AMCIS 2002 Panels and Workshops III: How Will Media Technology Evolve as an Academic Discipline?

Media Technology (MT) is a new, multidisciplinary field that integrates the knowledge, expertise, resources, and creativity of diverse, established, fertile artistic disciplines (visual design, art, music, radio, television) with new technological disciplines (digital media, information systems, information technology, computer science, network engineering) through rapidly-evolving technologies. Its application in electronic commerce into what will become a full synthesis of information technology and sensory interaction will be made possible by approaches to presenting and exchanging information visually, aurally--and eventually in combination with all of the senses. This article reports on a panel held at AMCIS 2002 in Dallas TX. The panel discussed the need to develop a literacy and understanding in the IT discipline of the MT and its importance in keeping IT research relevant. The panel also discussed strategies for attaining MT literacy, integrating MT into the IT curriculum, and discussed two universities where it is being done.