Cybersentics Monthly Book Club: Cybernetics and Early AI in the Midwest

Join us for this month’s Cybersentics Book Club, where we dive into the intriguing history of cybernetics and early AI rooted in the Midwest! 🌾✨

This Month's Reading:

Hamilton, K. (2017). Where the Turtles End. Contemporary Arts and Cultures.
Access Reading
(You'll also receive the reading link in your confirmation email with your RSVP!)

About Where the Turtles End:

In Where the Turtles End, Kevin Hamilton explores the Adaptive Reorganizing Automaton (ARA) — a groundbreaking device crafted at the University of Illinois Biological Computer Laboratory in 1960. The reading unpacks the nuanced dynamics of consciousness, embodiment, and control within the realm of computation. Did you know Urbana, a small university town surrounded by cornfields, is a pivotal site for second-order cybernetics, early computing, algorithmic music, and the Mosaic graphical web browser? Discover the rich history behind these milestones!

Special Format:

We are excited to offer this session in a hybrid format, welcoming participants from beyond the Bay Area to join us online! 🎥
Additionally, we’ll host the article's author, Kevin Hamilton, as our first guest speaker, engaging with us virtually.

About the Cybersentics Book Club:

Hosted by Gray Area, the Cybersentics Book Club invites all enthusiasts of art and technology to gather and share perspectives on our sensory interactions. Our inaugural cycle focuses on the fascinating dialogue surrounding the flow of information between bodies and the environment. Whether you're an artist, researcher, engineer, or simply curious, come explore topics ranging from biofeedback to cyborg art! 🧠🖼️

We aim to create a nurturing space for knowledge exchange and collaboration. If you’re seeking inspiration or discussions on pressing questions, this book club is the perfect hub for your inquiries!

Organizer:

Cybersentics is facilitated by Anastasia Chernysheva, a Gray Area Research Fellow, under the Biofeedback Art|Research Network (BARN).

Accessibility:

• All ages welcome! 🌍
• Recommended reading level: High school and above.
• Hybrid event
• In-person meeting: Gray Area Incubator (not wheelchair accessible)
• Online: Zoom link provided upon RSVP
• For more information, check out our FAQ page or email us at info@grayarea.org with accommodation requests.