Heidi Halevi

Hi, my name is Heidi Dawn haLevi, and I hail from various planets.

Past:
I started out in Psychology (with a focus on trauma and its effects).
During my studies, I discovered the Internet, became heavily addicted, and became involved with attempts at underground.inter.techno-textual writings (chat-poetry games, Israeli culture mag - Ravage and so forth).
While I leveraged the new technology to pay for my studies, I discovered User-Centered Design, and eventually realized that the combination between psychology and technology could have far-reaching ramifications.

Present
At present, I'm focused (practically/theoretically) in new media education, collaborative processes (working/creating), social change through new media and computer/role-playing games.

I currently teach. (Too much). This semester:

• The Holon Academic Institute of Technology - Instructional Systems Technologies
  (Cognitive aspects of Human-Computer Interface & Learning Theories)
  [bio page]
• Camera Obscura (Digital Culture)
• Ascola Meimad (Digital Culture, Interface Design, Interactive Workshop)
• Sapir College (UCD/Info. Architecture/Interface, Idea Workshop - towards graduating project - and advisor of final projects).

To spice things up, I've recently given workshops on Ludology (theory of computer games), and Developmental Psychology in the framework of Alternative Education at Beit Berl; and most recently in Processing (together with Ariel Malka at Ascola Meimad) and lectured at the Technion.

In other news, I'm involved in developing a therapeutic/educational role-playing game (that means fun) to be incorporated into the Israeli elementary school system. In between, I consult on interface design, and force out one of the dozens of articles and critical reviews on digital art and cinema that tend to slow.cook in my brainspace. (A few articles have managed to crawl into Ma'arav and Conceptia; professional work for Nissim Porat and Aryeh Agmon).

Finally, I'm involved in hamanya.net - an attempt to develop a platform for collective collaborative empowerment - specifically aimed at developing and promoting Israeli new media. This project is still in its conception phase - all questions, input and comments are very welcome.

Future:
I hope that things will soon be under full time-management control, so that I can begin my doctorate studies. Probably in the semiotics of visualization aspects of CMC interfaces, with a focus on processes of inter- and intrapersonal development and change.

Academics:
MA in research psychology, focus on cognitive processes.
Thesis: Symbolic Immortality and Fear of Personal Death in Soldiers with Combat-Related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Professionals:
Interzone, Ltd. (co-founder, web-development); CET (head of internet development team); Freelance (information and interface design).

Tech. background: 11 years writing, programming, developing, managing, playing, teaching and friending on the net.

Theory junkie: modern aesthetics, media philosophy, metaphysics of information and of individuality, genderism, constructivism, alt.tech and eastern philosophies, aesthetic activism, personality theories.

Other hobbies: blogging, calligraphy, cats, cinema, comix, cooking, kundalini yoga, modern dance, writing and a little bit'o gaming.