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Gordon Pask «The Colloquy of Mobiles» | Flowchart
Gordon Pask, «The Colloquy of Mobiles», 1968
Flowchart | ©
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Following a period of inactivity in which the male simply rotates, his «drive state» intensifies. This begins with the lamp emitting a flashing signal. At this moment he is receptive to the female’s reinforcement tone. If his signal hits a female (she reinforces this signal with a tone), the flashing signal stops, receptivity ends, and all horizontal movement ceases. The «internal state» (η) of excitement increases, and the constant, primary light signal (A or B) switches off. When the male’s sensors register the female’s successful reflecting of the light back at it, the strength of the male’s drive (λ) decreases and the lamp switches off. The male commences to rotate like before. The flow chart was not implemented as planned by Pask. The division of the energy lamps A and B was abandoned in favor of a single light source. A = orange memory lamp. B = puce energy lamp. λA and λB are the male drive variables. ηA ηB are the male internal state variables. ξ is a limit on λ, and Ζ a limit on η. F is a reinforcement variable, and F = 1 or 0, the value of which is also conveyed to the female. Margit Rosen


 
Gordon Pask «The Colloquy of Mobiles» | Installation view, ICA London 1968, «Cybernetic Serendipity»Gordon Pask «The Colloquy of Mobiles» | Installation view, ICA London 1968, «Cybernetic Serendipity»Gordon Pask «The Colloquy of Mobiles» | ICA London 1968, «Cybernetic Serendipity»Gordon Pask «The Colloquy of Mobiles» | DiagramGordon Pask «The Colloquy of Mobiles» | FlowchartGordon Pask «The Colloquy of Mobiles» | Gordon Pask PortraitGordon Pask «The Colloquy of Mobiles» | Exhibition viewGordon Pask «The Colloquy of Mobiles» | Exhibition view

Categories: Interactive Environment

Keywords: Dialogue | Interaction | Light

Source text:

Rosen, Margit «Pask Bibliography»

Relevant passages:

icon: authorRudolf Frieling icon: authorDieter Daniels «Milestones of Media-Art»

Web-Links:

Gordon Pask, «The Cybernetic Psychology of Pleasure»


London | Great Britain | reactive computer installation
 

 Gordon Pask
«The Colloquy of Mobiles»

The English cyberneticist Gordon Pask conceived the «Colloquy of Mobiles» for the 1968 exhibition «Cybernetic Serendipity» held at the ICA in London. It was a reactive, educable, computer-based system composed of five mobiles. By way of light and sound, the rotating elements suspended from the ceiling communicated with each other, independent of external influences. Using flashlights and mirrors, the people at the exhibition could nevertheless take part in the conversation between the machines. With this installation, Pask brought to a conclusion his idea for an «aesthetic potential environment».
To give significance to the communication between the machines, Park designed the «Colloquy of Mobiles» as a social system. At the same time, the form of communication that he conceived referred unmistakably to a sexual analogy: hung from the ceiling were two «males» and three «females». After a phase of inactivity, the females (made of fiberglass) began to glow more intensely and the three males emitted a ray of light. When the ray of light struck the mirror inside the female mobile’s structure, by way of rotating the mirror, she tried deflecting the ray back at the free-hanging light sensors above and below the male’s aluminum body. The goal of communicating was to achieve this moment of satisfaction, and the mobiles learned to optimize their behavior to the point where this state could be reached with the least possible use of energy. With the help of flashlights and mirrors, the exhibition visitors could assume the roles of the mobiles and influence the learning process.

 

Margit Rosen