Saturday, October 9, 2010

Proposing the Creative Systems Diagram at COINs2010

Today, I gave a presentation about a new diagram for describing creative process at the Second International Conference on Collaborative Innovation Networks (COINs2010).

"Autopoietic Systems Diagram for Describing Creative Processes"
Takashi Iba, The 2nd International Conference on Collaborative Innovation Networks (COINs2010), Oct, 2010.

Presentation Slides (PDF)


How creative processes are possible? In order to answer the question, our previous study (Iba 2009) proposed a new theory for creativity based on the autopoietic systems theory (Maturana & Varela 1980; Luhmann 1984). In the theory, a creative process is defined as an autopoietic system whose elements are “discoveries.” In other words, creative process is a re-production network of discoveries. Each discovery is emerged only when a synthesis of the following three selection occurs: “idea,” “association,” and “finding”. While we cannot predict the direction of any creative processes due to the nature of contingency, we can retrodict the process with the terms of the theory. However, the way to comprehend the creative process remains unclear, since our previous study only suggested a framework. Here we propose a method to describe creative processes in a diagram, which we call “autopoietic systems diagram.” Furthermore, we also show some examples from our own experiences of creative processes. We anticipate that the proposed method and diagram will be useful toolkits like the ones of System Dynamics (Forrester, 1961; Sterman 2000) and Soft Systems Methodology (Checkland 1981; Wilson 1984).

Checkland, P.B. (1981) Systems Thinking, Systems Practice, John Wiley & Sons.
Forrester, J.W. (1961) Industrial Dynamics. Pegasus Communications.
Iba, T. (2009) “An Autopoietic Systems Theory for Creativity”, 1st Collaborative Innovation Network Conference.
Luhmann, N. (1984) Soziale Systeme: Grundriß einer allgemeinen Theorie, Suhrkamp. (English translation: Social Systems, Stanford University Press, 1995)
Maturana, H.R. & Varela, F.J. (1980). Autopoiesis and Cognition: The realization of The Living, Springer.
Sterman, J.D. (2000) Business Dynamics: Systems Thinking and Modeling for a Complex World. McGraw Hill.
Wilson, B. (1984) Systems: Concepts, Methodologies and Applications, John Wiley & Sons.
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Tuesday, July 6, 2010

The Syllabus for Creative Systems Lab (fall, 2010)

Here we show the information about our research themes and how to apply to Creative Systems Lab at SFC, Keio University, fall semester, 2010.

The syllabus for the seminar (Prof. T. Iba: Fall Semester, 2010)
"Creative Systems Lab: Pattern Languages, Dynamic Network Analysis, and Orality Learning"
(Type A: 5th period, on Tuesday & Thursday)

Important Dates
Orientation for applicants: 5th period in July 8, 2010 (at e12) & 5th period in July 13, 2010 (at k12).
Application Deadline: July 19 (Mon.), 2010
Interview: July 26 & 27, 2010

Mission
Our mission is to create new methods and tools for the future society, based on the latest systems theories and academic methodologies. Note that the systems theories are meant here to "complex systems" and "autopoiesis," and the methodologies are network analysis, pattern languages, and modeling simulations.

We are conducting three research projects in the fall semester as follows.

1. "Creative Media" Project
2. "Mapping the Dynamics" Project
3. "The Way of Generative Communication" Project

Applicants will participate in one of these projects, or launch their own project related to our research theme.

1. "Creative Media" Project
("Creation" * Pattern Languages -> Media Design)
This project explores new methods and tools for supporting "creation" with pattern languages.

2. "Mapping the Dynamics" Project
("Space-Time" * Network Analysis -> Visualization)
This project explores new methods and tools for understanding the dynamic changing systems with using network analysis.

3. "The Way of Generative Communication" Project
("Generation" * Pattern Analysis -> Orality)
This project explores new methods and tools for learning a foregin language in terms of "orality" rather than "literacy."

Schedule
Seminar meetings are held twice a week: Thuesday 5th period is for discussion on key references and Thursday 5th period is for project review.

Grading
Grading will be based on seminar participation, contribution to the project activity, and the research results.

Other information
1. Be with active and collaborative mind.
2. Enjoy reading, writing, talking in English.
3. Required to buy the key references, for reading them with marking.
4. Do not assign something doing just after the seminars. Sometimes the meeting takes many hours, and often we go out drinking together.
5. Take courses provided by the advisor, Prof. Iba, on the fall semester, 2010: "Pattern Languages" and "Complex Systems."
6. We sometimes invite you to our other academic research projects related to our seminar's theme.

Capacity
We will accept approximately 15 students.

Requirements for application
1. Enthusiasm for the research project.
2. Intelligence for thinking deeply on your own.
3. Basic literacy in English.

How to apply
Send the following information to the advisor, iba [atmark] sfc.keio.ac.jp (Prof. Takashi Iba), by e-mail, by July 19th, 2010. We accept the application written in either English or Japanese. Any participants, including auditors, need to register and require the permission of the advisor.

1. Name
2. E-mail address
3. Affiliation (faculty); year (1-year / 2-year / 3-year / 4-year / M1 / M2 ...)
4. Seminars in which you've participated so far and will participate on the fall semester, 2010
5. Taken Courses provided by the advisor, Prof. Takashi Iba.
6. Acquired Skills (language, programming, visual processing, and so on.)
7. Why you want to join in Iba Lab?
8. Which project do you want to participate? And why? (Otherwise, explain your own project.)
9. What will be your contribution to Iba Lab?
10. Self-introduction and appeal

Related Project
"Inter-reality" project, Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University
"Life Knowledge in Practice" project, Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University

Related Courses
30080: Social Systems Theory
14310: Complex Systems
12020: Pattern Languages
14160: Simulation Design

Home Page
http://ilab.sfc.keio.ac.jp/

Bio - Prof. Takashi Iba
http://web.sfc.keio.ac.jp/~iba/

Contact
iba [atmark] sfc.keio.ac.jp

References
- Key References
  • Orality and Literacy (Walter J. Ong, Routledge, 1988) 
  • The Nature of Order, Book 1: The Phenomenon of Life (C. Alexander, Center for Environmental Structure, 2001) 
  • The Nature of Order, Book 2: The Process of Creating Life (C. Alexander, Center for Environmental Structure, 2003) 

- Related Books
  • Social Systems (N. Luhmann, Stanford University Press, 1984) 
  • The Timeless Way of Building (C. Alexander, Oxford University Press, 1979) 
  • A Pattern Language: Town Building, Consruction (C. Alexander, et. al., Oxford University Press, 1977) 
  • The Tacit Dimension (M. Polanyi, Reissue ed., University Of Chicago Press, 2009) 
  • Maps of The Imagination: The Writer as Cartographer (P. Turchi, Trinity University Press) 
  • Three Roads to Quantum Gravity (L. Smolin, Basic Books,2001) 
  • Networks: An Introduction (M.E.J. Newman, Oxford University Press, 2010) 
  • The Origin of Species: By Means of Natural Selection or The Preservation of Favored Races in The Struggle for Life (C. Darwin, The Modern Library, 2009) 
  • The Blind Watchmaker: Why the Evidence of Evolution Reveals A Universe without Design (R. Dawkins, W.W.Norton & Company, 1987) 
  • Reinventing The Sacred: A New View of Science, Reason, and Religion (S. A. Kauffman,2008) 
  • Ubiquity: Why Catastrophes Happen (Mark Buchanan, Three Rivers Press, 2001) 

- Articles and Books by Iba Lab.
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