notebooks heralds a return of software as computational media rather than turn-key applications. We believe this software model has potential beyond supporting just the computationally literate. We studied a biomolecular nano-design lab that works on a current frontier of science – RNA origami – whose researchers depend on computational tools to do their work, yet are not trained as programmers. Using a participatory design process, we developed a computational labbook to concretise what computational media could look like, using the principles of computability, malleability, shareability, and distributability suggested by previous work. We used this prototype to co-reflect with the nanoscientists about how it could transform their practice. We report on the computational culture specific to this research area; the scientists' struggles managing their computational environments; and their subsequent disempowerment yet dependence. Lastly, we discuss the generative potential and limitations of the four design principles for the future of computational media.

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1145/3313831.3376287
WEB:: https://chi2020.acm.org/

Video preview for the ACM CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems 2020