Mark Aakhus

New Brunswick, NJ

United States

Profile Information:

About me:: My work focuses on the practices and tools people create to augment human interaction and reasoning. So, for example, I've investigated work dispute mediators, meeting facilitators, and policy professionals perform in creating collaboration out of conflict. But also, the role GDSS, threaded discussion, CHAT, ScienceCourt and other tools for communication play in structuring argument quality over important matters.

In addition, I'm developing a web based tool to support reflection on action. I do this by using theory and methods about social interaction and argumentation. I've also been a practicing dispute mediator for community mediation centers (providing community, divorce, business, policy, interpersonal, victim/offender mediation) and provided facilitation consulting for strategic planning using both traditional and groupware supported facilitation.

My concern is whether the emerging communication, information, and media infrastructure can contribute to improved interaction and reasoning about risk and opportunity in the evolving global environment. The HC4D is promising in this regard.
Web site:: http://scils.rutgers.edu/~aakhus