Following our recent call for proposals to run small events and activities, we're delighed to announce that we now have six events lined up for the next couple of months or so: three research oriented workshops aimed at academics and practitioners, each with an associated public event to help spread the word about the work that we're doing, get people more involved in it, and raise awareness about how moving more can help us all to feel happier, healthier and get more of what we want from life.

13th July
Academic / practitioner workshop:
Innovation workshop - wearables in primary care
An interdisciplinary workshop bringing together researchers, practitioners and developers to explore how wearable technologies might best serve specific domains in health or occupational settings, and facilitate rapid development of innovative technology-based solutions that aim to get patients moving more frequently.
Further details: David Ellis d.a.ellis@lancaster.ac.uk

Linked public event – date t.b.c.
What does health look like? Exploring visual feedback from wearables
This event is a collaboration between Dr David Ellis of Lancaster University and the artist Laura Pullig of tactile-electronics. It is inspired by a workshop held as part of the Make : Shift : Do back in October 2017, at which visitors were invited to put together a simple electronic heart rate monitor, record their heart beat, and explore ways of producing a variety of traditional and abstract visualisations of the data, which were then transferred onto a personalised mug. This event will take that idea to the next level, and promises some serious fun!
Further details: David Ellis d.a.ellis@lancaster.ac.uk

18th & 19th July 2018
Academic / practitioner workshop:
Active minds: physical activity, mental health & digital technology
There are important parallels and interrelationships between technology for mental health and technology for physical activity, both in terms of how technology should be designed and how it should be evaluated. But those in the technology field often fail to address or misrepresent mental health problems, and those in the health fields remain unaware of new technology and relevant design processes and opportunities. This workshop will bring together researchers and practitioners to explore the intersection between physical (in)activity, digital technology and mental health and wellbeing.
Further details: maki.rooksby@glasgow.ac.uk

18th or 19th July t.b.c.
Linked public event:
Mindfulness on-the-go with Rohan Gunatillake
Public workshop by Rohan Gunatillake, one of the most original and creative voices in modern mindfulness and meditation, exploring mindful movement. Gunatillake’s work directly connects the themes of technology, physical activity and mental wellbeing. His talk and workshop will explore the idea of mindfulness on-the-go, and introduce a range of body-based and exercise-based mindfulness practices.
Further details: maki.rooksby@glasgow.ac.uk

July 2018
Research workshop
How does health feel? Stretch Orchestra
A collaboration between Marion Lean, a doctoral researcher at the Royal College of Art; smart materials partner, Footfalls and Heartbeats; and a North London women’s community sports group. The workshop will explore how the use of technology such as smart materials, wearables, and the data they generate might create positive emotion and motivation for behaviour change. How do the sensory and affective dimensions of our experience of technology, and the ways in which we consume and interpret personal health information, impact behaviour change? The aim is to collect insight about the feelings and emotion present when our health becomes available to us as data. Participation in this workshop is by invitation only.

19th – 23rd September 2018
Linked public event
How does health feel? Exploring sensory feedback from wearables
A public, interactive exhibition held as part of London Design Festival showcasing some of the outputs from Marion Lean's academic workshop Stretch Orchestra, and offering visitors the opportunity to explore the ways that we can, do and could interpret health data from wearable devices, not just in terms of numbers like step-count and heart rate, but through alternative forms of sensory output – things that we can feel, hear, touch and see.
Further details: marion.lean@network.rca.ac.uk