The Physical Language Workshop (PLW) is a research group led by John Maeda and Henry Holtzman from 2003-2008 at the MIT Media Laboratory. The group designed tools for creating digital content in a networked environment. PLW research includes OPENSTUDIO, an experimental online micro-economy exploring creativity, collaboration and capitalism, Simplicity, a consortium of students and sponsors investigating innovative approaches towards simplicity in design, and E15, an experimental architecture for designing rich interactions with web content. Our primary impact targets are in the areas of general digital media service architectures, global e-commerce, distance education, and visual information display systems.

Two new Media Lab research initiatives, Information Ecology and Design Ecology, are now continuing the work done at the PLW, ACG, and VLW.

e15.media.mit.eduPlatform for creating 3D visualizations of web content.opencode.media.mit.eduWeb-based programming environment. openstudio.media.mit.eduAn experiment in creativity, collaboration and capitalism.didcamp.media.mit.eduDigital Information Design Camp.The origins of the PLW.Advanced graphics programming for everyone.Beginning graphics programming for everyone.A research initiative and the Laws of Simplicity.Massachusetts Institute of Technology