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Some useful resources
- Gregory, R. L. (Richard Langton), 1923- Eye and brain : the psychology of seeing - Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1966
2 comments:
1. Are we, as people being forced in to interaction.
Interaction is such a huge word. I would say yes, and that the real issue should be-
Is this positive or negative?
Interaction, as a manifestation like a conversation or spatial issue, is a part of life, what's more it is a social need for evolution of the human species.
Interactive media, as a seperate issue, in my opinion is something we are being urged to participate in more and more, with banks and shopping becoming more and more web based, and interactive ticketing stations for trains and planes, but I don't see this as a bad thing. It is merely progress/change, and history has taught us that many great changes in life have met resistance, but it is unescapable. To analyze most things in life, governments, scientific research, the decison to stop making more seasons of Friends, you will always has good and bad effects. I thnk it far better to focus on the good this will do rather than the bad. I think it unfair to take a few examples of misuse of the media like overuse of cctv and generalize that all coerced interaction is a bad thing for the purpose of mind control.
3. Freedom within the boundries of preset/preprogrammed structure
That's just life, we are also bound by the laws of physics and biology, it doesn't mean that it is a bad thing.
5. What is cybernetics
I understand cybernetics to be the tailoring of media to human individuality. It is smart technology that allows for computers to mould themselves to the requirement of the user rather than vice versa. It came about in the war with priitive AI tech that meant rockets could self correct their route to ensure impact with planes, and is now more present in marketing in the media with use of loyalty cards that store up personal consumer information and sell it on, so that individuals are targeted for junk mail and promotions that most suit their profile. This has sparked an ethical issue over whether it is an invasion of privacy or not, I think not, but that would be a seperate issue I won't start ranting about now. It is a term that is linked to the idea of cybernation, which is a cross of the word cybernetcis and automation, which I have just posted about on my blog if it interests you.
Hi Peter, interesting questions.
1. Are we, as people being forced in to interaction.
With digital media? It would seem so. However one of the the original ideas behind ubiquitous or pervasive computing (e.g. see Adam Greenfield 'Everyware') was that it 'calmed' technology and reduced the amount of direct interaction required by a person. Nice idea, in theory.
2. Who is watching who?
They are watching us, obviously.
3. Freedom within the boundries of preset/preprogrammed structure.
Actually life can only exist under these sort of conditions. (Stephen Wolframs research into cellular automata and phase transitions indicated this). Less abstractly, consider society. Neither too little individual freedom (communism) or too much (anarchy) are best for the general population. Whats optimal seem to be structures that allow personal freedom within certain boundaries, and allow new sub-structures and systems to spontaneously occur.
5. What is cybernetics
You can read a rather woolly definition on Wikipedia. Cybernetics is essentially the forerunner of todays robotics and came to prominence in the 40's by researching life processes using electronics, mechanical engineering, life science, control theory and so on.
After several decades in the wilderness it has recently enjoyed a renaissance due to the advent of Behavior-based robotics. See Grey Walters turtles, and Ross Ashby.
Mike
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