Dr. Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath (mail@dace.de)

Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath is Senior Lecturer at the Interdisciplinary Unit in the Creative Technologies (CT) program at Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand. The CT program is a studio-based program which integrates art and science, theory and practice. Student projects draw on robotics, film, electronics, sound/music, performance, installations and games. Daniel has been teaching courses on computer games, tangible interaction, and media theory at different Universities. In his dissertation thesis he thought about play as a perspective for the everyday interaction with the computer. The thesis was published as a book under the (German) title Interaktivität als Spiel - Neue Perspektiven auf den Alltag mit dem Computer (transcript, 2010).

research interests

Theories of play, art and play, tangible interaction, phenomenology, computer games, game design.

The Interactive Entertainment 2012 conference in Auckland, NZ

publications

Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath. Four installations inviting playful interaction. In: Edgar Rodríguez Ramírez (Ed.). Conference proceedings DeSForM 2012: MEANING.MATTER.MAKING. Design and semantics of form and movement. Wellington, NZ, April 18-20, 2012, p. 42-5.

Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath. A Design Pattern Language for Oldschool Action Games. In: Conference proceedings DeMset 2012: 2nd International Conference on DESIGN AND MODELING IN SCIENCE, EDUCATION, AND TECHNOLOGY. Orlando, US, March 25-28, 2012.

Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath. The Logic of Play in Everyday Human-Computer Interaction. In: Stephan Günzel, Michael Liebe, Dieter Mersch (Eds.). Logic and Structure of the Computer Game. Potsdam, Potsdam University Press, 2010, p. 80-103.

Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath, Charles Walker. Proposal for an Installation of Four Games. Short paper, Interactive Entertainment 2010, Wellington, NZ, November 22-23, 2010.

Susanne Grabowski, Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath, Niruba Balasingham, Dörte Brockmann, Patrick Einatz, Robert Hermann, Sebastian Janoschek, Isabel Micheel, Marcel Naumann, Josef Rissling, Max Roll, Timo Steinkamp, Carolin Tonn (Eds.). CoMa - Computer und Malen (Computers and Painting). Project Report, University of Bremen, 2010.

Bernard Robben, Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath. Situiertes Lernen in Mixed Reality Lernräumen (Situated Learning in Mixed Reality Learning Spaces). In: lernen und lehren, 1/2010, Vol. 25, No. 97.

Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath. Interaktivität als Spiel - Neue Perspektiven auf den Alltag mit dem Computer (Interactivity as Play - New Perspectives in Everyday Computing). Bielefeld, transcript, 2010; Ph.D. Diss., University of Bremen, 2010.

Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath, Jobst Prinzhorn. Experimente in be-greifbarem Sound (Experiments in Tangible Sound). In: Saskia Kain, Doreen Struve, Hartmut Wandke (Eds.). Workshop-Proceedings der Tagung Mensch & Computer 2009, Berlin, September 6-9, 2009, Berlin, Logos, 2009, p. 155-8.

Susanne Grabowski, Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath. Unvollendet - und zwar aus Prinzip! Be-greifbare Interaktion im Raum der Kunst (Unfinished Action - Tangible Interfaces and Interactive Art). In: Saskia Kain, Doreen Struve, Hartmut Wandke (Eds.). Workshop-Proceedings der Tagung Mensch & Computer 2009, Berlin, September 6-9, 2009, Berlin, Logos, 2009, p. 365-8.

Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath. Photo Shooting - Too Much Reality in Mixed Reality? In: Ulrike Lucke, Martin Christof Kindsmüller, Stefan Fischer, Michael Herczeg, Silke Seehausen (Eds.). Workshop Proceedings der Tagungen Mensch & Computer 2008, DeLFI 2008 und Cognitive Design 2008, Lübeck, September 7-10, 2008, Berlin, Logos, 2008, p. 37-8.

Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath. MR Auto Racing - Mixed Reality Game for Public Installation. In: Reiner Koschke, Otthein Herzog, Karl-Heinz Rödiger, Marc Ronthaler (Eds.). Lecture Notes in Informatics (LNI) - Proceedings. Beiträge der 37. Jahrestagung der Gesellschaft für Informatik e. V. (GI). Vol. 1. Bremen, September 24-7, 2007. Gesellschaft für Informatik, Bonn, 2007, p. 570-4.

Please contact me for info on publications prior to 2007.

lectures, presentations, installations

Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath. Box Me Dumb Human. Installation, DeSForM 2012: MEANING.MATTER.MAKING. Design and semantics of form and movement, Wellington, NZ, April 18-20, 2012.

Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath, Susanne Grabowski, Jörn Ketelsen. PoliShot - Interactive Installation and DADA Game. Exhibition, Städtische Galerie, Bergkamen, Germany, April 1-July 1, 2011.

Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath. DOC NZ Lab: Transmedia. Invited panelist, Auckland, NZ, February 19-21, 2011.

Kieran Berger, Jonathan Butterworth, Hanan Finnerty, Bryan Lee, Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath, Charles Walker. Custom Light Cycles, Tank Warz, C.A.R.S. Installations, Interactive Entertainment 2010, Wellington, NZ, November 22-23, 2010.

Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath. Playful Computer Interaction. Invited lecture, Homo Ludens 2.0 Play/Media/Identity, Ütrecht, NL, November 17-18, 2010.

Jonathan Butterworth, Hanan Finnerty, Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath. Custom Light Cycles, Tank Warz. Installations, Creative Tech, Auckland, NZ, September 10-11, 2010.

Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath, Susanne Grabowski, Jörn Ketelsen. PoliShot - Interactive Installation and DADA Game. Installation and exhibition, Computer Kunst - Goldener Plotter 2010. Gladbeck, August 29-September 26, 2010.

Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath. Play, Tangible Interaction, 2D. Lecture, Postgraduate & Research Guest Lecture Series, Faculty of Art & Design, Auckland University of Technology, NZ, May 26, 2010.

Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath, Susanne Grabowski, Jörn Ketelsen. PoliShot - Interactive Installation and DADA Game. Installation and exhibition, Weserburg. Bremen, March 18-April 4, 2010.

Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath. DOC NZ Lab: Borderless Media. Invited panelist, Auckland, NZ, February 27-28, 2010.

Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath. The Logic of Play in Everyday Human-Computer Interaction. Invited lecture, Logic and Structure of the Computer Game-Conference, Digital Games Research Center of the University of Potsdam, November 5-7, 2009.

Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath. QuoteStar. Installation, Gesamtschule Ost, Bremen, June 2009.

Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath. Mixed Reality Space Race. Installation and exhibition, Computer Kunst - Goldener Plotter 2008. Gladbeck, September 28-October 26, 2008.

Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath. MR Photo Shooting. Installation, Theorie- und Praxiswerkstatt Be-greifbare Interaktion (Workshop on Theory and Practice of Tangible Interaction). Mensch & Computer Jahreskonferenz des Fachbereichs Mensch-Computer-Interaktion der Gesellschaft für Informatik e. V. (GI). Lübeck, September 7-10, 2008.

Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath. MR Auto Racing - Mixed Reality Game. Installation, Workshop Mixed Realities und Be-greifbare Interfaces für Bildungsprozesse (Workshop on Mixed Realities and Tangible Interaction). Jahrestagung der Gesellschaft für Informatik e. V. (GI). Bremen, September 25, 2007.

Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath, Martin Faust. AirKanoid. Installation and exhibition, Computer Kunst - Goldener Plotter 2006. Gladbeck, September 24-October 22, 2006.

Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath, Martin Faust. AirKanoid. Installation, Nacht der Informatik (Computer Science Night) festival, Haus der Wissenschaft, Bremen, July 14, 2006.

Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath. Spiele im Cave (Games for Caves). Lecture as part of the series Computerspiele-Entwicklung in Bremen (Computer Game Development in Bremen), Municipal Library of Bremen, May 22, 2006.

Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath, Martin Faust. AirKanoid. Installation, Lange Nacht (Night Festival), Übersee-Museum Bremen, March 25, 2006.

Please contact me for info on lectures, presentations and installations prior to 2006.

teaching

Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath. Simulated and Immersive Environments 1/3: Playing on the Edge, Course, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, 2012, Semester 1.

Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath. Simulated and Immersive Environments 2/4: A Pattern Approach to Action Game Design, Course, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, 2011, Semester 2.

Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath. The Making of a Persistent Online Game, Studio Project, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, 2011, Semester 2.

Julian Priest, Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath. Time in Media, Studio Project, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, 2011, Semester 2.

Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath. Simulated and Immersive Environments 1/3: Embodiment, Tangible Interaction and Games, Course, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, 2011, Semester 1.

Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath. Programming for Creativity: Creating Interactive Systems, Course, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, 2011, Semester 1.

Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath. Urban Farming, Studio Project, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, 2011, Semester 1.

Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath. Realism in Computer Games, Studio Project, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, 2011, Semester 1.

Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath. Simulated and Immersive Environments 4: Simulation and Play, Course, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, 2010, Semester 2.

Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath. E-Motion Game, Studio Project, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, 2010, Semester 2.

Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath. Simulated and Immersive Environments 1: Immersion and Participation, Course, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, 2010, Semester 1.

Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath, Nikki Anderton. Programming for Creativity, Course, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, 2010, Semester 1.

Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath. Faking Media, Studio Project, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, 2010, Semester 1.

Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath, Bernard Robben, Susanne Grabowski. Art in Action: Computerspiele, interaktive Kunst und neue Schnittstellen (Computer Games, Interactive Art and New Interfaces), Course, University of Bremen and University of the Arts (Hochschule für Künste), Bremen, Winter Semester 2009/10.

Susanne Grabowski, Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath. Computer und Malen (Computers and Painting), Student Project, University of Bremen, Summer Semester 2009.

Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath, Bernard Robben. Computer Games and Interactive Installations, Course, University of Bremen and University of the Arts (Hochschule für Künste), Bremen, Winter Semester 2008/9.

Bernard Robben, Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath. Theory, Design and Evaluation of Digital Media, Seminar, University of Bremen, Winter Semester 2007/8.

Bernard Robben, Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath. Theorie digitaler Medien (Digital Media Theory), Lecture with laboratory work, University of Applied Sciences, Bremen, Winter Semester 2007/8.

Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath, Marc Herrlich, Martin Faust. Mixed Reality Gaming - Where the Action is (Stud.IP), Course, University of Bremen, Winter Semester 2007/8.

Bernard Robben, Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath. Theorie digitaler Medien (Digital Media Theory) (moodle), Lecture with laboratory work, University of Applied Sciences, Bremen, Winter Semester 2006/7.

Martin Faust, Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath, Bernard Robben. Multiplayer Game Design and Algorithms, Course, University of Bremen, Winter Semester 2006/7.

Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath, Martin Faust, Bernard Robben. Spiele im Cave (Games for Caves), Course, University of Bremen, Winter Semester 2005/6.

Please contact me for info on my teaching prior to 2005/6.

refereeing

Reviewer for the conference Tangible, Embedded and Embodied Interaction (ACM TEI), since 2010.

memberships

Founding member, Be-greifbare Interaktion in gemischten Wirklichkeiten (Tangible Interaction in Mixed Reality) research group, Gesellschaft für Informatik e. V. (GI), since 2008.

downloads

Here are some little tools, screen savers, and games. All of these are freeware and full versions. Windows required. Have fun!

City Clock
The City Clock shows the local time along with the local time in Los Angeles, New York, London, Berlin, and Tokyo. An additional analog clock always shows the local time and can be toggled on and off.

Download zip file (74 kb)

Starflight screen saver
The Starflight screen saver takes you on a trip through an unknown universe filled with a myriad of stars.

Download zip file (11 kb)

Windward screen saver
Fly away - feel light and free with this clean and simple screensaver.

Download zip file (90 kb)

Planet Earth screen saver
The Planet Earth screen saver darkens the screen and displays images of earth as seen from outer space along with quotes from Shakespeare's works.

Download zip file (1.85 MB)

Snowfall screen saver
The Snowfall screen saver lets winter take over. Falling snowflakes slowly cover your entire desktop,and transform it into a smooth and silent white landscape.

Download zip file (104 kb)

Blue screen saver
The Blue screen saver colors your desktop in solid blue, orange, pink, brown, or whatever custom color you choose. It is a screen saver that actually saves your screen, nothing more, nothing less.

Download zip file (72 kb)

Plant screen saver
Random plants continually cover the desktop until the whole screen is eventually overgrown with green.

Download zip file (331 kb)

Downtown Chicago
Downtown Chicago is a fun little game that uses various interfaces. Mice, keyboards, joysticks and even the Polhemus 3D tracker can all be used to shoot at cardboard gangsters. This collaborative multiplayer game features five different levels of difficulty, three typical weapons of the 1920s, and a high score list that saves the top ten scores.
Downtown Chicago Web-Site

Tiny Artillery Simulation Game
Ten artillery stations sit on a hilly mountain range and shoot at each other. Each station can turn its cannon and change its shooting power. Up to ten human players can take part, the rest is filled up with AI computer players. The game is in real time, i.e. all stations can calculate, aim and shoot all the time, there are no rounds. Played with joysticks, joypads or keyboard.
Tiny Artillery Simulation Game Web-Site

Rocket
Rocket is a Gravity Force-style game in the tradition of Asteroids that features network multiplayer and team dogfight modes of play.
Rocket Web-Site

contact

Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath
Interdisciplinary Unit, Faculty of Design & Creative Technologies
Auckland University of Technology
Private Bag 92006; Auckland 1142, NZ