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Computational Demonology - MIT to Give Course on Magic and Technology

posted by martyb on Friday February 06 2015, @01:22PM   Printer-friendly
from the MIT-on-MAT dept.

Randolph Carter writes:

Reported on http://novysan.com/magic and confirmed here: http://www.media.mit.edu/about/academics/class-schedule

'When Aleister Crowley defined magic as “the Science and Art of causing Change to occur in conformity with Will,” he might as easily have been describing technology. In fact, “magic” is still the word we use to encompass the wonders of a new technology before it becomes ubiquitous. '

Course Description

"With a focus on the creation of functional prototypes and practicing real magical crafts, this class combines theatrical illusion, game design, sleight of hand, machine learning, camouflage, and neuroscience to explore how ideas from ancient magic and modern stage illusion can inform cutting edge technology. Students will learn techniques to improve the presentation, display, and interface of their projects as well as gaining a deeper understanding of the cultural traditions that shape user expectations of technology. Topics will include: Stage Illusion as Information Display, The Neuroscience of Misdirection, Magical Warfare: Camouflage and Deception, Magic Items and the Internet of Things, Computational Demonology, Ritual Magick as User Experience Design. Guest lecturers and representatives of Member companies will contribute to select project critiques. Requires regular reading, discussion, practicing magic tricks, design exercises, a midterm project and final project."

Uncle Al would have been so proud.

 
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  • (Score: 2, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 06 2015, @02:47PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 06 2015, @02:47PM (#141843)

    Stage illusion: holography user interface and more.
    The neuroscience of misdirection is an endless source of fun [wikipedia.org] and profit [wikipedia.org]. The human mind is very susceptible to trickery.
    The Internet of Things and wearable technology would sub in for your enchanted items.
    Camouflage is cutting edge science. See metamaterials [wikipedia.org]. The "invisibility cloak" gets more advanced every year.
    Computational demonology... AI? How about a hybrot?
    Ritual magick/user experience design: sounds like GUI design or the premium product experience [wikipedia.org].

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  • (Score: 3, Interesting) by Jeremiah Cornelius on Friday February 06 2015, @03:58PM

    by Jeremiah Cornelius (2785) on Friday February 06 2015, @03:58PM (#141874) Journal

    Yes. They will find EXACTLY the candidates that the CIA is hoping to attract, track and recruit, to help manage perception through deceit and propaganda - with methods appropriate developed for the second-quarter of this century

    --
    You're betting on the pantomime horse...