Special Assignment: Dr. Celine Latulipe

Title: Exploring the Design Space in Technology-Augmented Dance

Authors: Celine Latulipe, D. Wilson, S. Huskey, M. Word, A. Carroll, E. Carroll, B. Gonzalez, V. Singh.

Presentation: (Conference Paper) CHI 2010, April 10-15, 2010, Atlanta, Georgia, US

Summary: This article describes the developments in the newly created field of Dance and Technology. The authors describe the project Dance.Draw at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, which studies methods on combining dance with visualization images that are being transformed by the dancers at the same time they are performing.

This project studies how these interaction can enhance the audience interaction with the performance. The authors discuss three  presentations that have been done since 2008, and the different interactions utilized in each one. As well as the results the interaction they observed between the audience and the show. The project consists of having the dancers have tools, either on their hands or their costumes, that transform the visualizations that are being showed behind them. These tools range from wireless mice to movement sensors.

For example, the image shown above, is from the pilot presentation they did, back in 2008. In this case, the dancers were holding mice and as they moved, they transformed the figure shown in the back.

Discussion: I have never been a fan of dancing presentations, but it is still interesting to learn how computer science can interact with this field of arts. I am looking forward to having Dr. Latulipe in our classroom and learning more about her work in this project.

 

On Computers

Comments:

Evin Schuchardt -http://csce436spring2011.blogspot.com/2011/01/on-computers_20.html#comments

Luke Roberts - http://lroberts-tamuchi.blogspot.com/2011/01/on-computers.html#comment-form

Reference Information:
Title:  On Plants
Author: Aristotle 
Presentation: (Book) The Complete Works of Aristotle - Edited by Jonathan Barnes. Bollingen Series LXXI 2, Princeton University Press.


Summary:

On this writing, Aristotle starts by trying to determine if plants have a life. If they do, he states, this life is "hidden and not evident." However, in order to answer his first question, he must first resolve if plants possess a soul or not. He uses humans and animals as two basis of comparison in order to determine this dilemma. Some of the arguments supporting the idea that have souls are that they are influenced by desire, that they experience sensations, like sadness or pleasure, etc.

Aristotle considers first some of the main characteristics that would indicate that plants have a soul. For example, that plants take food because they desire food, that they feel pleasure and pain. Aristotle also presents the views of other philosophers like Plato, Anaxagoras and Democritus. 

Apparently, Aristotle believes that plants do not completely lack a soul, but do no have a complete soul like animals and humans do. Throughout the writing, Aristotle goes on explaining many details about plants, their growing characteristics under different conditions, the way they reproduce, and the way the produce their fruit. There is much detail about how different natural conditions, sun light, water, weather conditions, etc. affect the 'life' of a plant.

Discussion: 

I have always thought that plants have a life. I agree with the facts that can be proven with science about their growth, their necessities, etc. but I had never asked myself if I believed plants have soul. For me the soul is something spiritual, something you can't see, touch, nor feel. So this topic really got me interested in this question. Even though I am sure we could compare the inquiry of whether or not plats have a soul, to the issue discussed on the Chinese Room of whether or not computers have a mind, and because of my spiritual views, I MIGHT agree that plants have a soul, or at least partially, but not that computers have a mind.

For me plants are living things created in nature by God, so maybe they do have a soul. However, computers are created by human intelligence. Humans have worked hard throughout the recent past in order to develop this inanimate items. As I have mentioned in my previous blogs, computers are a tool, we have created them with a purpose and functionality, and computers will not do more than humans want them to do. Our minds and brains, in the contrary, are able to think, create, and develop new ideas, because that is how we were designed by God. 

Chinese Room

Comments:
Miguel Alex Cardenas - http://alex-chi.blogspot.com/2011/01/chinese-room.html#comments
Zack Henkel -  http://zmhenkel-chi2010.blogspot.com/2011/01/chinese-room-blog.html 

Reference Information:
Title: Minds, brains, and programs
Author: John R. Searle
Presentation: (Article) Behavioral and Brain Sciences 3 (3): 417-457
 

Summary:
This article is about a question raised in the 1980 by John R. Searle about the idea that computers' understanding of their own work. Do computers really understand what they are doing? The scenario presented by Searle consists of a hypothetical program that can respond to any questions (input) it receives in Chinese, and respond (output) accordingly to the question, in Chinese. The question becomes, does the computer really understand Chinese just because it is able to maintain a conversation with a Chinese speaker. Searle sets a scenario with a man inside a room, with enough file cabinets full of papers that allow him to translate and answer questions that are passed to him under the door. Even if he is able to carry out this function, does that mean he understands Chinese? 

Searle raises two questions, does the computer really understand what it is saying? Which Searle identifies as strong AI, or is the computer merely simulating a knowledge?, weak AI. Searle's position is that strong AI is mistaken. That a computer cannot have an understanding of it functionality simply because a computer does not have a mind. 

Source

Discussion: 
In the discussion presented in Wikipedia, it explains the importance of this article, and the great impact that it has had since its publication. It explains how majority of critiques are trying to refute Searle's position. I think I partly understand his point and agree with him. For me a computer is just as smart as the programmer can make it. For me, computers simulate the brain functionality in order to provide a service. For example, in the scenario that Searle explained, the computer's main functionality was to provide a service. Something that maybe Searle could do by hand, but that it is more convenient and faster to have it done by a computer. However, that does not mean that he himself would understand what he was doing if he was just following an algorithm, for example. I just do not think that a human mind can be compared to a computer. Maybe the brain can, since a computer can have a capacity of problem solving and storage. My overall opinion is that computers simulate the functionality of the human brain. Now I'm a little confused between the difference between the mind and the brain, but I shall do more reading about it in order to give a more solid opinion.

Blog Entry #0: Introduction Blog

Howdy! My name is Paola Garza. I am a Junior, Computer Science major. I was born and raised in Mexico until the age of 15. In 2004, my family and I moved to Palmview TX... where I attended high school. In 2008, I graduated and decided to come here to A&M. I have been here since then, and hopefully graduating December 2011.

• itzeth.paola@gmail.com
• 3rd year Senior
• I'm taking this class because I think it is important to be aware of how technology affects our society; how we, as computer scientists, can work towards developing technology that will bring a positive effect to society, not only by facilitating our everyday living, but also in the long run in order to preserve and better humankind.
• The best experience I think I can bring to this class is my interest about cultures, society and how they relate to computers. Even though I enjoy programming and problem solving, and have acquired most of this experience in the classroom, I am also really interested in the effects that technology brings to our daily lives. I am not quite sure what we are going to be studying in this course, but I have the feeling that I will find it really interesting!
• In 10 years from now I expect to be working at a government agency applying my skills in a field related to network security.
• I think the next biggest technological advancement in computer science will be a completely safe internet network!
• If I could travel back on time I would like to meet William Shakespeare! Why? Because even after reading and Romeo and Juliet so many times, I still don't understand how someone can think of such a tragic ending for such a beautiful story!
• I would rather my fiance not have mustache at all...
• Besides being a native Spanish speaker, I would like to learn Italian. It all started when I heard the original version of one of my favorite songs, "Vivo per lei." I really see myself learning Italian in the near future!
• I recently got engaged! Besides planning for graduation and grad school throughout the year, I will also be planning for my wedding on January 2012!