The DiCode Research Group is an interdisciplinary research group on the cutting edge of the social sciences, technology, engineering, digital product design and the arts. Framed within applied research (‘applied sciences’), the DiCode group’s activities revolve around studying the specificities and the design of new formats, contents and emerging experiences within digital communication from a critical and theoretical standpoint based on artistic creation and empirical study, with the ultimate goal of analysing the social impact of these technologies on society.
The new digital communication formats like video games and virtual reality, and the new communication platforms like the web generate new mass communication ecosystems which shift the architectures and systems of the previous models. In this field, it is essential to study and understand these phenomena from a communicative and sociological perspective, based on both their technological underpinnings and their creative strategies. These new communication systems are primarily cultural products generated via images, videos, animations and music which reach audiences through new interactive digital channels in the throes of development with a huge social impact.
These three overarching fields of knowledge in Digital Culture are the group’s main areas of interest:
Research group recognized by the Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca (AGAUR) in the SGR-Cat 2021 call.
This line studies the design and validation of virtual reality (VR) applications focused on improving education, health and social relations. VR is a tool capable of generating extraordinarily realistic virtual scenes with ecological validity. Furthermore, with VR it is possible to experience the sense of being inside a virtual scene with a body that we feel is our own and we control. These features endow VR with vast potential in fields related to learning and wellbeing. This line focuses on researching different VR applications, their design principles and their perception.
Researcher in Charge: Sofía Seinfeld
This line involves research focused on video games within the framework of media convergence and industry 4.0: transmediality, intertextuality and remediation; affordances and the impact of video games on fields that extend beyond entertainment (serious games); new play experiences associated with emerging technologies; and design-centred research methodologies.
Researcher in Charge: Marta Fernández
This line studies the image and visual culture in the definition of the contemporary world, where new narratives and new forms of expression of postmodern audiovisuals are also being developed. It further explores the definition of the image-interface that is both hypertextual and interactive, as well as the study of cinematographic expression as a foundational element of audiovisuals. Finally, it examines animation as a means of artistic expression and audiovisual technique, its history and the new limits on animations in the digital world.
Researcher in Charge: Josep Torelló
This line studies image capturing and processing technologies and methods to digitalise the cultural heritage in both 2D and 3D. The research revolves around defining, measuring and optimising the processes to achieve the new levels of accuracy and quality required depending on the applications: dissemination, digital museums, integration into new audiovisual formats, scientific analysis, etc.
Researcher in Charge: Bea Martínez
This line explores new formats of digital audiovisuals. It studies the new nonlinear discursive forms which are developed via emerging digital systems and formats; immersive audiovisuals; and new genres of digital audiovisuals such as the interactive documentary and procedural narratives. It studies the impact of the emotional response on the experience of narratives via the emerging technologies and analyses the use of these narratives in the context of social communication and social change.
Researcher in Charge: Carles Sora Domenjó
Digital projects are based on people, and research is vital for understanding them. The relationship between the person and the digital product is constantly evolving. The user experience research line is designing new methodologies and techniques for the evaluation and conceptualisation of emerging digital products and interfaces from the perspective of people. This line also includes research into gamification, in order to enhance the design of experiences. Regardless of their abilities, users are taken into account throughout the creation process, with inclusive thinking and a gender perspective based on emotional, aesthetic and functional factors.
Researcher in Charge: Eva Villegas
Dr. Juanjo Fábregas
Dra. Marta Fernández
Dra. Elisabet Fonts
Carolina López
Bea Martínez
Dra. Maria Pagès
David Sánchez
Dra. Sofía Seinfeld
Dr. Josep Torelló
Dra. Eva Villegas
Dr. Jaume Duran
Pedro Omedas
