THE CENTER FOR MEDIA DESIGN (CMD) is an R&D facility at Ball State University in central Indiana that is focused on the creation, testing and practical application of digital technologies for business, classroom, home and community. The Center grew out of a $20 million initiative through the Lilly Endowment Inc. called “iCommunication.” CMD has targeted questions surrounding how the consumer society wants to engage the digital media world. To address the questions, the Center has developed collaborative, interdisciplinary teams that explore digital media content creation, and testing and assessment of that content.

Some of the areas of active investigation include:

• Immersive, interactive models of higher ed media products including what could be described as “the next electronic text”
• Interactive television content experimental development
• Convergent news
• Assessment of interactive television advertising
• The Digital Home test and demonstration facility
• Middletown Media Studies - benchmarking of comprehensive media use in society
• Digital Middletown - deployment of ultra-high broadband wireless (30 mgb/sec) to homes, schools and businesses in Muncie, Indiana as a test bed for research
• Student Technology Incubator for new student tech businesses

The approach at CMD is to focus on the ʻ1 to 5 years outʼ timeframe and to engage applied research that may have immediate, meaningful impact on industry and society. An economic development focus with an eye toward new opportunities for commercialization creates a climate where collaboration with corporate partners is easy and comfortable.