ChucK is an audio programming language for real-time performance. It is possible to add and modify code without stopping the audio stream, which makes live coding sessions possible. I played a bit around with ChucK in the miniAudicle editor, which can be recommended – the real Audicle (a spectacular OpenGL interfaced IDE) on the other hand proved to be quite unstable.
For a more extreme version of live coding check out Quoth (now this is weird – a Zork-inspired user interface).
Some people take an opposite approach to virtual art by de-virtualizing mathematics: Nicholas Rougeux is building a level four Menger sponge fractal from 1.3 million units made of index cards. His previous work includes building a level 3 sponge (with a mere 66048 units) in seven months.
Context Free is a programming language and IDE for creating highly complex and stunning images (think Iterated Function Systems gone wild). Their gallery showcases the potential diversity of this unique application.
Spam Architecture and Spam Plants are projects by Alex Dragulescu that creates mathematical visualizations with spam mail as input.
Stelarc is an Australian performance artist focusing on extensions and modifications of the body. His latest artistic self-modding is having a third ear implanted in the forearm. He plans to update the ear with a Bluetooth transmitter in order to transmit a live feed on the internet. Weird.
In Michel Houellebecq’s latest novel ‘The Possibility of an Island’, the story revolves about a cult (the ‘Elohimites’) who believes in creating eternal life by cloning humans. It turns out the story is based on a real, existing cult, the Raelians. Several of the quite absurd stories in Houellebecq’s book are based on reality: for instance, the cult leader is a former race car driver who believes he was chosen by extraterrestrial beings to preach the story of the Elohim (an advanced alien lifeform who created all of the terrestrial lifeforms). Clonaid, a company owned by the Raelians, claimed to have performed the first successful human cloning in 2002 – however, no scientific evidence for the cloning has ever been presented by Clonaid.
BTW, if you are to read a book by Houellebecq start with ‘Whatever’ (‘Extension du domaine de la lutte’) – it can be strongly recommended. (Though I liked ‘The possibility of an Island’, it is not on par with ‘Whatever’, ‘Platform’ or ‘Atomicity’).
Raymond Kurzweil was the synthesizer guru in the 80ies (I wanted one of those so badly back then). Since then he has become a prominent member of the Singularitarian community – people who strive to create a smarter-than-human intelligence (and ensure its safety!). According to Raymond a complete human brain simulation will be possible in 2025 and from that point on the singularity will be just around the corner.
