New Media Reader Chapter 21 - 25

Chapter 21

Timeline:

• 1974: Theodor H Nelson publishes Computer Lib/Dream Machines - predicted the effects of the first personal computer kit.

Summary:

• Computer Lib/Dream Machines two books conjoined and in the middle, the two texts meet.
• Computer Lib: predicts the impact of the personal computer, challenged what a computer was for.
• Dream Machines: Nelson recognizes the comptuer, as a new form of media
• Computer = media to be designed. Therefore, it should be both creative and acknowlge its audience (the user)
• Nelson suggested new media experiences be published in a public network --> Internet

Chapter 22

Timeline:

• 1974: Theater of the Oppressed by Augusto Boal is published in Brazil
• 1992: Augusto Boal runs for public office as a political/theatrical act - surprisingly he becomes elected in Brazil

Summary:

• Augusto Boal = went to jail for practicing his interactive techniques and was eventually exiled from Latin America to Europe
• Boal = one of the first to consider the physical body in conjunction with new media

Chapter 23

Timeline:

• 1967: Negroponte founded the Architecture Machine Group at MIT- developed methods of managing data spatially
• 1975: Negroponte publishes "Soft Architecture Machines"
• 1985: Negroponte opens MIT Media Lab with help of MIT President Jerome Weisner

Summary:

• Structures for human activity = basis for architecture and human computer interaction (example: virtual reality applied to architecture)
• Nicholas Negropnte = a user should be empowered by a computer
• MIT Media Lab - researches future applications of technologies via academic disciplines
• Negroponte = co-founder of Wired Magazine ("sought to chronicle the digital revolution and promote it as a concept" pg 353)

Chapter 24

Timeline:

• 1964-1966: Weizenbaum invents Eliza - system which can interact and respond to humans via a script called Doctor

Summary:

• Joseph Weizenbaum - criticizes the dangers of new media
• Weizenbaum = computer programmer who invents a chatterbox system, Eliza
• Weizenbaum - the influence computing has had on how we use language

Chapter 25

Timeline:

• 1977: Myron W. Krueger publishes "Responsive Environments" about virtual reality

Summary:

• Myron Krueger - worked on virtual reality concepts and was both praised and rejected by the art community. "Father of Virtual Reality"
• The technology Krueger invented gained a lot of critical response for its lack of humanism
• Critical Technical Practices (CTP) - coined by Phil Agre of MIT - creating technology within the traditions of art & studies of culture