SignSpaceDigital Media in Study Environments: the Case of Computer Art

This work investigates potentials of digital media in education. The concepts of sign and space play a central role for the theoretical part. Media are viewed as abstract spaces of a semiotic character. Processes of change and the experience of difference are important in educational situations and in semiotics.The thesis starts from two assumptions:1) Potentials of digital media can be derived from computer products. This is demonstrated by the example of early computer art. Such potentials are computabiltiy, which is a precondition of any computer work; the twofold existence of algorithmic things as program and as presentation; and variability and the unfinished status, of digital media.2) Potentials of digital media in learning environments unfold only when they are considered to be designed means, as well as subject matter to be designed. Experience gained from the project 'compArt: a space for computer art' at the University of Bremen serves as my background.As a practical consequence, steps are taken towards developing an 'aesthetic laboratory' which is to unite principles of pragmatism with potentials of digital media in the aesthetic domain