Taylor, Nick

Dr Nick Taylor is a Senior Lecturer specialising in Human–Computer Interaction (HCI) and interaction design. His research sits at the intersection of design, technology and society, where he attempts to understand the impact of emerging technologies and practices, and imagine, prototype and explore possible preferable futures around those technologies. He is particularly interested in:

• technology to support neighbourhoods and communities, especially for civic engagement.
• designing a trusted Internet of Things by embedding values including privacy, openness, decentralisation, inclusion and literacy.
• making, DIY and craft approaches to technology, particularly to support people in harnessing technology for themselves.
• participatory methods combing a range of approaches from speculative design to long-term deployments of functioning prototypes ‘in the wild’.

Nick received a PhD in Computer Science from Lancaster University and subsequently worked in Culture Lab (now Open Lab) at Newcastle University, where he was a researcher on BESPOKE and the Creative Exchange.

www.nick-taylor.co.uk

Nick is currently involved in the following funded research projects:

• OpenDoTT is a PhD programme from the University of Dundee and Mozilla to explore how to build a more open, secure, and trustworthy Internet of Things. This program will train technologists, designers, and researchers to create and advocate for better, healthier and more people-centred connected products. The project is made possible through €1.5m in funding from the EU’s Horizon 2020 program.
• The Open IoT Studio is an ongoing collaboration between the University of Dundee and Mozilla, building a network of researchers and designers to explore and advocate for a better, healthier Internet of Things. 
• The GROW Observatory is a European-wide project engaging thousands of growers, scientists and others passionate about the land. Participants will discover together, using simple tools to better manage soil and grow food, while contributing to vital scientific environmental monitoring.
• WeObserve is an H2020 Coordination and Support Action (CSA) which tackles three key challenges that Citizens Observatories (COs) face: awareness, acceptability and sustainability. The project aims to improve the coordination between existing Citizen Observatories and related regional, European and International activities.
• Decentralising India’s Digital Futures will explore how we can harness powerful developments in emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things, the voice enabled Internet, machine learning and artificial intelligence to support disempowered rural communities in India.

Past projects include:

• Ardler Inventors worked with the Ardler neighbourhood to explore how events like hackathons could bring together people from Ardler with researchers and creatives to explore new uses for technology in the local area.
• In the Making investigated the role that digital fabrication could play in supporting wellbeing and employability of disabled people.
  
  

Nick currently teaches primarily on MSc Product Design, delivering modules that focus on the use of product design skills in the research landscape, including as a tool to explore current societal challenges and explore possible futures. These modules typically involve live briefs that tie into current research projects and collaborations.