Link to CV
Ron Wakkary is an Associate Professor in the School of Interactive Arts & Technology at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia. His primary research is in interaction design with a focus on tangible computing and responsive environments, and the study of “everyday design” in which we all contribute to the ongoing design of artifacts and surroundings. Previously he was faculty in Interactive Arts at the Technical University of British Columbia and the Digital Design Department at the Parsons School of Design, New School University.
Wakkary is currently a principal researcher and board member of the Fluid Engage project, an international network of research and cultural institutions investigating open source and interactive technologies in museums funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Past research collaborations include leading the Am-I-able Network for Responsive and Mobile Environments, a national research network in the design of wearable and ambient intelligence computing; co-leader of the Interactivity Theme in the Canadian Design Research Network, and CATGames research network on creativity tools for digital games. His research projects include a mobile-based social game for mobile communities in collaboration with Nokia Research, projects in adaptive audio and tangible user interface museum guides with the Canadian Nature Museum and the Surrey Museum, ambient intelligent environments for physical play, and a prototyping environment for tangible based games. The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Canadian Heritage, Canarie Inc., Canada Council, Networks Centres of Excellence, and Canada Foundation for Innovation have funded his research.
Wakkary’s public and academic service has included the Canadian Culture Online Advisory Board to advise the Minister of Canadian Heritage, the College of Reviewers for the Canada Research Chair Program, Banff New Media Institute Research Advisory Board. He was elected to the Board of Governors for the Technical University of British Columbia and the Simon Fraser University Senate. He has helped co-chair and several conference program committees including ACM CHI, ACM Tangible and Embedded Interaction Conference, ACM Multimedia, ACM Creativity and Cognition Conference, Archives & Museum Informatics: Museums and the Web Conference.
Prior to his academic career, Wakkary was cofounder of Stadium@Dia in partnership with the Dia Center for the Arts in New York where he collaborated and co-developed pioneering projects in art and the Internet, and partnered on projects with the Museum of Modern Art, Dia Center for the Arts, and the Guggenheim Museum. He was also principal designer and co-founder of oo-design, a digital design firm. When not teaching or engaged in research, he is trying keep up with his two sons down the ski hill or in the warmer months training and straining to qualify for the Boston Marathon!