Information as Aesthetic Events

In his essay, Information as Aesthetic Events, Lev Manovich explores the history of aesthetics in the design of information technology devices such as the iPhone, Mac OS X, and the LG Chocolate phone.  In doing so, Manovich theorizes there has been a shift from trying to hide the interface within the device, to making the device (as a whole), part of the interface.  In other words, the device and its interfaces are being built as an "orchestrated experience".

In making his argument, Manovich looks at computer operating systems and cell phones over the last 10 years and notes that as these technologies evolve, they not only grow more powerful, but they become more and more integrated aesthetically.

For example, where you once had a cell phone that was essentially a monochromatic brick with push buttons that allowed you to make calls.  The aesthetic design of the phone was a separate consideration in the functionality of the phone.

Now, modern cell phones have all the functionality wrapped up into a singular unit where aesthetics are now (arguably) of equal consideration.  In the case of the iphone, we see the functionality of the phone entirely wrapped up in it's user interface.  There simply is no separation of functionality and aesthetics when it comes to the user experience.

In a previous blog post (also about Manovich) I talked about the separate agendas of art and science and the necessity for art to meet science.  That is, it's up to artists to bring science to people in a useful manner.  To be clear:

• It takes an artist to make something beautiful.  
• It takes a special kind of artist to make cutting edge technology useful for the masses, 
• It takes absolute artistic genius to make cutting edge technology useful and beautiful at the same time.

It is those artists in that last definition that change the world.  If you don't agree with Manovich (or myself), I'd like to point you to Apple computer.  While I'm certainly not a fanboy (yes I do have an iPhone), it is almost impossible to look at the computer or cell phone market without getting a glimpse of their genius in every similar product on the market.

In the world of computer technology, they are the absolute quintessential artistic geniuses of our time.  No other company in the world has done as much for the aesthetic evolution and integration of form and function than Apple Computer.

Does your cell phone have a touch screen?  Thank Apple.  Does your computer have icons on it?  Thank Apple (ok, maybe Xerox...).  Does your computer look as cool as your car?  Thank Apple.

Thanks Apple!

Caprica and "Mojo"

In her essay, "The Social Optics of Race",  Lisa Nakamura makes the point that the use of black and white in science fiction films such as "The Matrix" serves the role of legitimizing white technology by using black "mojo" to essentially sell it as "cool".  In doing so, it often takes the form of white mastery and black subservience to said technology.  In a nutshell, black helps back up the claims, but can't actually be in control of white technology (pg 109).

 To illustrate Nakamura's point, I'd like to examine the science fiction show "Caprica", or at least the first few episodes that have been aired to date.  In "Caprica", we bear witness to a technologically advanced Earth-like world, far, far, away.   On Caprica, the technology being used includes virtual reality, robots, and flying cars, with some older technology sprinkled in to give it an authentic look (after all, it can't ALL be high tech, right?).

Setting the stage for Nakamura's argument are two opposing classes of people and technology.  The Graystone's, representing the rich, elite, and white technology owners and the Adama's, which are essentially a group of non-white, lower class, organized crime types who have the "mojo".

The deaths of family members from a terrorist bombing brings both Daniel Graystone and Joseph Adama together in a chance encounter.  Soon afterwards, Daniel convinces Joseph to try his technology to see a virtual copy of his dead daughter in a effort to convince him to steal technology from another company.  After viewing a virtual copy of his dead daughter, Adama agrees to steal this technology for Daniel.

Here, we see the point Nakamura was trying to make.  While Adama isn't black, he does represent the "black".  Adama, with his down-to-earth, gritty, gangster family "mojo", legitimizes white technology, while at the same time, remaining subservient to it.   His agreement to steal technology for Adama, in the belief that it can bring his family back to life, underscores Nakamura's argument.

"Rough" Abstract: Rethinking Literacy - DTC375

Notes from peer review....

Start looking at video and how it's transforming literacy.  Investigate how technology is converging oral and written cultures and argue that video convergence and technology are possibly on a collision course to redefine our definition of literacy.  Can someone who has never learned to "read" and "write" actually be considered literate?

Key points to consider:

In looking at the history of oral and literate cultures, Ong has shown how humans have evolved from oral communication (synchronous) to become a written / text based (asynchronous) culture and our definition of literacy has hinged around this very concept.   As technology continues to improve, we're seeing asynchronous communications technologies, such as email and text messaging becoming more and more prevalent among literate cultures.


In addition to the process of asynchronous communications methods, we're beginning to see hybrid forms of media emerging that are remediating communications technology's.  Video is fast replacing voice, and many researchers are looking for ways new ways to provide input technologies bypassing traditional computer input mechanisms.  For example, voice recognition technology that allows users to command computers without having to actually type or point using traditional (keyboard and mouse) input methods.

However, with this increased technology, we're also seeing an interesting development with aboriginal and oral based cultures (Nakamura) who are finding ways of using video technology to communicate, thus bypassing the traditional model associated with what we would consider to be a crucial step towards literacy.

Given that technology is allowing both oral and written based cultures an opportunity to expand their ability to communicate, the fundamental question is:  With advances in computer technology that allow people to communicate with voice and video, should we reconsider our definition of literacy?  In short, the answer is yes.

Abstact - Video Essay: Transformation of the Cellular Communications

In this video essay, I will take a look at the history of the cellular phone and it's usage over the years, focusing on the transformation of a voice communications tool, to that of hand held miniature computer.  Specifically, I will look into how voice communications, while important, are now taking a secondary, if not tertiary role to facilitate communications.

To examine this issue in depth, I will conduct interviews with three separate generations of users: 1)  Teenagers, 13-19 years old,  2)  Adults, 20 - 40, and 3) Older adults, 40+.   By performing interviews,  I hope to shed light on how various age groups view the cellular phone and gain an understanding of how the technology is being used and where the technology might be headed.

Understanding Hybrid Spaces

In his essay, "Understanding Hybrid Spaces", Lev Manovich looks at the use of hybrid spaces in media by looking at the history of various pioneers in media hybridization.

Early hybrid media began with the fusion of text and video and as video technology improved, artists began to "remix" variations of what had already been. Over time, software innovations have allowed us to explore completely new ways of representing media.

Summing up his essay, Manovich concludes that the next step in all of this is to find ways to provide this hybridized media in aesthetically pleasing ways.  That is, it's fine to be able to do "something", but does it make it worth watching?

What Manovich doesn't come out and say is that Art and Science often coexists in parallel.  That is, they seem to be headed in the same direction, but rarely intersect.  I don't mean to imply that they "never" intersect, but they very often go about acheiving their own goals without consulting each other.

Perhaps the biggest reason is due to the challenges of understanding technology and how to use it.  Most artists, after all, aren't scientists.  It takes awhile for art to catch up to science and what we see in the interim is art attempting to get to the next level, or catch up to science.

So what does all of this mean?  Bottom line is that it's up to artists to take an active role in understanding and making use of technology.  Technology, in and of itself, is rarely beautiful.   It is artists who make technology useful, and in the realm of digital media, it's artists who make it worth watching.

A Better Pencil - Part 2

The remaining chapters of the book serve as a history lesson on how we've gotten to where we are today in terms of writing technologies.  The funny thing is, I have been apart of the revolution in technology since around the era of the typewriter.  


I witnessed the advent of the personal computer and saw first-hand how it slowly took over the roll of typewriter.  I say slowly, because for many years, even after the computer was firmly entrenched in offices, there was still a typewriter which was used to type out pre-maid forms.  Early days indeed.


This goes hand in hand with the idea that we're very mistrustful of new technologies as they're invented.  This is analogous to Thoreau dismissing the idea of wired communications and Plato lamenting about how writing couldn't be trusted.  However, in today's era, I see that technology is catching on at a much faster pace.  New communications mediums are being adopted and institutionalized at impressive rates.


A question I'd like to pose to the class is:  In the eve of video communications technology and voice recognition, is writing on it's way out?

A Better Pencil - Part 1

After reading chapters 1, 3, and 5 of Dennis Barron's "A Better Pencil", it's becoming clear that we have a predisposition to distrust new technologies.  While it didn't take reading his book to understand or internalize this, it did bring to light some interesting positions on writing technologies.

For starters, I found the history of the pencil to be extremely interesting.  Who knew that Thoreau was a pencil baron?  I certainly didn't.  What was even more interesting was how pencil technology evolved from early graphite deposits to complicated processes involving mixing of elements to create a variety of pencil styles.  

Having said that, I think the major point Barron's was trying to emphasize is that all writing tools are essentially technological inventions vying for a place in human history to help spread the written word.  As technology improves, we see time after time, a group of people (luddites?) who can't seem to come to terms with the newer technology and often take on the role of critic.

While I'm certainly reasonably skeptical about all new technologies, I often take a measured "let's just see how this plays out" stance.  As we've seen time and time again, just because it's new and improved doesn't necessarily mean that it's going to be the next best thing (betamax anyone?).

For purposes of class discussion, I'd like to talk about how technology has affected various people in their academic careers.  Among the older (yes, that's me), has technology been an asset or a detractor?  Among the younger, do you remember NOT using a computer?

... I wish there were more fonts to play with...