Technology Recapitulates Phylogeny: Emergence and interactive Art

Eliza’s Children: Complexity, Emergency, the Simulation of Behavior in the Space of Interaction

Panel Statement

Panel: Eliza’s Children

Emergence is a new paradigm concerned with nonlinear, distributed interrelationships and emergent properties of collected wholes, as opposed to linear and unidirectional relationships. Emergence may be defined as rule-driven, local agents, self organizing into larger co-operative structures which in turn may organize into higher level structures. Ken Rinaldo will examine bottom-up modeling approaches to understanding emergent behaviors in natural and technological systems. Examples cited will be: the interaction and self organization of clay molecules , organization in nucleated cells, the organization of the inner ear (vestibular macular), collective behavior among termite colonies, bacterially based computers, approaches to achieving artificial life, and emergent walking behavior in legged robots. Living systems theories will briefly be considered as models for technological systems. Some universals of structure will be defined with speculation on structural development as it relates to efficiencies of matter, energy, and information processes. In this complex he will discuss the co-evolving relationships between culture and digital information networks (internet), and consider a form of neural/electronic consciousness as emergent. To conclude, Rinaldo will discuss emergence as a new aesthetic in interactive art, citing examples among his own and other artist’s work.