Cybernetic Ning?

[RichardB]

This website is hosted by ning, and its format defined by the underlying ning software*. The Yasmin list is one long thread, with many possible branches.

I have been thinking about how a virtual space such as this might be more cybernetic, an intelligent feedback space that might knit an "ideas fabric" based on user content and interaction.

Web2 mashup, tag clouds, rss robots ??

Does anyone have any thoughts or idea on this?

(*I am aware that it is possible to add 3rd party widgets to the ning software, though the ejection of widgetlabs by ning makes an interesting read http://www.awarenessnetworks.com/default.asp?item=2255634 ))

[Lucinda]

Forgive me if this was inappropriate, but im trying to get a message out to your group about the opening of the Nicolas Schoffer Art Gallery in SL tomorrow, Sat Sept 13, 2008.


Depo Consulting is proud to host the opening of the Nicolas Schöffer Gallery in the Virtual World of Second Life on Saturday, September 13, 2008 from 1-3PM PST. http://slurl.com/secondlife/depo%2011/38/132/32
Known today as the Father of Cybernetic Art, Schöffer’s career spanned more than 5 decades and explored painting, kinetic sculpture, architecture, urbanism, town planning, music, theater, film and video; his research and theory produced 11 books, ten of which were published.

The inaugural launch of the Second Life Gallery is being held in conjunction with an real life exposition of 30 of these computer graphics and collages called ORDIGRAPHIC, COLLEOGRAPHIC and ORDICOL which are being presented for the first time at the Gyula Nagy Gallery in Lovas, Hungary

Bennet Dynamo, creative director of Depo Consulting, has once again created a gallery in virtual space that is itself a work of art that we are sure you will enjoy.

The gallery continues the evolution of Bennet's RL and SL exploration of folded form, three distinct undulating linear wands are captured for one moment of their movement across the water at a lobby frame born from Schoffer's island.

An animated boat tour is also available which will shuttle gallery visitors between the Nicolas Schöffer Gallery and the Lucien Hervé Foundation Gallery that was opened in the Depo Business Park in July 2008.

Please join us for this exciting event. Entertainment will be provided from 2-3pm PST by the rock band Friendly Fire.

[RichardB]

Thankyou for this! - I visited it yesterday ( Just back from holiday :) ) - its a lovely exhibition, in a well designed space too.. Though I studied Computers Cybernetics in the 70's and work as an artist, I have to confess of not knowing or being aware of the work of Nicolas Schoffer, so it was a really fascinating entry point, and I am sure will open up other peoples eyes and interests in Cybernetics and Art, reaching to new audiences beyond academia.

One topic of interest and challenge is the creating of interactive or ideally cybernetic works in online 3d worlds. The Gallery was very traditional in its layout - ie pictures on walls, and there were no moving, or interactive works. Do you know why this was? Are there artists working in 2L or other metaverses who are creating generative, dynamic, interactive or Cybernetic works?

For me, there are parallels here with the lack of artists working in VR when it first came out, apart from Char Davies (who had the $$ and support of Softimage to help her). At that time in 1995 I perhaps was one of the very few artists using VR as an artistic medium (alembic), and I see parallels now with creations in 2L et al - they tend to be non-dynamic and mimetic/realistic vs dynamic/emergent and non-Euclidean for example. My interest then (and now) is the creation of works that challenge conventional laws of reality - why simply simulate "the real"?

One big difference now is the ease of scripting/programming and sharing of works in online worlds, though perhaps as with the early VR toolkits (and many other user friendly programming tools) they come with inbuilt restrictions and presumptions on what is actually possible to create. possible to create.

[Kuja]

hi RichardB,
the purpose of CAD-Ning is be a repository for:
- Images
- Yasmin's sidekick comments
- Videos
- Music
- (...)
Best
Kuja

[RichardB]

The problem though with any growing social site is gaining a picture and understanding of the many threads that are being knitted over time. Ning for instance does not appear to support a tag cloud option, a simple way of visualising the most active areas of discussion. Over time as the site grows access to and mapping information becomes a problem. I experienced this and many other data/navigation problems through developing a Drupal based social software site for NESTA (awardees.net) in 2005.

One tool that worked for us was the creation of a dynamic hyperlinked folksonomy, as interests were entered so you became linked to other people sharing that interest. My suggestion/question here is what other tools (apart from the fairly ubiquitous tag cloud) might be created to enhance this site, making it actually functional cybernetically rather than simply being a repository.

[Kuja]

Hi RichardB,
Your concerns are totally valid.
I'm also preoccupied with this social network gaining critical mass and all information getting lost in the middle of a huge black hole. I guess it doesn't offer a cloud tag feature, but I'll check this out. Other guy who may help us is Ruairi Glynn, who also has administrative privileges here. I'll poke him.
Best,
Kuja