Simulation and Its Discontents (Simplicity: Design, Technology, Business, Life) - Sherry Turkle - Books

Description

Simulation is ubiquitous yet its own effects are yet to be fully understood.

"These projections, 'inhabiting the rover,' occur especially as the scientists formalize and visualize plans for the next day in computer simulations." (p118)

Human cognition seems designed for prediction to make it easier to decide, act and survive. Regular consciousness derives from the interface between mind and world. Expectations are implicit. Simulation makes them explicit, discussable, testable and modifiable. It is learned in theatre, games and education. Computation can use specific content or realtime mining. Probabilities can be assigned for decision support.

"As is the case when we study scientific controversy, looking at discontents is a way to discover deep commitments." (p5)

The author is an expert on social tech. This book has a history of CAD, architectural and civil, and recent cases of biological and environmental projects. Observations are made on psychology of science. It looks at clusters of software, metaphor, dynaimics, user-interface, modelers and how methods and tools introduce an altered state and constrain engineering practice. It does not go into details of electronics design and test, e.g. for use cases and mockups. Incidentally, Amazon ebook PC reader did not yet have search as pdf's do, but it is valuable to be able to select indexed topic links to content. Thanks.

Original URL

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