Anthropomorphism

“Hang on, it’s thinking.”  Thanks to Laurel, we recognize that computers don’t actually “think” but they do things to provide us, the audience, with “a representation from which thought may be inferred” as we interact with them.  Fascinating.

I’ll go ahead and say it – this human aspect, the insight into the human psyche, is what Engelbart was missing (yes, I know, he had a more altruistic goal in mind when he began work so many years ago).  Laurel seems to be following in the footsteps of our other authors (channeling Nelson in particular) when the introduction talked about her desire to take technology out of the hands of the technologist and make allow for new, creative, interactive opportunities on a very personal level.

I wasn’t very familiar with Aristotle’s structure, but of all six elements, the element of Thought was probably the most fascinating to me in terms of what it means for the world of technology.  Why are digital cameras designed to “click” when we take a picture?  Why does the keyboard on the iPad make a typewriter noise when you type something?  Before I would probably have said “because it can!”  But a huge, mega-watt light bulb went on in my head as I read Laurel’s example of spell check on page 568.  The device doesn’t HAVE to make any kind of sound or actually DO anything…it just knows.  But we add in steps or sounds that represent the action as is occurs because

[...] it is key to the success of a dramatic representation that all of the materials that are formulated into action are drawn from the circumscribed potential of the particular dramatic world.

Sound like anyone we’ve read recently?  It seems that our tendencies towards presupposed existence of spaces which exist in their entirety extend to the outer representations of our machines, not just the inner workings of them.  The computer has to track with what we know in order for it to make sense to us, and so, moving on to the last few elements, we characterize them, whether or not characters are necessary to the actual action taking place. Not all people are like this, but as Laurel and Aristotle have shown us, humans expect certain things whether they are aware of those expectations or not, and when those expectations are not met and the conventions are not adhered to, we get upset.

These devices are supposed to be augmenting my intellect -> I am human -> therefore I place them in a “circumscribed world” in which I map human characteristics on them and they’re subject to the same restrictions I am as a human (ex. the need to think)…all in order to help me have a better grasp on them as agents in this grand play of my life. We’re both in it together and the devices become my friends, figuring out what I need, responding to my input, and helping me accomplish things. 

At last!  I’ve found justification for naming all my devices!