By mez, on June 7, 2008
Alternate Reality Games, Augmented Psychology, Massively Multiplayer Online Environments, Social Gaming, Social Networking Platforms, Synthetic
Tags: MMOE, multivariate, platform, PMOG, RSS Feeds, semanic, Synthapticism, tipping-point
Version 1 of _Unpacking the _Synthaptic_ outlined the concept of Synthapticism and its formation in synthetic environments. Synthapticism rests on an underlying set of semantic structures. These structures allow for the development of credible synthetic relationships and vary according to platform specifics. Common semantic elements include a combination of the _lingual_ and _multivariate_.
In synthetic environments, social interaction occurs through multichannelled communication. Relevant language evolution is reliant on communication patterns generated through brevity and massed consistency. In Second Life, avatars mimic the physical action of writing on a keyboard when their geophysical selves type on screen. Second Life avies may use a combination of local or global text chat or messaging. SL avies can also communicate via voice. Many MMOGs use similar text-based communication with VOIP allowing for layered engagement. Mobile technologies, social games and ARG items all encourage text abbreviation resulting in dense stylistics. These lingual variables help define the mechanics of synthaptic transmission.
Another component of semantic synthapticism is a multivariate method of data absorption. Synthetics navigate and produce constant streams of data. This data may be funnelled through specific software types [eg PMOG] or via self-selected parameters [think: RRS feeds or Friendfeed]. This filtering acts to flatten primary data in terms of acceptable methods of verifiability. Synthetics assign priority to this data through shared attentional chunking. This chunking is multivariate; filtered data transforms and embeds into a socially-elastic comprehension system.
One way of assigning comprehension in this synthaptic data refinement is deliberate _content pinpointing_. In printcentric models, this extraction would parallel the linear construction of meaning via narrative or expositional means. One hazard of the accumulative nature of this process is _rechannelled bottlenecking_. The process of multivariate data absorption creates serial flagging of emergent concepts [ie tipping-points]. These concepts create information bottlenecks via repeated flaggings. Entities may target-mine these areas in line with capitalistic reappropriation. Current examples of this phenomenon are Corporate “Social Media Experts” who mask their synthetic participation so as to claim individuated authorship of such aggregated concepts. Should limits be placed on such reappropriation attempts?
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this may be a tangential comment but this brings certain things to mind…
what evolution within semantics,linguistics and semiotic or post semiotics is occuring and/or needs to occur in these new multi-valenced or multi-contextualized modes of language, textual encoding if you will and communication ?
I sometimes wonder if it isn’t time for a good kick in the pants for language as we now it…..? I don’t mean top to bottom or any sort of cheesy captain obvious kind of instant dystopia/utopia inducing jumps….but maybe more looks into ways to play more in ways like mez…..in different and/or greater ballast in linguistic constructs and a sort of move into technology imbued dialectics and dialect within language ?
just curious..
heya jeremy.
i do think there’s a slow type of recognition brewing in regards 2 emergent language development + resulting lexicon[s]…at least now we don’t have 2 wait 4 the academic/institutionalised [red-tape] stamp 2 fall on any type of actual discourse surrounding these issues.
i like 2 project a subtle slow-mo version of a “kick-in-tha-pants” language evolution [synthetic or otherwise]+ my twin stalwarts of curiosity + play obviously _play_ [heh] into this. the next augmentology entry will involve a rewrite of the fiction/non-fiction divide towards the notion of “presence fiction”; part of this concept does involve an incorporation of play, amateurism [nOObiness]+ other elements relevant to synthetic participation.
hope u find it interesting:)
presence is so interesting as it has so many different shades of meaning (and arguably non meaning) in times of multiple shades of identity and communication so increasingly pervasive
there is a pizza chain out here in california called chuck e cheez that has a theme mascot that is a big mouse or rat….
in grad school at cal arts we convinced the prof in a writing class to take class to the newly built chuck e in a hideous new mini mall center a block away across the freeway it was too absurd to pass up and surprisingly as he was/is a brilliant but very traditional fiction teacher who went to Harvard he totally went for it
the reason I mention this odd tangent is because one student noted that as the show of bad animatronic animals stopped playing and the animatronic chuck stopped and slumped over …the “real ” chuck e ( a teen kid in a bad furry suit) can running out …yet you could still see the sleeping/dormant/suspended animation/dead robot of the same enitity behind it grinning in shadow…..it was at once hilarious..creepy and fascinating blip on identity
which was “synthetic”? we all thought
is it of the noob….or also of more plastic senses of presence , identity, “here” etc…….maybe a larger lexicon of words or interconnections to fir our increasing multiplicity of “selves ” as we comunicate and navigate?
Hey there Augmentologists,
This is just a quick posting to go further on the Chuck E. Cheez tangent. I just took my son to the local Chuck E. restaurant a couple of weeks ago…the last time I was there was like in 1984!
Jeremy J.H., you bring up a very good analogy with regards to the hidden animatronic Chuck E.
As for other trivia, I actually named my son after Nolan Bushnell – founder of Chuck E. Cheeses and Atari respectively
Ok, I promise to get serious in the coming week or so and answer in more detail about an earlier avatar identity post
Cheerz,
Jer