The Bandwidth of Consciousness
"Perhaps humans can process more than 5.5 bits per second, but not if it involves something as boring as flashing lights!"
-Tor Nørretranders
I am just starting to make my way through this article. But I am most immediately struck by its premise that our maximum level of sensory perception is way way below what our nerve receptons process. This is striking in light of this particular point in the semester when midterm projects are now over and the final project is only imagined. Most importantly though I have a very very realistic sense of my PComp skill set. What I can build. What I can sense? And what might it connote or suggest? What comes first the idea or the LEDS?
After pages of diagrams and charts I was relieved to see mention of Godel's theorem. And some recognition (or admission?) of the idea that the world is undescribable and unquantifiable in many ways.
But quantifying what people notice can serve its functions of course. And I guess in a simplistic way would point to the importance of user-testing. I have always found that to be true actually. You make art/ try to direct attention or experience etc with the most over-theorized of intentions and then watch as others read/use/interpret it differently. This is the space of whatever/whever. Whatever someone want s to see in the video, wherever they want to enter the gallery space. Has to become acceptable at some point. You can only watch it happen. But somehow the process of making devices and objects (this midterm project experience) seems to upset that a bit. You come up with an idea, build it, test it and modify accordingly. IS there a way to build it and embrace using it against the grain?