Notes:
- Influence of Sci-Fi/Fantasy on future of technology: representations of future in art and entertainment mirror what the people would like to see in reality I.E. Star Wars 3D chess and hologram of Princess Leia
- Sci-Fi is not just about "wouldn't it be cool could do that" but commentary on "what if you could do that?"
- predicts future, speculative fiction
- Connection between digital world and physical reality = augmented reality
- illusion of media as physical medium (social contract to own object representing media ex. VHS tape)
- early technology often forces user to think and progressively becomes more automated ex. Cars (danger of mindless technology being taken in wrong direction)
- in the end technology is simply tools
I found Ken Perlin's lecture to be extremely enlightening and inspirational. He seems just as enthused with what he is doing now as he must have been when he initially started back in the '80s. I really enjoyed his discussion of the connections between fiction and the reality of future technology. One video in particular struck a chord with me, the "Hyper Augmented Reality" one in which augmented reality has taken over daily functions and seems very intrusive. This future is definitely possible given the current state of technology, but I would hope that technology takes us in a less intrusive direction as Perlin talked about, in which technology almost becomes more and more invisible and serves to aid our HUMAN interactions rather than inhibit them.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Site Building Using Wordpress
For my final project, I have been working on creating a website for my music projects. I am using the Wordpress platform, which is an open source hosting service, meaning that there are multiple interfaces available to create websites with. I chose one called “Thesis” which is perfect for what I wanted to create: a simple website with a blog format and links to my Sound Cloud, Myspace, and Twitter accounts and my Facebook fan page.
Initially, Thesis was a bit intimidating, as the commands to do simple things like add an image can be complicated. However, upon reading a tutorial and spending more time with the site, it is making more sense. I would not recommend WordPress with Thesis to someone who is not somewhat technology savvy, but it is perfect for me as it allows for more layout customization than a Blogspot or something similar. I will post more as I progress with my site.
Initially, Thesis was a bit intimidating, as the commands to do simple things like add an image can be complicated. However, upon reading a tutorial and spending more time with the site, it is making more sense. I would not recommend WordPress with Thesis to someone who is not somewhat technology savvy, but it is perfect for me as it allows for more layout customization than a Blogspot or something similar. I will post more as I progress with my site.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Six Selections by the Oulipo (1961, 1973, 1981)
Oulipo = Ouvroir de Litterature Potentillem, Workshop for Potential Literature)
- workshop for potential literature
- break free of traditional constraints of literature
- "The idea of potential literature is to both analyze and synthesize constraints - drawn from current mathematics as well as from older writing techniques that never entered the literary mainstream."
- Raymond Queneau: used algorithmic techniques in his narratives.
- led to choose your own adventure style games and books
- Queneau's book A Hundred Thousand Billion Poems is the foundation of this movement.
- switching up relationships of reader, author, and text
- workshop for potential literature
- break free of traditional constraints of literature
- "The idea of potential literature is to both analyze and synthesize constraints - drawn from current mathematics as well as from older writing techniques that never entered the literary mainstream."
- Raymond Queneau: used algorithmic techniques in his narratives.
- led to choose your own adventure style games and books
- Queneau's book A Hundred Thousand Billion Poems is the foundation of this movement.
- switching up relationships of reader, author, and text
Friday, November 5, 2010
A File Structure for the Complex, the Changing, and the Indeterminate (1965)
- Theodor Nelson
- Originator of "hypertext" concept, but original idea went further than the term as we now know it
- "a body of written or pictorial material interconnected in such a complex way that it could not be conveniently presented or represented on paper"
- modular type of system that goes beyond simple text based links: linked structures of information in a more abstract form
Sort of a precursor to the modern search engine optimized web where everything is linked via tags, but takes this idea further to surpass what became the standard of links via text. It seems like we are finally catching up to Nelson's concepts in our current generation of the web, where user created tags help us to identify an ever evolving user generated database. The way that these databases are visually organized is still very simple though, and mirror methods that have been used forever in text based mediums on paper. For instance, upon doing a Google search, we are simply given a traditional list of results in the form of hyperlinks rather than a more comprehensive visual representation of the results. Not sure what this representation would be, or if it has already been attempted...I wonder if the way in which we perceive information might evolve to become something beyond our current text based world?
- Originator of "hypertext" concept, but original idea went further than the term as we now know it
- "a body of written or pictorial material interconnected in such a complex way that it could not be conveniently presented or represented on paper"
- modular type of system that goes beyond simple text based links: linked structures of information in a more abstract form
Sort of a precursor to the modern search engine optimized web where everything is linked via tags, but takes this idea further to surpass what became the standard of links via text. It seems like we are finally catching up to Nelson's concepts in our current generation of the web, where user created tags help us to identify an ever evolving user generated database. The way that these databases are visually organized is still very simple though, and mirror methods that have been used forever in text based mediums on paper. For instance, upon doing a Google search, we are simply given a traditional list of results in the form of hyperlinks rather than a more comprehensive visual representation of the results. Not sure what this representation would be, or if it has already been attempted...I wonder if the way in which we perceive information might evolve to become something beyond our current text based world?
The Construction of Change (1964)
- Roy Ascott
- connection between art, art education and cybernetics
- founding document of new media
Poppers distinctions between "participation" and "interaction":
- Participation: involvement on intellectual and behavioral level. varies from idea of "spectator." has apolitical and social implications. similar to "ritual ceremony" or "tribal feast"
- Interaction: mirrors type of participation, in which art (AI system) interacts with user/spectator itself. Usually two-way, as opposed to participation, which implies global network i.e. internet, where multiple users are all interacting.
- 1980s, Ascott combines Popper's two concepts: Telematic Art, where global individuals work together on single art via network, plus interaction on the part of AI.
- connection between art, art education and cybernetics
- founding document of new media
Poppers distinctions between "participation" and "interaction":
- Participation: involvement on intellectual and behavioral level. varies from idea of "spectator." has apolitical and social implications. similar to "ritual ceremony" or "tribal feast"
- Interaction: mirrors type of participation, in which art (AI system) interacts with user/spectator itself. Usually two-way, as opposed to participation, which implies global network i.e. internet, where multiple users are all interacting.
- 1980s, Ascott combines Popper's two concepts: Telematic Art, where global individuals work together on single art via network, plus interaction on the part of AI.
Sketchpad: A Man Machine Graphical Communication System (1963)
- Ivan Sutherland
- Innovative in that he rethought the idea of the screen as a new, more interactive medium as opposed to simple and inferior replacement for paper.
-Sort of a precursor to modern Wacom-pad style interfaces
- Introduced "rubber-band" lines and circle tools that are used in most computer drawing/design/image editing programs
- the first "direct manipulation" interface. No lines of programming in order to actually use program. Laid foundation for object oriented programming and GUIs
- Ability to reuse objects in a sort of library-esque way that modern computer programs allow. Able to save file and reuse previous constructions from personal library.
- If previously created object is altered, alteration shows up in files that said object is used in
- Influential to Alan Kay, creator of object-oriented programming language Smalltalk and Dynabook.
- Innovative in that he rethought the idea of the screen as a new, more interactive medium as opposed to simple and inferior replacement for paper.
-Sort of a precursor to modern Wacom-pad style interfaces
- Introduced "rubber-band" lines and circle tools that are used in most computer drawing/design/image editing programs
- the first "direct manipulation" interface. No lines of programming in order to actually use program. Laid foundation for object oriented programming and GUIs
- Ability to reuse objects in a sort of library-esque way that modern computer programs allow. Able to save file and reuse previous constructions from personal library.
- If previously created object is altered, alteration shows up in files that said object is used in
- Influential to Alan Kay, creator of object-oriented programming language Smalltalk and Dynabook.
Douglas Engelbart - Augmenting Human Intellect (1962)
- Influential on development of computer interfaces
- Established many critical components of modern PCs: mouse, window, word processor, graphic/text displays, programming editors, hyperlink.
- Recognized for these ideas but his motivation is not as widely known.
- Engineer with larger goals: wanted to help further mankind (augment human intellect)
- Problem solver, saw problems looming for humans and wanted to enhance ability to deal with them.
- Established many critical components of modern PCs: mouse, window, word processor, graphic/text displays, programming editors, hyperlink.
- Recognized for these ideas but his motivation is not as widely known.
- Engineer with larger goals: wanted to help further mankind (augment human intellect)
- Problem solver, saw problems looming for humans and wanted to enhance ability to deal with them.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Following up on story in Video Games...
As a gamer since about age 6, I found Rich's incites into the state of storytelling in video games to be very fascinating. While fun gameplay definitely comes first for me in my game choices, the fact is that with the budget and work going into current games there is no excuse for mediocre storytelling. I think that the line between games where story is an important element and the games where it is not a critical part of the game is becoming more defined. While story can be essential in a modern, open ended 3D adventure or in an experimental game such as Heavy Rain, in more arcade minded independent games story has reverted to its former simplicity. As Rich mentioned, the role of story in games was initially just to give purpose to whatever goals you achieve in the game. I look forward to seeing the new ways that developers might approach story as experimental games are becoming more and more prevalent as downloadable content on the current generation of game consoles.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Allan Kaprow - Happenings in the New York Scene
Happening: performance or event, many times featuring interactive components
- How does the Happening compare to other types of interactivity?
- Artist and crowd equally important in event, audience is involved in some capacity
- Often were staged to make statement, political or otherwise
- Influential to the development of new media via new realm of performance/event
- How does the Happening compare to other types of interactivity?
- Artist and crowd equally important in event, audience is involved in some capacity
- Often were staged to make statement, political or otherwise
- Influential to the development of new media via new realm of performance/event
J.C.R. Licklider - Man-Computer Symbiosis
- ARPA: organized to head military's space program.
- Led by J.C.R. Licklider
- Background in engineering and behavioral science
- A force in promoting education of technology and pushing boundaries of computing
- Military + Academia
- ARPAnet: prototype of concepts that led to internet
- Very true: "in a few years, man will be able to communicate more effectively through a machine than face to face"
- Led by J.C.R. Licklider
- Background in engineering and behavioral science
- A force in promoting education of technology and pushing boundaries of computing
- Military + Academia
- ARPAnet: prototype of concepts that led to internet
- Very true: "in a few years, man will be able to communicate more effectively through a machine than face to face"
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Norbert Weiner - Man, Machines, and the World About
- Wiener’s cybernetics research was a product of Bush’s military-industrial complex
- Beginning of terminology such as "cyborg" and "cyberspace"
- Modern usage of terms: input, output, feedback as applied to humans rather than only machines
- studied "communications and control in the animal and machine."
- worked on WWII projects
- changing notions of SELF vs. SYSTEM
- against military funding
- Beginning of terminology such as "cyborg" and "cyberspace"
- Modern usage of terms: input, output, feedback as applied to humans rather than only machines
- studied "communications and control in the animal and machine."
- worked on WWII projects
- changing notions of SELF vs. SYSTEM
- against military funding
Alan Turing - Computing Machinery and Intelligence
- Computers viewed early on as number crunchers
- not immediately obvious that computers could be useful in manipulating words
- Turing test: can computer pass as human?
- challenged notions of human intelligence: if a computer can do it, is it an intelligent task?
- Concept of a thinking computer
- Introduced idea that computer-Human communication using language could be possible
- precursor to text based computing vs. simple numerical representations
- not immediately obvious that computers could be useful in manipulating words
- Turing test: can computer pass as human?
- challenged notions of human intelligence: if a computer can do it, is it an intelligent task?
- Concept of a thinking computer
- Introduced idea that computer-Human communication using language could be possible
- precursor to text based computing vs. simple numerical representations
Vannevar Bush - As We May Think
- MIT graduate
- One of key players involved with the Manhattan Project
- Not a warlike guy, despite his profession
- Memex: proto-computer like organizer concept for "individual use"
- "Associative connections that attempt to reflect the 'intricate web of trails carred by the cells of the brain.'"
- Memex was a critical seed in development of what is now personal computer
- There are still ideas within Bush's documents that have yet to be fully realized
- One of key players involved with the Manhattan Project
- Not a warlike guy, despite his profession
- Memex: proto-computer like organizer concept for "individual use"
- "Associative connections that attempt to reflect the 'intricate web of trails carred by the cells of the brain.'"
- Memex was a critical seed in development of what is now personal computer
- There are still ideas within Bush's documents that have yet to be fully realized
The Garden of the Forking Paths by Jorge Louis Borges
In this story, Borges presents the concept of a "hypertext novel" in which there are multiple storylines/paths.
Basic concept behind early text adventure computer games
Notion of a non linear narrative TEXT much like the possibilities that computers bring to the medium of text.
Basic concept behind early text adventure computer games
Notion of a non linear narrative TEXT much like the possibilities that computers bring to the medium of text.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
New Media Reader Introduction and From Borges to HTML
Borges and Bush: Two paths of thought that converged to create new technological view of the world fueled by endless possibilities.
more organic perspective vs. engineer perspective
Birth of a completely new medium as opposed to improving on an old one: "The 'augmented institution" as he saw it would not change into a 'bigger and faster snail' but would become a new species, like a cat, with new sensory abilities and entirely new powers."
1980s: Apple computers open up creative doors with more accessible GUI and creatively minded paint software.
1990s: internet opens up more doors for
New media can bridge the gap between human experience and digital data i.e. interfaces that allow human to control computer via visual, or other means, such as GUI.
Progression of computer capabilities mirrors other technologies. Transition from still image to film parallels the same developments that occurred in these mediums in digital form.
Personal computers have taken over many functions that previously took place in the analog domain, such as animation, sound and music editing, visual arts and synthesis. While the computer aids the user in these functions and makes many tasks more efficient, in most of these functions the computer does not react.
"The early Web (i.e. before it came to be dominated by big commercial portals towards the end of the 1990s) also practically implemented a radically horizontal, non-hierarchical model of human existence in which no idea, no ideology, and no value system can dominate the rest--thus providing a perfect metaphor for a new post-Cold War sensibility"
The digital realm allows many new functions that were not possible before the availability of computers but at the same time seems to most commonly replicate functions that take place in the real world. New media seems to be the study of this concept with the goal of progressing the lineage of technology into new realms that are only possible via technological advances, but also simply new methods of interpreting technology.
more organic perspective vs. engineer perspective
Birth of a completely new medium as opposed to improving on an old one: "The 'augmented institution" as he saw it would not change into a 'bigger and faster snail' but would become a new species, like a cat, with new sensory abilities and entirely new powers."
1980s: Apple computers open up creative doors with more accessible GUI and creatively minded paint software.
1990s: internet opens up more doors for
New media can bridge the gap between human experience and digital data i.e. interfaces that allow human to control computer via visual, or other means, such as GUI.
Progression of computer capabilities mirrors other technologies. Transition from still image to film parallels the same developments that occurred in these mediums in digital form.
Personal computers have taken over many functions that previously took place in the analog domain, such as animation, sound and music editing, visual arts and synthesis. While the computer aids the user in these functions and makes many tasks more efficient, in most of these functions the computer does not react.
"The early Web (i.e. before it came to be dominated by big commercial portals towards the end of the 1990s) also practically implemented a radically horizontal, non-hierarchical model of human existence in which no idea, no ideology, and no value system can dominate the rest--thus providing a perfect metaphor for a new post-Cold War sensibility"
The digital realm allows many new functions that were not possible before the availability of computers but at the same time seems to most commonly replicate functions that take place in the real world. New media seems to be the study of this concept with the goal of progressing the lineage of technology into new realms that are only possible via technological advances, but also simply new methods of interpreting technology.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)