We started our little journey (Carl, Ji Hyun and Fred) towards devising a second-order cybernetic system for our aggregate health experiences with a discussion. As we listened to each other speak of our experiences with health we took notes. When we had each sounded off for a bit and took a step back, it seemed that we were all seeking some kind of balance and awareness of our health that wouldn’t solve any particular ailment but rather serve as a method for making health a priority. Thinking of our own health inevitably makes us healthier (or something).

Once we had all of our thoughts we began categorizing them according to their suspected positions within a cybernetic system: action (A), goal (G), environments (E), disturbances (D), sensing (S). Taking a look at our goals we noticed some very “hi-level” themes in there (maybe from our inability to commit to specifics ) and some very specific actions geared towards achieving some kind of control of basic functions.

We decided we wanted to synthesize these hi-level goals into the broadest term possible and nest a very specific technique in our second-order loop that would serve as one example as how we might get there. We thought one interesting way to achieve a “cognitive awareness of health” would be to perform some kind of physical activity (e.g. climbing stairs), tune in to our heart beat, and then clap to our heart beat. Kind of like cheap aerobics – YEAH!