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| groworld_hpi [2007-10-09 12:56] – 192.168.1.63 | groworld_hpi [2007-10-09 13:39] – 192.168.1.38 |
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| ===groworld HPI: SPECULATIONS ON THE EVOLUTION OF HUMAN PLANT INTERACTIONS==== | ====groworld HPI: SPECULATIONS ON THE EVOLUTION OF HUMAN PLANT INTERACTIONS===== |
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| by Maja Kuzmanovic and Nik Gaffney, FoAM, Belgium | by Maja Kuzmanovic and Nik Gaffney, FoAM, Belgium |
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| ===ABSTRACT=== | ====ABSTRACT==== |
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| As a botanical parallel to the oft misunderstood field of HCI - Human Computer Interaction, HPI - Human Plant Interaction, explores the nature of surfaces and processes required to facilitate mutually beneficial interaction between humans and plants. | As a botanical parallel to the oft misunderstood field of HCI - Human Computer Interaction, HPI - Human Plant Interaction, explores the nature of surfaces and processes required to facilitate mutually beneficial interaction between humans and plants. |
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| ===HUMAN PLANT INTERACTION=== | |
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| | ====HUMAN PLANT INTERACTION==== |
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| With the understanding that we are a part of an interconnected and interdependent planetary eco-system, contemporary human culture (interpreted as the cultivation of human minds and behaviours) slowly moves from a culture of consumption and segregation to a culture of participation, integration and generation. Our technological inquiry, into the minutae of molecules, atoms and bits, is reaching the limits of rational reductionism and rediscovering the robust beauty of growth and interdependence in complex systems – from food to fabrics, from genetics to global networks. We are beginning to see design which aims to produce and recycle, rather than relentlessly consume resources and deplete energy. We suggest that these changes in contemporary culture, economy and technology are beginning to resonate with the characteristics of our close neighbours in the domain of eukarya - the plants. | With the understanding that we are a part of an interconnected and interdependent planetary eco-system, contemporary human culture (interpreted as the cultivation of human minds and behaviours) slowly moves from a culture of consumption and segregation to a culture of participation, integration and generation. Our technological inquiry, into the minutae of molecules, atoms and bits, is reaching the limits of rational reductionism and rediscovering the robust beauty of growth and interdependence in complex systems – from food to fabrics, from genetics to global networks. We are beginning to see design which aims to produce and recycle, rather than relentlessly consume resources and deplete energy. We suggest that these changes in contemporary culture, economy and technology are beginning to resonate with the characteristics of our close neighbours in the domain of eukarya - the plants. |
| By suggesting "plants as organisational models" McKenna underlines several urgent human needs - to understand the value of diversity and collaboration over monocultures of competition; to approach problem-solving through whole systems thinking, rather than pure reductionism; to redesign industry and economics to adopt more cyclical, 'cradle to cradle' processes (McDonough, 2002). The rise of nanotechnology and a "global, atmosphere-based energy economy" can be completely in harmony with detoxifying the natural environment and preserving biodiversity, if we as a species are willing to take the risks of "reestablishing channels of direct communication with the planetary Other, the mind behind nature" (McKenna, 1992). | By suggesting "plants as organisational models" McKenna underlines several urgent human needs - to understand the value of diversity and collaboration over monocultures of competition; to approach problem-solving through whole systems thinking, rather than pure reductionism; to redesign industry and economics to adopt more cyclical, 'cradle to cradle' processes (McDonough, 2002). The rise of nanotechnology and a "global, atmosphere-based energy economy" can be completely in harmony with detoxifying the natural environment and preserving biodiversity, if we as a species are willing to take the risks of "reestablishing channels of direct communication with the planetary Other, the mind behind nature" (McKenna, 1992). |
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| While McKenna's preferred lenses are the plant based psychedelic tryptamines1 (uncannily similar in structure to some human neurotransmitters2), we suggest that a symbiotic HPI provides a technological analog and as such, is simultaneously more feasible, acceptable and perhaps insidious to a civilisation reinforced by global ICT. | While McKenna's preferred lenses are the plant based psychedelic tryptamines ((In particular; DMT (N,N-dimethyltryptamine), Psilocybin (4-Phosphoraloxy-N, N-DMT) and 5-Methoxy-DMT as contained in Virola or Ayahuasca preparations.)) (uncannily similar in structure to some human neurotransmitters((cf. Serotonin (5-Hydroxytryptamine) or Melatonin (5-Methoxy-N-acetyltryptamine).))), we suggest that a symbiotic HPI provides a technological analog and as such, is simultaneously more feasible, acceptable and perhaps insidious to a civilisation reinforced by global ICT. |
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| Digital technologies appear at the 'surface', an area of contact between the dissimilar realms of humans and machines. To operate on this surface, HCI reduces the range of human expression or action, in very particular ways (eg. typing words from a specified vocabulary, or agreeing only to point to one thing at a time), in exchange for enhancing or augmenting those well defined actions in reasonably specific, agreed upon ways. It extends the human operator in a given direction, while leaving other directions, or sensibilities to deteriorate. In the near future, bio- and eco-technology (particularly on nano-scales) suggest the possibility for us to interface, on different scales, with the living systems that surround us. | Digital technologies appear at the 'surface', an area of contact between the dissimilar realms of humans and machines. To operate on this surface, HCI reduces the range of human expression or action, in very particular ways (eg. typing words from a specified vocabulary, or agreeing only to point to one thing at a time), in exchange for enhancing or augmenting those well defined actions in reasonably specific, agreed upon ways. It extends the human operator in a given direction, while leaving other directions, or sensibilities to deteriorate. In the near future, bio- and eco-technology (particularly on nano-scales) suggest the possibility for us to interface, on different scales, with the living systems that surround us. |
| Aside from 'archaic' ethnobotanical experiments, are there ways to establish a two-way interface between for communication between humans and plants? | Aside from 'archaic' ethnobotanical experiments, are there ways to establish a two-way interface between for communication between humans and plants? |
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| ===HUMAN PLANT COMMUNICATION=== | ====HUMAN PLANT COMMUNICATION==== |
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| The notions of space, time, movement and persistence differ greatly between the human and botanical realms. Where human progress is often described as linear, the progression of plants is cyclical, seasonal. On a larger scale, humans and plants both occupy interdependent regional habitats, which temper and define them. Even though many processes within plants are fast, their growth is slow, balanced and steady, adapting to the environmental pressures and inner needs. In order to interface with plants, humans would need to go through a gradual time-unbinding3, a relinquishing of the short-term, short-lived, incremental advances, for the sake of the slower cycles of growth and decay. If we eventually succeed in time-unbinding, how would we communicate with plants about our divergent perceptions of space and movement? Would humans be able to feel what it is like to be a forest, consisting of billions of roots and rhizomes underground, and trillions of leaves, stems, branches and flowers above ground? How would it feel to be so vast, flexible, able to bend and twist, curl and wrap but not crawl, walk, or run? Would our thinking become more reticulate, our logic less linear? On the other hand, what human abilities would appeal to plants? Would they, over time develop something akin to animal sentience? Or would we both, through these communications develop a more integrated, wholistic consciousness? | The notions of space, time, movement and persistence differ greatly between the human and botanical realms. Where human progress is often described as linear, the progression of plants is cyclical, seasonal. On a larger scale, humans and plants both occupy interdependent regional habitats, which temper and define them. Even though many processes within plants are fast, their growth is slow, balanced and steady, adapting to the environmental pressures and inner needs. In order to interface with plants, humans would need to go through a gradual time-unbinding3, a relinquishing of the short-term, short-lived, incremental advances, for the sake of the slower cycles of growth and decay. If we eventually succeed in time-unbinding, how would we communicate with plants about our divergent perceptions of space and movement? Would humans be able to feel what it is like to be a forest, consisting of billions of roots and rhizomes underground, and trillions of leaves, stems, branches and flowers above ground? How would it feel to be so vast, flexible, able to bend and twist, curl and wrap but not crawl, walk, or run? Would our thinking become more reticulate, our logic less linear? On the other hand, what human abilities would appeal to plants? Would they, over time develop something akin to animal sentience? Or would we both, through these communications develop a more integrated, wholistic consciousness? |
| A successful HPI would undoubtedly help provide illumination or elucidation of the tantalising, yet unverifiable experiments of Cleve Backster and his "stately DRACAENA MASSENGEANA, one of the plants which had officially ushered in the age of sentient plant reactions", in which he investigated "a yet undefined primary perception in plant life, that animal life termination can serve as a remotely located stimulus to demonstrate this perception capability and that this perception facility in plants can be shown to function independently of human involvement." (Swann, 1996) | A successful HPI would undoubtedly help provide illumination or elucidation of the tantalising, yet unverifiable experiments of Cleve Backster and his "stately DRACAENA MASSENGEANA, one of the plants which had officially ushered in the age of sentient plant reactions", in which he investigated "a yet undefined primary perception in plant life, that animal life termination can serve as a remotely located stimulus to demonstrate this perception capability and that this perception facility in plants can be shown to function independently of human involvement." (Swann, 1996) |
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| ===HUMAN PLANT POLLINATION=== | ====HUMAN PLANT POLLINATION==== |
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| Moving beyond the exchange of knowledge and skills, human-plant interaction could lead to a deeper, metabolic symbiosis where we witness the growth of hybrid organisms (at scales necessary to accommodate this evolution). Maybe we could begin by extending the pallette of skin-pigments to include chlorophyll, carotene, or blue-purple anthocynanines, gradually learning to change colour depending on our moods. More importantly, perhaps we could allow our upper epidermis to be invaded by deeply green symbionts able to photosynthesise. Would this symbiont feed directly on the carbon dioxide in venous blood, or that exhaled from our lungs? Could botanical extremophiles form a living protective defense, allowing us to live in polluted areas, sequestering toxins, or metabolising substances harmful to un-augmented humans? How would we reciprocate, how would we extend our existing bacterial symbiosis to include nutrients for our plant companions? | Moving beyond the exchange of knowledge and skills, human-plant interaction could lead to a deeper, metabolic symbiosis where we witness the growth of hybrid organisms (at scales necessary to accommodate this evolution). Maybe we could begin by extending the pallette of skin-pigments to include chlorophyll, carotene, or blue-purple anthocynanines, gradually learning to change colour depending on our moods. More importantly, perhaps we could allow our upper epidermis to be invaded by deeply green symbionts able to photosynthesise. Would this symbiont feed directly on the carbon dioxide in venous blood, or that exhaled from our lungs? Could botanical extremophiles form a living protective defense, allowing us to live in polluted areas, sequestering toxins, or metabolising substances harmful to un-augmented humans? How would we reciprocate, how would we extend our existing bacterial symbiosis to include nutrients for our plant companions? |
| Into blossom.”4 | Into blossom.”4 |
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| ===REFERENCES=== | ====REFERENCES==== |
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| * Arber, A. (1957). The Manifold and the One. London: John Murray. | * Arber, A. (1957). The Manifold and the One. London: John Murray. |
nik