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METAMEDIAL SWARMS: THE POWER OF VISUALIZATION IN A COMPLEX WORLD An ArtScience/MediaTechnology workshop Taco Stolk, Joost Vervoort, Diederik Keuskamp The long term future? The long term future? “Our species has about a 50% chance of surviving the coming century” Sir Martin Rees, Royal Astronomer to the United Kingdom Astronomical impact THE COCKROACHES SURVIVE Supernova BYE BYE, OZON LAYER Super-volcanism KILL RECORD: THREE MASS EXTINCTIONS Nanobot Holocaust/ Engineered Disease FRANKENSTEIN’S MOLECULAR MONSTERS Nuclear War THE LONG EVE OF DESTRUCTION Climate Change GLOBAL WEIRDING Environmental Collapse NATURE WILL GO ON WITHOUT US Assignment: Myths of Nature Myths of Nature: discussion • Discuss your choice with your neighbor • What about societies? Would you still choose the same myth for societal stability? The challenges of the “short-term” future Assignment: Scenarios • A what-if? story about the future • Scenarios: think about the unthinkable • A scenario: believable and unexpected • Envision of your own future in 2040 in context Discussion: Scenarios • Tell the story of your scenario to your neighbour • Talk about the differences between your stories • What are the big changes? Complexity makes the world go nuts • A world full of challenges, possibilities • Between order and chaos • Cake, rocket, child • Complexity • a challenge and an inspiration Workshop context • Communication on complexity in manmade environmental problems • Abstract communication: simple concepts • Concrete communication: future stories What drives nature and societies? • Non-linearity: a simple change complex changes • Multi-scale: local changes • big-scale effects, • vice versa System thinking • A system is a dynamic and complex whole, interacting as a structured functional unit Biocomplexity Biocomplexity • • • • • “life”made out of “nothing” Organelles within a cell Multi-cellular organisms (Central) nerve system Communication / social animals Food “chain” Carnivores Herbivores Autotrophic organisms decomposers Food web Biocomplexity • • • • May have more than one prey/predator Competition Shifts in prey/predator Symbiotic interaction Biocomplexity • “Non-food Dependancy” – Housing – Reproduction/gene flow – Dispersal – Symbiose (Parasites) Complexity • On an Ecosystem level – Food web – Water cycle – Nutrient cycle Biocomplexity over time Biocomplexity Biocomplexity over time Biocomplexity Biocomplexity over time Biocomplexity over time Adaptive cycle Leads to Evolution/shifts in species composition Panarchy Biocomplexity • Plagues in Australia – Rabbit – Cane toad Could you come up with differences between human complexity and biocomplexity? Complexity in the human world • Consciousness: abstract ideas, symbols, “structures of signification” - a virtual reality • Meaning is crucial! The rest can change • Change strategies, train, improvise Complexity in the human world • Humans can become more independent of time and space • Space and place are mixed up – connected to influences Complexity in the human world • Technology is an expression and extension of human capabilities • Humans shape technology, technology shapes humans • Technology breaks down scale dependence How are they intertwined? • The division between “natural” and “human” systems is a myth • Humans are the dominant structuring force the Anthropocene • Feedbacks run through both connected systems How are they intertwined? • Humans are set free by their virtual realities • Humans are also prisoners of their perspectives, and blinded by them What can we do • Understand the complex interactions in “socialecological systems” • What these dynamics mean for our role in the world • Context: our actions can have small effects or enormous effects What can we do • See the relativity of our own views • Appreciate other perspectives • Anticipate dangers, experiment with opportunities • Practice adaptability and flexibility The problems of communication The potential of visualization • Humans are visual creatures • Direct emotional impact • More information can be relayed better • Memorized better Visualize the basic idea of the challenges of a complex world • Consider non-linearity and scales • Consider a link to the individual’s capacity to act Do assignments to dimensionalize the idea Do assignments to dimensionalize the idea Do assignments to dimensionalize the idea The advantages and disadvantages of different visualization strategies • Abstract: clear mental structures • Concrete: more imaginability • Cognitive: understanding • Emotional: engagement The advantages and disadvantages of different visualization strategies • Understanding: a wise response • Willingness: a committed response • Capacity: a meaningful response Dangers • • • • • • • • Lack of accessibility Lack of engagement Counter-intuitive Info overload Misinterpretation Over-simplification Confusion Acceptance Challenges you see in the coming weeks • Need more info? • Need to fine-tune your idea? • Match up with your partner?