Aesthetic Programming

Aesthetic Programming explores the technical as well as cultural imaginaries of programming from its insides. It follows the principle that the growing importance of software requires a new kind of cultural thinking — and curriculum — that can account for, and with which to better understand the politics and aesthetics of algorithmic procedures, data processing and abstraction. It takes a particular interest in power relations that are relatively under-acknowledged in technical subjects, concerning class and capitalism, gender and sexuality, as well as race and the legacies of colonialism. This is not only related to the politics of representation but also nonrepresentation: how power differentials are implicit in code in terms of binary logic, hierarchies, naming of the attributes, and how particular worldviews are reinforced and perpetuated through computation. Using p5.js, it introduces and demonstrates the reflexive practice of aesthetic programming, engaging with learning to program as a way to understand and question existing technological objects and paradigms, and to explore the potential for reprogramming wider eco-socio-technical systems. The book itself follows this approach, and is offered as a computational object open to modification and reversioning

Complexity Theory as a Paradigm for the Dynamical Law-and-Society System: A Wake-up Call for Legal Reductionism and the Modern Administrative State

This article is the first in my series of articles exploring the application of complex adaptive systems (CAS) theory to legal systems. It builds the basic model of CAS and maps it onto legal systems, offering some suggestions for what it means in terms of legal institution and instrument design

An exploration and validation of computer modeling of evolution, natural selection, and evolutionary biology with cellular automata for secondary students.

The Evolutionary Tool Kit, a new software package, is the prototype of a concept simulator providing an environment for students to create microworlds of populations of artificial organisms. Its function is to model processes, concepts and arguments in natural selection and evolutionary biology, using either Mendelian asexual or sexual reproduction, or counterfactual systems such as \u27paint pot\u27 or blending inheritance. In this environment students can explore a conceptual What if? in evolutionary biology, test misconceptions and deepen understanding of inheritance and changes in populations. Populations can be defined either with typological, or with populational thinking, to inquire into the role and necessity of variation in natural selection. The approach is generative not tutorial. The interface is highly graphic with twenty traits set as icons that are moved onto the \u27phenotypes\u27. Activities include investigations of evolutionary theory of aging, reproductive advantage, sexual selection and mimicry. Design of the activities incorporates Howard Gardner\u27s Theory of Multiple Intelligences. Draft of a teacher and student manual are included

Genetic evolution and equivalence of some complex systems: fractals, cellular automata and lindenmayer systems

Tesis doctoral inédita leída en la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. Escuela Politécnica Superior, Departamento de Ingeniería informática.26-04-200

Using MapReduce Streaming for Distributed Life Simulation on the Cloud

Distributed software simulations are indispensable in the study of large-scale life models but often require the use of technically complex lower-level distributed computing frameworks, such as MPI. We propose to overcome the complexity challenge by applying the emerging MapReduce (MR) model to distributed life simulations and by running such simulations on the cloud. Technically, we design optimized MR streaming algorithms for discrete and continuous versions of Conway’s life according to a general MR streaming pattern. We chose life because it is simple enough as a testbed for MR’s applicability to a-life simulations and general enough to make our results applicable to various lattice-based a-life models. We implement and empirically evaluate our algorithms’ performance on Amazon’s Elastic MR cloud. Our experiments demonstrate that a single MR optimization technique called strip partitioning can reduce the execution time of continuous life simulations by 64%. To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to propose and evaluate MR streaming algorithms for lattice-based simulations. Our algorithms can serve as prototypes in the development of novel MR simulation algorithms for large-scale lattice-based a-life models.https://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/scs_books/1014/thumbnail.jp

Autopoietic-extended architecture: can buildings think?

To incorporate bioremedial functions into the performance of buildings and to balance generative architecture's dominant focus on computational programming and digital fabrication, this thesis first hybridizes theories of autopoiesis into extended cognition in order to research biological domains that include synthetic biology and biocomputation. Under the rubric of living technology I survey multidisciplinary fields to gather perspective for student design of bioremedial and/or metabolic components in generative architecture where generative not only denotes the use of computation but also includes biochemical, biomechanical, and metabolic functions. I trace computation and digital simulations back to Alan Turing's early 1950s Morphogenetic drawings, reaction-diffusion algorithms, and pioneering artificial intelligence (AI) in order to establish generative architecture's point of origin. I ask provocatively: Can buildings think? as a question echoing Turing's own "Can machines think?" Thereafter, I anticipate not only future bioperformative materials but also theories capable of underpinning strains of metabolic intelligences made possible via AI, synthetic biology, and living technology. I do not imply that metabolic architectural intelligence will be like human cognition. I suggest, rather, that new research and pedagogies involving the intelligence of bacteria, plants, synthetic biology, and algorithms define approaches that generative architecture should take in order to source new forms of autonomous life that will be deployable as corrective environmental interfaces. I call the research protocol autopoietic-extended design, theorizing it as an operating system (OS), a research methodology, and an app schematic for design studios and distance learning that makes use of in-field, e-, and m-learning technologies. A quest of this complexity requires scaffolding for coordinating theory-driven teaching with practice-oriented learning. Accordingly, I fuse Maturana and Varela's biological autopoiesis and its definitions of minimal biological life with Andy Clark's hypothesis of extended cognition and its cognition-to-environment linkages. I articulate a generative design strategy and student research method explained via architectural history interpreted from Louis Sullivan's 1924 pedagogical drawing system, Le Corbusier's Modernist pronouncements, and Greg Lynn's Animate Form. Thus, autopoietic-extended design organizes thinking about the generation of ideas for design prior to computational production and fabrication, necessitating a fresh relationship between nature/science/technology and design cognition. To systematize such a program requires the avoidance of simple binaries (mind/body, mind/nature) as well as the stationing of tool making, technology, and architecture within the ream of nature. Hence, I argue, in relation to extended phenotypes, plant-neurobiology, and recent genetic research: Consequently, autopoietic-extended design advances design protocols grounded in morphology, anatomy, cognition, biology, and technology in order to appropriate metabolic and intelligent properties for sensory/response duty in buildings. At m-learning levels smartphones, social media, and design apps source data from nature for students to mediate on-site research by extending 3D pedagogical reach into new university design programs. I intend the creation of a dialectical investigation of animal/human architecture and computational history augmented by theory relevant to current algorithmic design and fablab production. The autopoietic-extended design dialectic sets out ways to articulate opposition/differences outside the Cartesian either/or philosophy in order to prototype metabolic architecture, while dialectically maintaining: Buildings can think

Discovering the struggle between good and evil through antagonism within an United Methodist church with the help of Ignatius\u27 and Wesley\u27s understanding of discernment of spirits

https://place.asburyseminary.edu/ecommonsatsdissertations/1128/thumbnail.jp

The new sciences of chaos and complexity and organisational change : a case study of the Open University

This thesis investigates the use of ideas and insights from the new sciences of chaos and complexity in organisations, especially in organisational change interventions. It contends that organisations are still dominated by approaches derived from classical, traditional science and that these are no longer very helpful. Newer approaches to organisational life are emerging, including the learning organisation, and these offer innovative ways forward. Other more radical ideas are also emerging from understandings derived from the new sciences. It uses a detailed case study of the Open University to explore the use of a range of change theories in introducing change into a complex, complicated, traditional organisation. The change process studied used ideas drawn from modern notions of strategic change but also some ideas available in the literature which draws on insights from the new sciences. Stacey's (1992, 1993, 1996) work particularly his 9 point complexity theory of organisation (1996) is used to provide a theoretical framework. This thesis concludes that the new sciences offer an effective and innovative way of introducing organisational change and offers a transition model of strategy which may serve as an enabling bridge between classical notions of change and a new sciences approach. It supports and builds upon Stacey's work by showing the benefits of using of self organising principles, especially self organising teams, as part of a strategic change intervention. Further it adds to the ideas on the human dynamics of change, suggests ways in which to introduce such a strategic change process and offers an additional interpretation of the development of teams in organisations

Actes du séminaire Contradictions et Dynamique des Organisations - CONDOR - IV

Les Actes IV du Séminaire CONDOR rassemblent les contributions suivantes : "Understanding not Integration : Vital Signs from Three Perspectives on Organizations" de Howard E. ALDRICH, "Entre marché et organisation: le cas de l'armement (Plan d'intervention)" de Christian SCHMIDT, "Retrospective technologique et management de l'innovation dans l'industrie automobile" de Joël BROUSTAIL, "Le mal chronique de la connaissance ordinaire sur l'entreprise" de Christian MOREL, "Dynamique de la négociation: le casde la presse quotidienne régionale" de Denis BAYART et Pierre-Jean BENGHOZI, et "Professions, communauté et rationalité" de Lucien KARPIK.