The Dialectics of The Dialectics of Digital Digital

CollectivityCollectivityHarry HalpinHarry Halpin

University of EdinburghUniversity of Edinburgh

http://www.ibiblio.org/hhalpinhttp://www.ibiblio.org/hhalpin

The Californian IdeologyThe Californian Ideology The greatest obstacle in The greatest obstacle in

understanding digital understanding digital technology is the promise technology is the promise of the utopian of the utopian technological future, technological future, which far from which far from illuminating technology, illuminating technology, merely serves as an merely serves as an ideological closure that ideological closure that masks the material and masks the material and cognitive relationship cognitive relationship between humanity and between humanity and technology.technology.

Dubbed “Californian Dubbed “Californian Ideology” by Barbrooke.Ideology” by Barbrooke.

The Return of HistoryThe Return of History The negation of futurism The negation of futurism

can be found in what can be found in what Jameson terms in Jameson terms in The The Political Political UnconsciousnessUnconsciousness “the “the one absolute and we may one absolute and we may even say 'transhistorical' even say 'transhistorical' imperative” to always imperative” to always historicize. historicize.

It is precisely this failure It is precisely this failure of technology to be of technology to be historically understood historically understood allows it to be identified allows it to be identified as a miraculous as a miraculous autonomous essence.autonomous essence.

Objectification and Objectification and DialecticsDialectics

From From HegelHegel “emerges “emerges the central mechanism the central mechanism of the dialectic, the of the dialectic, the notion of notion of objectification.” objectification.”

The notion of The notion of objectification is far objectification is far from idealistic, but from idealistic, but instead is a purely instead is a purely material one, the material one, the creation of objects by creation of objects by the externalization of the externalization of modes of abstract modes of abstract thought. thought.

Dialectics and Dialectics and TechnologyTechnology As articulated by As articulated by Andy ClarkAndy Clark, is , is

that these externalized tools can that these externalized tools can then be internalized so that the then be internalized so that the tool itself is part of our being, tool itself is part of our being, incorporated into ourselves in incorporated into ourselves in such a seamless way that we do such a seamless way that we do not even recognize it as a tool. not even recognize it as a tool.

Since the initial externalization Since the initial externalization of our thought as technology is of our thought as technology is always wanting in comparison always wanting in comparison to the problems thrown our way to the problems thrown our way by the world (and the problems by the world (and the problems created by the technology created by the technology itself), even after we have itself), even after we have internalized the technology we internalized the technology we must then externalize must then externalize technology again.technology again.

Time, Space, and Time, Space, and Collectivity Collectivity

The dialectic of The dialectic of collectivity collectivity and individualityand individuality, and the , and the dialectic between dialectic between time and time and space.space.

The former dialectic allows The former dialectic allows ever richer sharing between ever richer sharing between humans mediated by their humans mediated by their externalized tools, and so their externalized tools, and so their own sense of self becoming own sense of self becoming moving from individual to moving from individual to collective. The latter dialectic collective. The latter dialectic between time and space between time and space subsumes temporal-spatial subsumes temporal-spatial dimensionality at bequest of dimensionality at bequest of ever lower latency of the ever lower latency of the human and the machine, and human and the machine, and so their increasingly tighter so their increasingly tighter coupling.coupling.

Time-Sharing: The First Time-Sharing: The First MomentMoment

The first moment in the The first moment in the technological dialectic towards technological dialectic towards ever decreasing latency ever decreasing latency between humans and between humans and machines was the creation of machines was the creation of interactive computinginteractive computing by by McCarthy through time-McCarthy through time-sharing that took advantage of sharing that took advantage of the fact that the computer, the fact that the computer, despite its centralized single despite its centralized single processor, could run multiple processor, could run multiple program at once in a non-program at once in a non-linear fashion, so instead of linear fashion, so instead of idling while waiting for the idling while waiting for the next program or human next program or human interaction, in moments nearly interaction, in moments nearly imperceptible to the human imperceptible to the human eye, it would share its time eye, it would share its time among multiple humans.among multiple humans.

The Moment of Space: The Moment of Space: The NetThe Net

This led Licklider, inspired by This led Licklider, inspired by symbiosis in the natural world, symbiosis in the natural world, to get a position as director of to get a position as director of the IPTO (Information the IPTO (Information Processing Technologies Office) Processing Technologies Office) at ARPA to push an agenda of at ARPA to push an agenda of “man-machine symbiosis” by “man-machine symbiosis” by funding a network of time-funding a network of time-sharing computers. sharing computers.

Licklider's lieutant Bob Taylor Licklider's lieutant Bob Taylor and his successor Larry and his successor Larry Roberts contracted out BBN to Roberts contracted out BBN to create the Interface Message create the Interface Message Processor, the hardware Processor, the hardware needed connect the various needed connect the various time-sharing computers across time-sharing computers across the USA. the USA.

Man-Machine SymbiosisMan-Machine Symbiosis The fig tree is pollinated only by the insect Blastophaga grossorun. The fig tree is pollinated only by the insect Blastophaga grossorun.

The larva of the insect lives in the ovary of the fig tree, and there it The larva of the insect lives in the ovary of the fig tree, and there it gets its food. The tree and the insect are thus heavily interdependent: gets its food. The tree and the insect are thus heavily interdependent: the tree cannot reproduce wit bout the insect; the insect cannot eat the tree cannot reproduce wit bout the insect; the insect cannot eat wit bout the tree; together, they constitute not only a viable but a wit bout the tree; together, they constitute not only a viable but a productive and thriving partnership. This cooperative "living together productive and thriving partnership. This cooperative "living together in intimate association, or even close union, of two dissimilar in intimate association, or even close union, of two dissimilar organisms" is called symbiosis. organisms" is called symbiosis.

Man-computer symbiosis is a subclass of man-machine systems. Man-computer symbiosis is a subclass of man-machine systems. There are many man-machine systems. At present, however, there are There are many man-machine systems. At present, however, there are no man-computer symbioses. The purposes of this paper are to no man-computer symbioses. The purposes of this paper are to present the concept and, hopefully, to foster the development of man-present the concept and, hopefully, to foster the development of man-computer symbiosis by analyzing some problems of interaction computer symbiosis by analyzing some problems of interaction between men and computing machines, calling attention to applicable between men and computing machines, calling attention to applicable principles of man-machine engineering, and pointing out a few principles of man-machine engineering, and pointing out a few questions to which research answers are needed. The hope is that, in questions to which research answers are needed. The hope is that, in not too many years, human brains and computing machines will be not too many years, human brains and computing machines will be coupled together very tightly, and that the resulting partnership will coupled together very tightly, and that the resulting partnership will think as no human brain has ever thought and process data in a way think as no human brain has ever thought and process data in a way not approached by the information-handling machines we know today. not approached by the information-handling machines we know today. Licklider, 1960Licklider, 1960

The Moment of The Moment of CollectivitiesCollectivities

Via time-sharing, users Via time-sharing, users could share resources, could share resources, and digital collectivity and digital collectivity emerged for the first emerged for the first time.time.

The network was to The network was to defeat the confines of defeat the confines of space, and by its ability space, and by its ability to encompass all to encompass all networks via the networks via the software of TCP/IP to software of TCP/IP to create the create the universalizing Internet.universalizing Internet.

The Human Augmentation The Human Augmentation ProjectProject

Engelbart, one of Engelbart, one of Licklider's researchers, Licklider's researchers, realized that one of the realized that one of the the primary reasons for the primary reasons for the high latency between the high latency between the human and machine the human and machine the interface of the the interface of the machine itself, as the machine itself, as the keyboard was at best a keyboard was at best a limited channel for limited channel for machinic communication. machinic communication. In the course of In the course of meticulous meticulous experimentation in search experimentation in search of low latency, Engelbart of low latency, Engelbart invented the mouse.invented the mouse.

Engelbart and Collective Engelbart and Collective IntelligenceIntelligence

Man's population and gross product are Man's population and gross product are increasing at a considerable rate, but the increasing at a considerable rate, but the complexity of his problems grows still complexity of his problems grows still faster, and the urgency with which faster, and the urgency with which solutions must be found becomes steadily solutions must be found becomes steadily greater in response to the increased rate greater in response to the increased rate of activity and the increasingly global of activity and the increasingly global nature of that activity....nature of that activity....

by "augmenting human intellect" we mean by "augmenting human intellect" we mean increasing the capability of a man to approach a increasing the capability of a man to approach a complex problem situation, to gain comprehension complex problem situation, to gain comprehension to suit his particular needs, and to derive to suit his particular needs, and to derive solutions to problems. Increased capability in this solutions to problems. Increased capability in this respect is taken to mean a mixture of the respect is taken to mean a mixture of the following: more-rapid comprehension, better following: more-rapid comprehension, better comprehension, the possibility of gaining a useful comprehension, the possibility of gaining a useful degree of comprehension in a situation that degree of comprehension in a situation that previously was too complex, speedier solutions, previously was too complex, speedier solutions, better solutions, and the possibility of finding better solutions, and the possibility of finding solutions to problems that before seemed solutions to problems that before seemed insolubleinsoluble

Xerox PARCXerox PARC The temporal dimension The temporal dimension

returned for as soon as many returned for as soon as many users logged onto a single users logged onto a single time-sharing machine the time-sharing machine the latency between each latency between each individual user and the individual user and the machine increased. machine increased.

The vision of the personal The vision of the personal computer invented at Xerox computer invented at Xerox PARC sought to resolve this PARC sought to resolve this contradiction by giving each contradiction by giving each user his own high-speed user his own high-speed personal machine whose personal machine whose latency would be uniform, latency would be uniform, regardless of time of use. regardless of time of use.

Atomization and the Atomization and the EthernetEthernet

Yet the personal computer Yet the personal computer sacrificed the important sacrificed the important functions of networking functions of networking and collectivity that and collectivity that existed in time-sharing existed in time-sharing machines.machines.

Ethernet, local high-speed Ethernet, local high-speed networking of personal networking of personal computing, allowed the computing, allowed the personal computer to go personal computer to go beyond its individual beyond its individual isolation, so letting isolation, so letting computers join networks computers join networks and establish collectivity and establish collectivity without the drawbacks of without the drawbacks of time-sharing.time-sharing.

The World-Wide Web: The World-Wide Web: Universalizing Information Universalizing Information

SpaceSpace With both the personal computer and the Internet With both the personal computer and the Internet

permeating society, Tim Berners-Lee of CERN permeating society, Tim Berners-Lee of CERN invented the World Wide Web as a universalizing invented the World Wide Web as a universalizing information space, created by a singular naming information space, created by a singular naming convention that subsumed the chaos of previous convention that subsumed the chaos of previous Internet software.Internet software.

Web 2.0: Collectivity on Web 2.0: Collectivity on the Webthe Web

However, the hypertext However, the hypertext web had few authors and web had few authors and many users, and was an many users, and was an individualizing experience. individualizing experience. This was superseded by the This was superseded by the Web 2.0Web 2.0, which is merely , which is merely the development of the the development of the Web to allow contribution Web to allow contribution and modification, and so and modification, and so making the Web a truly making the Web a truly collective space.collective space.

The The Semantic WebSemantic Web hopes hopes to make the Web a truly to make the Web a truly universal space by giving universal space by giving URIs URIs to things not to things not accessible on the Web. accessible on the Web.

Latency and the SelfLatency and the Self With ever lower With ever lower

latency provided by latency provided by the penetration of the penetration of wireless and wireless and broadband, the broadband, the universalizing universalizing information space of information space of the Web is now a the Web is now a constant feature of our constant feature of our form of life, and our form of life, and our knowledge is more and knowledge is more and more externalized and more externalized and common. common.

Against EmbodimentAgainst Embodiment Could it be that the Could it be that the

humanist individual is humanist individual is a a historical notionhistorical notion, , not even a coherent not even a coherent transcendental and transcendental and biological category.biological category.

So that the focus on So that the focus on embodiment as in embodiment as in “having a body” and in “having a body” and in “having irreducible “having irreducible context” is ultimately a context” is ultimately a reactionary notion?reactionary notion?

After all, coffee-cups After all, coffee-cups are embodied. are embodied.

The Future of CollectivityThe Future of Collectivity Collective Intelligence Collective Intelligence

as the seamless social as the seamless social power of what Pierre power of what Pierre Levy defines as “a form Levy defines as “a form of universally of universally distributed intelligence, distributed intelligence, constantly enhanced, constantly enhanced, coordinated in real time, coordinated in real time, and resulting in the and resulting in the effective mobilization of effective mobilization of skills.”skills.”

Which might just be our Which might just be our last best hope today in last best hope today in the face of ecological the face of ecological and social collapse. and social collapse.

Late CapitalismLate Capitalism Technology is the Technology is the

concretization of our concretization of our social relationships, which social relationships, which have gone from being have gone from being post-human post-human (Hayles) to (Hayles) to anti-human anti-human (Althusser). (Althusser).

Due to this lack of self-Due to this lack of self-consciousness, collective consciousness, collective intelligence is today held intelligence is today held in check by more in check by more primitive social forms of primitive social forms of the late capitalism and the late capitalism and the accompanying the accompanying ideological form of ideological form of modern techno-futurism. modern techno-futurism.

Questions?Questions?

Merci!Merci!