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April 05, 2008

Algorithmic Design

Design moving from composition to choreography, from objects to systems and services.

http://www.processing.org/

Open Code Project:
rethink the idea of making simplified forms of programming. Alan Kay thinks:

"... when we teach children English, iti is not our intent to teach them a pidgin language, but to gradually reveal the whole thing...

In computer terms, the range of aspiration should extend at least to the kinds of applications purchased from professionals."

There may be a fallacy in this thinking, in that the whole of the natural language is on display at all times in original language aquisition. Children can express themselves functionally -- if clumsily and with frustrations -- with imperfect syntax and vocabulary. This is not the case with artificial computer languages.

http://opencode.media.mit.edu/tool/open_code

Having a browser will become a ubiquitous condition. Creators have created a processing IDE and archive at the above address. Code won't be stored if it isn't clean. So you can trust all code on archive to learn from. Can't store code in archive unless author is willing to share code.


Type+Code: processing for designers
formal exploration of letterform transformations in processing. Student introduced processing to Ellen Lupton, her advisor, at MICA. Linked interpretive typography with Sonya [sic?] to create reactive piece with acoustic input.

Everyone can learn processing.
Created some basic tutorials as a contribution to Ellen Lupton's book on the New Design Basics.

These still offer a reductivist or simplified approach, Bauhausian tradition reaffirmed. The breakouts lag behind the Keynotes. This is likely a necessary existential condition of conferences.

"Genetic Typography"
recapitulation of the typeface Beowulf, instantiated in Processing, with self-conscious homage to A-Life pioneer, Conaway.

http://www.TypeAndCode.com/

Hugh Dubberly is very impressed that Lupton's students are exploring Processing, and wants to know how that happened.

Driven by student interest at MICA.

A reference is made to Adobe Illustrator as a "traditional tool" (tee hee)

And reference to Processing as a meta-tool

conversation about how to make form (predictable or otherwise) with and through Processing.

Glen Carlson should have presented here. so too should have Devin Monnens. Josh, Carlos and Mohammed could have presented some P4 Games examples here. They spend all their money on tuition, and can't afford to be here. Yarghhh!

Challenges to authorship. Once again.

Posted by SWEAT at April 5, 2008 04:00 PM