Spring 2000 , TAM Course “Designing the Information Society of the Next Millenium”

Spring 2000 , TAM Course "Designing the Information Society of the Next Millennium" — Ernesto Arias and Gerhard Fischer

Assignment 4

due: post on web by Feb. 7

Assignment:

Form teams of two and develop a critical paper (3 pages single spaced). Post it on the web site of the course. Be prepared to discussed in class during Session 6 (2/7)

Paper should discuss the following issues:

what do you consider the main message of the articles?
discuss the similarities/differences between design and planning
limitations of information technology in supporting planning or design as decision, learning or creative processes
raise inferences between the creation of virtual and built environments
what did you find:

a. interesting about the article?

b. not interesting about the article?

are themes discussed in the article which you would like to know more about?

Read the articles

H. Rittel and M. Weber "Planning Problems are Wicked Problems," in Cross Developments in Design Methodology, 135-144

B. Harris, "Planning Technologies and Planning Theories," in S. Mandelbaum et al., Explorations in Planning Theory, 483-496.

Additional suggested related readings for this topic if interested:

H. Simon: "The Science of Design: Creating the Artificial," in Sciences of the Artificial, 111-138 (handout).

H. Simon: "Social Planning : Designing the Evolving Artifact" in Sciences of the Artificial, 111-138 (handout)

For purchasing information and summary description of Simon’s book see:

http://mitpress.mit.edu/book-home.tcl?isbn=0262691914