In this workshop, we developed design scenarios and interface requirements for participatory public authoring in the context of gaming, play and exploration environments for natural and urban spaces. In addition, it provided a framework for underlying technology, software, and infrastructure development for PDAs, cell phones, and authoring tools utilizing input from environmental and biometric sensors.

Invited participants included a small yet interdisciplinary group of designers, artists, computer scientists, and engineers working on projects funded through the Canadian Heritage New Media Research Networks as well as other funding sources at The Banff Centre, Concordia University, Simon Fraser University, and TRLabs. We also invited additional researchers to join us in these discussions in order to contribute to these projects or benefit from parallel research. The workshop was structured around group work and smaller breakout sessions as well as being devoted to specific design and engineering challenges identified through project discussion.