Speaker
Abstract
In October 1971, Frieder Nake published an article in Page, the Bulletin of the Computer Arts Society, entitled "There Should Be No Computer Art".
In this talk, we'll take a journey together to look at one aspect of computer history - creative technology and art - and the ways in which it has been misunderstood and feared at different points in our shared history and culture. Along the way, you'll also hear about how I accidentally became an artist, after being laid off from my dream job with big tech; and, how you could make your own art robots.
Interview
I'm currently finding my feet as a freelancer, providing technology consultancy to a number of clients. The focus has been in areas where I've been successful in my previous full-time roles, specifically around Developer Relations and community coordination roles. When I am not working on specific client tasks, I spend time in our studio in Wimbledon, tinkering with 3D printers, small electronics prototypes, and artistic endeavors.
Direct answer: Chris Swan from the organizing committee, invited me to talk about my gadgets!
I became... unexpectedly unemployed (!) in November 2022, and wanted to take some time to do some new things, so I spent a lot of time in 2023 building robots that can draw. In the process I also started to look into the historical context of how we've used computers in art. It's actually a very rich and diverse story, and since I'm self-taught as a technologist and come from a degree in Modern History, it hits my niche of interests very directly. I'm excited to share what I've been learning with QCon attendees, as I can see the connective tissue between what came before in the 1960s and 1970s, and the period that we are in right now with predictive or generative "AI".
I think the level really is entry / introductory, but those with specific knowledge may be able to connect with the technical experiences a bit more. I know that the audience of QCon is technical, enterprise, data, architecture-oriented; possibly without as much of an opportunity to explore the more creative sides of technology. I would love folks to walk away being excited by the opportunities that technology provides us to explore, experiment, and learn.
I have been to QCon in the past, but sadly I think the last time may have been a decade ago! There is a talk that stuck with me from a QCon before - Damian Conway's talk on Dead Languages, or Latin as a programming language! What a brilliant, brilliant concept and delivery. And, in some ways, there's potentially a parallel to my topic, in that there are principles and foundations that can be reapplied, both in languages, and tools, and in art. I honestly can't tell you what year Damian's talk was, but I remember it being in the QE II centre and at a QCon! I aspire to be as great a presenter as Damian Conway, when I grow up.
QCon London 2024 is a three day conference for senior software engineers, architects and team leads. An international program committee of working engineers selects every session. Patterns and practices, not products and pitches.