Institute of Digital Technologies for Communication (ITDxC)

The Institute of Digital Technologies for Communication (ITDxC) studies the interactions between information technologies and human communication processes. Such interactions are bidirectional: on the one hand, information technologies allow us to design innovative tools, which dramatically change the landscape of human communication; on the other hand, theories of human communication may have a remarkable impact on how communication between software systems is conceived.

Currently, the main themes of interest at ITDxC are:

• Digital media, sustainable tourism, heritage
  The role and use of digital technologies in promoting sustainable tourism, with a particular focus on World Heritage sites of cultural and natural significance. Specifically, the following areas of digital media intervention are considered: access to information; the enhancement and enrichment of the visitor experience; the potential to build relationships and break down barriers between residents, tourists and heritage sites; and the training of industry professionals. Particular attention is also given to communication dynamics, both on the part of tourism operators and on the part of users as creators of content shared online, to the online representation of destinations, to reputation building, and to e-learning for industry professionals.
• Digital Fashion Communication
  Digital fashion stands for the use of digital technologies in the fashion domain. At ITDxC different facets of digital fashion are studied: from the evaluation of online communication strategies used by the fashion brands, to the understanding of the technological use in the marketing activities, to the assessment of requested competences and skills.
• Digital Visual Communication
  The field of “networked photography” aims to explore social, economic and cultural implications resulting from the convergence of digital photography, and mobile and digital communication. It examines the effects of increasing visual representation of online contexts and their responses to diverse areas (i.e. political decision processes and social relations).
• Norms and semantic web technologies
  The study of how knowledge representation and automated reasoning techniques typical of Artificial Intelligence (such as technologies for the Semantic Web and Knowledge Graphs) can be used to represent and verify regulatory and contractual aspects relating to the exchange of digital resources online. The aim is to provide services, such as the automatic detection of violations, based on machine-readable formalisations of norms and licences.
• eLearning
  The role and use of digital technologies to improve the quality of education and learning. Special focus is devoted to instructional design, which takes into consideration the design of all interventions in formal and informal learning, and communication mediated by technologies.
• eGovernment and ICT4D
  Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) describes the impact of ICTs in developing countries with special attention to sustainability.

Education

ITDxC coordinates two master programmes: the Master in Digital Fashion Communication and the Master in International Tourism. It is also responsible for courses, in its areas of expertise, within other Master programmes offered by USI.

As part of the Bachelor in Communication - www.usi.ch/bcom - ITDxC actively promotes the study and use of digital technologies as both fundamental educational methods and essential components of the professional knowledge of a communication practitioner. The institute is responsible for the specialisation in “Culture and Communication Technologies” and the following courses:

• Information and Communication Technologies
• Online Communication
• ICT in Business
• ICT, Media and Society
• ICT, E-government and Development
• ICT for Cultural Heritage

ITDxC is also responsible for the coordination of “Skills” courses in the third-year of the Bachelor in Communication, and for the coordination of complementary courses and seminars.