Adekola

CSGnet Archive CSG1992
1

RE: Bruce Nevin (Tue 92111 10:54:35)]

       Adekola is now working on a flat membrane that reacts to
       touch and other stimulae and has its sensors and
       actuators embedded in the structure.

It occurs to me that an architect is less likely than an academic
psychologist to resist PCT notions because of prior commitment to
linear causation (S-R, etc.) explanations. Historically, the
arts have been an excellent avenue for exploration and even
promulgation of new theories.

Thanks for the post on Adekola, a copy of which I will send to the only
architect with whom I have discussed PCT notions. He was fascinated with
the dynamic process those notions describe and explain. I suspect part of
this is for the reason you suggest (see above); another reason may be that
this architect is a "student" of the Frank Lloyd Wright school of
architecture which requires that architects spend a good deal of time
observing and talking with clients about their interests and activities
before proceeding to design a structure that will provide more
opportunities for than disturbances to the pursuit of those interests.
Whether one is designing a social structure, or a plan by which group
members can fit different actions together to realize group interests that
none can realize alone, or a physical structure to aid and abet those
actions on the one hand and minimize outsiders' disturbances to those
interests and actions on the other hand, PCT notions are very helpful.

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From tom bourbon [921201 13:01 CST]

Re: bruce nevin [921201] on Adekola

Nice post -- and your observation about architects andpeople in the arts,
in general, squares with my experience. They have no theoretical commitment
and no agenda. Consequently, many of them are open to PCT. Adekola's SID
reminds me of some very ingenious and creative work by a couple of young
performance artists in Bordeaux, France, hwo are preparing a show in which
a few small mobile robots, some bearing TV cameras with images shown on
the wall, will interact with members of the mobile audience. Some robots
will be programmed like E. coli, others, like characters from the "CROWD"
program. The artists were fascinated and excited by their first exposure
to the PCT demonstrations and immediately started to work on a major
production. Perhaps that is our niche!

Regards to all,
    Tom Bourbon

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(ps 921203.1400)

   [From: Bruce Nevin (Tue 92111 10:54:35)]

           But the raison d'e^tre of SID is to interact with people,
           so if left alone the computer directs it to move in a
           seductive manner, what Adekola calls its "luring" mode.

as the list's expert on flirting (not!), i'm fascinated by what it
would mean for an object to be flirtatious. (i'm not doubting that it
can be. i'm interested in knowing how we know.)

                                --penni