Public sphere and procedural space

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TITLE
Public sphere and procedural space Elements for
a holistic software design theory Bernhard
Rieder Laboratoire Paragraphe b_at_01100010.com
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THIS PRESENTATION
This presentation will talk about 1
procedural space 2 examples (slashdot.org /
framespace) 3 theoretical assessment 4 the
design perspective
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INTRODUCTION computers and politics
Introduction I - the computer steps into a
climate of sensibility for the political
dimension of technology - it becomes a focal
point for utopia in the sixties - the Internet
further accentuates the political element
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INTRODUCTION computers and humanities
Introduction II - the computer is imagined as
yet another communication medium - the debate
about the "public sphere" continues along the
same lines as before - this is important but
something is missing
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1 PROCEDURAL SPACE state and process
State and process - a complex system can be
described through the concepts of "state" and
"process" Simon - state can be equated to
information and data - process is expressed in
algorithm and action
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1 PROCEDURAL SPACE features
Procedural space - the Internet privileged state
over process and became a medium - slowly
maturing, the Internet becomes a robust
information system - process makes a comeback
(the computer remembers being a Turing
machine)
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2 EXAMPLES slashdot.org
Example slashdot.org - probably the biggest
discussion platform on the web (close to a
million registered users) - all content (stories
- topics) from users - highly elaborate system
of attributing symbolic capital (slashcode)
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2 EXAMPLES slashdot.org
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2 EXAMPLES slashdot.org
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2 EXAMPLES slashdot.org
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2 EXAMPLES framespace
Example framespace - a collaborative outliner
application - enhanced by agents - uses
semantic techniques for different purposes
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2 EXAMPLES framespace
Example framespace
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2 EXAMPLES framespace
Example framespace
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2 EXAMPLES framespace
Example framespace
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2 EXAMPLES framespace
Example framespace
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3 PUBLIC SPHERE form and content
Software and public sphere - community and
information - software shapes relations and the
production of meaning - form and content
(medium and message)
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3 HYBRIDITY action chains
Hybridity - parts of social practices get
mechanized (form and content) - our culture is
increasingly hybrid - the public sphere can be
seen as a co-construction by man and machine
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3 VISIBILITY mediation and delegation
Visibility - code is law Lessig - computer
code is largely invisible - there is no
dramaturgy of public participation and control
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3 POWER openness ?
Power - effective power (automatic and
mechanic) - who controls the constitution of a
public sphere? - what are society's means of
critique?
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4 DESIGN
Holistic design - creating software is shaping
the public sphere and creating culture -
design is currently taught and executed in the
mindset of "tool and task" - what can the
humanities and social sciences add to
software design?
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4 DESIGN structure
Structure (bricolage) - modularity -
layering - standards
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4 DESIGN metaphor
Metaphor - the notion of metaphor goes beyond
representation - ways of doing (ways of
understanding) - implicated in a practice
(research methods)
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4 DESIGN community
Community - open source - communication -
inclusivity and participation
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CONCLUSIONS
Conclusions - computer software participates in
the shaping of public spheres and culture -
the social techniques that design is embedded
in are quite problematic - humanities and social
sciences can add to a more holistic design
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THE END
Thank you for your attention ! Bernhard
Rieder b_at_01100010.com http//01100010.com http
//fs.01100010.com