Mihai Nadin
Encyclopedia
Mihai Nadin is a scholar and researcher in electrical engineering
, computer science
, aesthetics
, semiotics
, human-computer interaction (HCI), computational design, post-industrial society
, and anticipatory systems. His publications on these topics number over 200, and he has lectured throughout the world.
Currently Mihai Nadin is a professor
at the University of Texas at Dallas
, appointed to the Ashbel Smith
Professorship in Interactive Arts, Technology, and Computer Science
. He is director of the Institute for Research in Anticipatory Systems. Nadin is also a member of the Advisory Committee of University of the People
.
, Romania
, Nadin was educated under communist regime
imposed after World War II. He studied electrical engineering
, telecommunications and computer science
, as well as studying at the Polytechnic University of Bucharest
. He took a Master of Science with honors. He studied philosophy at the University of Bucharest
, receiving a Master of Arts; then received his doctoral degree with a specialization in aesthetics
. He attended the Ludwig-Maximilian University in Munich, studying for a post-doctoral degree (“Habilitierung”) with Professor Dr. Wolfgang Stegmüller
in Philosophy, Logic, and the Theory of Science. His dissertation was entitled The Semiotic Foundation of Value Theory.
have a strong foundation in semiotics
. Based on his work in Peircean semiotics and his training in computer science, Nadin was the first to recognize that the computer was the “semiotic machine par excellence”. His work in the field serve as a standard reference for working groups in semiotics and HCI.
was rather on the theory than in application. Due to the interest of Europeans, especially of Germans under the aegis of Max Bense
, Nadin was attracted to the work of the American polymath
and philosopher, Charles Sanders Peirce. Under the influence of Max Bense, Nadin’s early work in semiotics was dedicated to a rigorous foundation for the advancement of Peirce’s semiotic.
(Germany). Its purpose was twofold: 1. development of a theory of computational design; 2. the design of products and processes through digital means. These products and processes themselves integrate digital technology (they are embedded systems). Thus, the program’s long-term goal is the constitution of the world of ubiquitous computing.
Nadin’s actual work in what was to become “computational design” started around 1985, with his appointment as Eminent Scholar in Art & Design Technology at the Ohio State University
(Columbus). One of his major assignments there was to draw up a plan for a center in which research in the art and design possibilities of digital technology would serve as an intermediary between education and applications for art and industry. The result of his investigations was a broad plan entitled Advanced Computing Center for the Arts and Design. His plan was not limited to computer-aided design and animation, but extended to digitally aided visualization for the sciences, technology, medicine, education, as well as art and design. (OSU
kept Nadin’s title for the Center, but limited its activities to computer graphics and animation.) In 1999, Nadin and colleagues presented a framework for a design program to Stanford University
.
, Nadin made a name for himself as one of the first proponents, in the nation, of integrating computers in education. He lectured on the topic around the USA and consulted for several institutes of higher education (Rochester Institute of Technology, Illinois Institute of Technology, University of Oregon, Hadassah University in Israel, among others) in setting up programs in art and design with computers.
Prior to the widespread use of the Internet, Nadin developed several computer-aided educational aids. Docent, a hypercard
based software program, was integrated in the CD-ROM for interactive learning. (Docent is a metaphor for interactive learning and teaching.) Both Docent and MetaDocent were first developed for the videodisc medium. MetaDocent gave users the possibility to create individualized image/text files. The indexing of image, sound, navigation, and especially the possibility to produce an individualized record (through an integrated Notebook application) were unique at the time
Based on the fact that play is serious work for the very young, Nadin initiated a program in Toy Design at SUNY - Fashion Institute of Technology
to train designers to develop the minds of the very young through all the senses. He also insisted on integrating the (then) new digital technology into toys for pre-school and school-age children so that they could experience the possibilities of digital technology beyond mere computer games.
He founded the antÉ - Institute for Research in Anticipatory Systems in 2002. In 2004, he brought it to the University of Texas at Dallas. A major project involving anticipatory systems is entitled Seneludens, which aims at maintaining anticipatory capabilities in the aging through the creation of virtual interactive environments.
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
, computer science
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
, aesthetics
Aesthetics
Aesthetics is a branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of beauty, art, and taste, and with the creation and appreciation of beauty. It is more scientifically defined as the study of sensory or sensori-emotional values, sometimes called judgments of sentiment and taste...
, semiotics
Semiotics
Semiotics, also called semiotic studies or semiology, is the study of signs and sign processes , indication, designation, likeness, analogy, metaphor, symbolism, signification, and communication...
, human-computer interaction (HCI), computational design, post-industrial society
Post-industrial society
If a nation becomes "post-industrial" it passes through, or dodges, a phase of society predominated by a manufacturing-based economy and moves on to a structure of society based on the provision of information, innovation, finance, and services.-Characteristics:...
, and anticipatory systems. His publications on these topics number over 200, and he has lectured throughout the world.
Currently Mihai Nadin is a professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
at the University of Texas at Dallas
University of Texas at Dallas
The University of Texas at Dallas, also referred to as UT Dallas or UTD, is a public research university in the University of Texas System. The main campus is in the heart of the Richardson, Texas, Telecom Corridor, north of downtown Dallas...
, appointed to the Ashbel Smith
Ashbel Smith
Ashbel Smith was a pioneer physician, diplomat and official of the Republic of Texas, Confederate officer and first President of the Board of Regents of the University of Texas.-Early life:...
Professorship in Interactive Arts, Technology, and Computer Science
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
. He is director of the Institute for Research in Anticipatory Systems. Nadin is also a member of the Advisory Committee of University of the People
University of the people
University of the People is a non-profit, tuition-free, unaccredited online academic institution headquartered in Pasadena, California and founded by entrepreneur Shai Reshef in January 2009....
.
Life
Born in BraşovBrasov
Brașov is a city in Romania and the capital of Brașov County.According to the last Romanian census, from 2002, there were 284,596 people living within the city of Brașov, making it the 8th most populated city in Romania....
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, Nadin was educated under communist regime
Communist Romania
Communist Romania was the period in Romanian history when that country was a Soviet-aligned communist state in the Eastern Bloc, with the dominant role of Romanian Communist Party enshrined in its successive constitutions...
imposed after World War II. He studied electrical engineering
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
, telecommunications and computer science
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
, as well as studying at the Polytechnic University of Bucharest
Polytechnic University of Bucharest
Universitatea Politehnica din Bucureşti is a technical university in Bucharest, Romania. It was founded in 1864 based on the older technical school of Gheorghe Lazăr and it was renamed "Politehnica" in 1920.-History:...
. He took a Master of Science with honors. He studied philosophy at the University of Bucharest
University of Bucharest
The University of Bucharest , in Romania, is a university founded in 1864 by decree of Prince Alexander John Cuza to convert the former Saint Sava Academy into the current University of Bucharest.-Presentation:...
, receiving a Master of Arts; then received his doctoral degree with a specialization in aesthetics
Aesthetics
Aesthetics is a branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of beauty, art, and taste, and with the creation and appreciation of beauty. It is more scientifically defined as the study of sensory or sensori-emotional values, sometimes called judgments of sentiment and taste...
. He attended the Ludwig-Maximilian University in Munich, studying for a post-doctoral degree (“Habilitierung”) with Professor Dr. Wolfgang Stegmüller
Wolfgang Stegmüller
Wolfgang Stegmüller , was a German-Austrian philosopher with important contributions in philosophy of science and in analytic philosophy.-Biography:...
in Philosophy, Logic, and the Theory of Science. His dissertation was entitled The Semiotic Foundation of Value Theory.
Human Computer Interaction
Nadin’s contributions to HCIHCI
HCI may refer to:- Computing :* Home Computer Initiative, a United Kingdom government programme designed to increase the use of computers in the home...
have a strong foundation in semiotics
Semiotics
Semiotics, also called semiotic studies or semiology, is the study of signs and sign processes , indication, designation, likeness, analogy, metaphor, symbolism, signification, and communication...
. Based on his work in Peircean semiotics and his training in computer science, Nadin was the first to recognize that the computer was the “semiotic machine par excellence”. His work in the field serve as a standard reference for working groups in semiotics and HCI.
Peircean Semiotics
A conceptualist , Nadin’s first work in semioticsSemiotics
Semiotics, also called semiotic studies or semiology, is the study of signs and sign processes , indication, designation, likeness, analogy, metaphor, symbolism, signification, and communication...
was rather on the theory than in application. Due to the interest of Europeans, especially of Germans under the aegis of Max Bense
Max Bense
Max Bense was a German philosopher, writer, and publicist, known for his work in philosophy of science, logic, aesthetics, and semiotics...
, Nadin was attracted to the work of the American polymath
Polymath
A polymath is a person whose expertise spans a significant number of different subject areas. In less formal terms, a polymath may simply be someone who is very knowledgeable...
and philosopher, Charles Sanders Peirce. Under the influence of Max Bense, Nadin’s early work in semiotics was dedicated to a rigorous foundation for the advancement of Peirce’s semiotic.
Computational Design
Nadin opposed to the viewpoint that tools that are extensions of human physical abilities, the computer should be considered an extension of the human mind. He founded the world’s first program in Computational Design in 1994 at the University of WuppertalUniversity of Wuppertal
The University of Wuppertal is a German scientific institution, located in Wuppertal, North Rhine-Westphalia.The university, the full German name of which is Bergische Universität Wuppertal , was formed in 1972 and is located in the city of Wuppertal, within the state of North Rhine-Westphalia,...
(Germany). Its purpose was twofold: 1. development of a theory of computational design; 2. the design of products and processes through digital means. These products and processes themselves integrate digital technology (they are embedded systems). Thus, the program’s long-term goal is the constitution of the world of ubiquitous computing.
Nadin’s actual work in what was to become “computational design” started around 1985, with his appointment as Eminent Scholar in Art & Design Technology at the Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
(Columbus). One of his major assignments there was to draw up a plan for a center in which research in the art and design possibilities of digital technology would serve as an intermediary between education and applications for art and industry. The result of his investigations was a broad plan entitled Advanced Computing Center for the Arts and Design. His plan was not limited to computer-aided design and animation, but extended to digitally aided visualization for the sciences, technology, medicine, education, as well as art and design. (OSU
OSU
OSU can stand for:* Institutions of higher education:** Ohio State University** Oregon State University** Oklahoma State University** Oswego State University * The Order of St...
kept Nadin’s title for the Center, but limited its activities to computer graphics and animation.) In 1999, Nadin and colleagues presented a framework for a design program to Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
.
Computers in Education
At the Rhode Island School of DesignRhode Island School of Design
Rhode Island School of Design is a fine arts and design college located in Providence, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1877. Located at the base of College Hill, the RISD campus is contiguous with the Brown University campus. The two institutions share social, academic, and community resources and...
, Nadin made a name for himself as one of the first proponents, in the nation, of integrating computers in education. He lectured on the topic around the USA and consulted for several institutes of higher education (Rochester Institute of Technology, Illinois Institute of Technology, University of Oregon, Hadassah University in Israel, among others) in setting up programs in art and design with computers.
Prior to the widespread use of the Internet, Nadin developed several computer-aided educational aids. Docent, a hypercard
HyperCard
HyperCard is an application program created by Bill Atkinson for Apple Computer, Inc. that was among the first successful hypermedia systems before the World Wide Web. It combines database capabilities with a graphical, flexible, user-modifiable interface. HyperCard also features HyperTalk, written...
based software program, was integrated in the CD-ROM for interactive learning. (Docent is a metaphor for interactive learning and teaching.) Both Docent and MetaDocent were first developed for the videodisc medium. MetaDocent gave users the possibility to create individualized image/text files. The indexing of image, sound, navigation, and especially the possibility to produce an individualized record (through an integrated Notebook application) were unique at the time
Based on the fact that play is serious work for the very young, Nadin initiated a program in Toy Design at SUNY - Fashion Institute of Technology
Fashion Institute of Technology
The Fashion Institute of Technology, generally known as FIT, is a State University of New York college of art, business, design, and technology connected to the fashion industry, with an urban campus located on West 27th Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues in the Chelsea neighborhood of...
to train designers to develop the minds of the very young through all the senses. He also insisted on integrating the (then) new digital technology into toys for pre-school and school-age children so that they could experience the possibilities of digital technology beyond mere computer games.
Anticipation
Anticipation is the focus of Nadin’s most recent research. Parallel to the pioneering work of Robert Rosen regarding anticipatory systems, Nadin researched the anticipatory characteristics of the human mind and anticipatory behaviors. After research at Stanford University, he developed possibilistic models for market processes, auction models, and real-time radio-astronomy data processing.He founded the antÉ - Institute for Research in Anticipatory Systems in 2002. In 2004, he brought it to the University of Texas at Dallas. A major project involving anticipatory systems is entitled Seneludens, which aims at maintaining anticipatory capabilities in the aging through the creation of virtual interactive environments.
External links
- Mihai Nadin's Personal Website
- Mihai Nadin's older (apparently) personal website
- Institute for Research in Anticipatory Systems
- Mihai Nadin on UoP official website