LARC Presentation ~ Simplexity
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Transcript of LARC Presentation ~ Simplexity
S i m p l e x i t yComprehending the relationship between societies
and technologies
A Historical Inquiry by Philip Mehler
Climbing the Ladder
Posing the Question:
“At what point in this process of technological
evolution do you think humans and technologies will
switch roles; might a transition occur where humans
become mediums for far more advanced
technologies?”
Walking the Plank
Proposed Inquiry: Understanding the nature of
the relationship between humans and tools.
Hypothesis: Humans have an innate affinity for
that which is simple
Revised Inquiry: Comprehending the nature of
the relationship between societies and
technologies
Findings: There exists a dynamic humane desire
for the most simplified forms of the most complex
objects
The Dive
Constructing a lens for peering into the dynamic:
Dualistic
Technics and Civilization by Lewis Mumford
Bird’s Eye View
The Pencil by Henry Petroski
Belly Up Perspective
Distinguishing Procedural from
Substantive
Procedural: refers to the intended function
Technology – the engineer’s or innovator’s
intended function for his or her technological
innovation
Substantive: refers to the actual, or relative,
function
Technology – the ways in which the society
actually incorporates and utilizes the innovation
Development vs. Transfer
“all engineering, past and present, has a
common feature to its fabric” – Henry Petroski
Development/ Engineering: Procedural
Evolutionary
Transfer/ Integration: Substantial
Revolutionary
A Priori
“Advances in technology depend on a wide variety
of agents at work… Very simply, technological
progress depends on myriad causes with none
holding sway over others.”
- Deandra Sahal
Never Neutral
Technological advancements are not isolated from
the social climate in which they are discovered, and
into which they are eventually integrated.
“Technology is never neutral” but rather functions as
“an echo of the larger society”, or, more simply, as a
product of its environment.
- Zerzan and Carnes
Layering, Scaling, and
DesignMumford – Authoritarian vs. Democratic Technics
The technics utilized for scaling and layering can
ultimately dictate societal design
Scaling – refers to the most basic processes of
societal proportioning
Layering – refers to the fundamental processes
of societal stratification
Simplexity
An innate spectrum exists between that which is
simple and that which is complex
Societies desire the most complex innovations
possible, but particularly in their simplest forms
Define: Maintaining a balance, within this
spectrum
Equilibrium is always in flux; the ebb and flow
Substantiating our humane affinity for simplexity
Innovation
Quantitative: Random
Innovative breakthroughs occur randomly and are
unpredictable; no evident pattern
Qualitative: Evolutionary
Innovative breakthroughs are the products of long
term processes of research and development
Ex. The Pencil
The Market
Market – view dualism objectively through pre-
established technics
Transfer of technique – maintaining consumer
familiarity with design
One influence amongst many but proves
fundamental and telling all the same
Simplicity in Design
Human dynamism: Simplexity
Law
Simplexity in the realm of legislation Procedural: the rules that govern the proceedings of the court
Substantive: law that deals with dynamics of legal relationships
Law in relation to innovationSimplexity is just as prevalent in legislation, provided that it is the simplest laws that prove to be most effective forms of jurisdiction in complex societies
InterplayCase study: ways in which technologies and innovation can influence societal structures and designs
Achieving Simplexity
So What?
Simplicity in design is a step in the right
direction but an unsuitable long-term
strategy…