TY - JOUR

T1 - Zootechnologies

T2 - Swarming as a Cultural Technique

AU - Vehlken, Sebastian

PY - 2013/11/1

Y1 - 2013/11/1

N2 - This contribution examines the media history of swarm research and the significance of swarming techniques to current socio-technological processes. It explores how the procedures of swarm intelligence should be understood in relation to the concept of cultural techniques. This brings the concept into proximity with recent debates in posthuman (media) theory, animal studies and software studies. Swarms are conceptualized as zootechnologies that resist methods of analytical investigation. Synthetic swarms first emerged as operational collective structures by means of the reciprocal computerization of biology and biologization of computer science. In a recursive loop, swarms inspired agent-based modelling, which in turn provided biological researchers with enduring knowledge about dynamic collectives. This conglomerate led to the development of advanced, software-based 'particle systems'. Swarm intelligence has become a fundamental cultural technique related to dynamic processes and an effective metaphor for the collaborative efforts of society.

AB - This contribution examines the media history of swarm research and the significance of swarming techniques to current socio-technological processes. It explores how the procedures of swarm intelligence should be understood in relation to the concept of cultural techniques. This brings the concept into proximity with recent debates in posthuman (media) theory, animal studies and software studies. Swarms are conceptualized as zootechnologies that resist methods of analytical investigation. Synthetic swarms first emerged as operational collective structures by means of the reciprocal computerization of biology and biologization of computer science. In a recursive loop, swarms inspired agent-based modelling, which in turn provided biological researchers with enduring knowledge about dynamic collectives. This conglomerate led to the development of advanced, software-based 'particle systems'. Swarm intelligence has become a fundamental cultural technique related to dynamic processes and an effective metaphor for the collaborative efforts of society.

KW - Digital media

KW - agents

KW - computer simulation

KW - cultural techniques

KW - media

KW - scientific visualization

KW - social swarming

KW - swarms

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84885791830&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1177/0263276413488959

DO - 10.1177/0263276413488959

M3 - Journal articles

VL - 30

SP - 110

EP - 131

JO - Theory, Culture & Society

JF - Theory, Culture & Society

SN - 0263-2764

IS - 6

ER -