Improvising the Internet The epistemic cultures of Hackers, Snowboarders and Jazz performers Trond Arne Undheim, dr. polit. Norwegian University of Science and Technology AOIR, Maastricht, 13-16 October 2002 http:// aoir .org/2002/

If you aim to talk about hackers, why this detour?

The still emerging Internet A highly advanced information infastructure, whose backbone is a material network of fiber, satellite, and copperwire communicating through the IP protocol The material network has emerged largely through the vision of its founders, the experimentation of its first adopters and the continuing improvisation of its users

A highly advanced information infastructure, whose backbone is a material network of fiber, satellite, and copperwire communicating through the IP protocol

The material network has emerged largely through the vision of its founders, the experimentation of its first adopters and the continuing improvisation of its users

Proposition Technical innovation is often discovered by chance, that is, by engaging in work, play or experiments around related phenomena Improvisation starts with rules that are then systematically broken to test their limits Let us therefore play with the connection between hacking, showboarding and jazz performance – some common improvisational activities that occur both online and offline

Technical innovation is often discovered by chance, that is, by engaging in work, play or experiments around related phenomena

Improvisation starts with rules that are then systematically broken to test their limits

Let us therefore play with the connection between hacking, showboarding and jazz performance – some common improvisational activities that occur both online and offline

The theory of Epistemic Cultures Knorr-Cetina (1999): epistemic cultures among scientists vary between settings, professions, and countries. Technology mediates, shapes, and transforms epistemic impressions Undheim (2002): place making is the logic by which knowledge is mobilized and made Cziksientmihalyi (1996): flow, a state of sustained concentration, is the way intensive work occurs

Knorr-Cetina (1999): epistemic cultures among scientists vary between settings, professions, and countries. Technology mediates, shapes, and transforms epistemic impressions

Undheim (2002): place making is the logic by which knowledge is mobilized and made

Cziksientmihalyi (1996): flow, a state of sustained concentration, is the way intensive work occurs

Epistemic practices are both: non-social (isolating, thinking, concentrating) social (thinking, pushing, pitching)

Epistemic practices are both:

non-social (isolating, thinking, concentrating)

social (thinking, pushing, pitching)

epistemic ”place making” Domestication (Silverstone 2000; Sørensen 1998, Undheim 2002) Mobilization Acting upon your insight Convincing others Creating facts (knowledge) Inscription Providing scripts (instructions for use materially manifest in the artifact or document you produce)

Domestication

(Silverstone 2000; Sørensen 1998, Undheim 2002)

Mobilization

Acting upon your insight

Convincing others

Creating facts (knowledge)

Inscription

Providing scripts (instructions for use materially manifest in the artifact or document you produce)

Towards a theory of p lace making In knowledge work, online and offline spacemaking occurs simultaneously. Castells calls this process ”spaces of flows”. I prefer to talk about ”place making” We are merging the two experiences and information gathered into one This process occurs in physical and mental places, not as systems and structures beyond us as cognitive and creative individuals

In knowledge work, online and offline spacemaking occurs simultaneously. Castells calls this process ”spaces of flows”. I prefer to talk about ”place making”

We are merging the two experiences and information gathered into one

This process occurs in physical and mental places, not as systems and structures beyond us as cognitive and creative individuals

While a non-place (Auge, 1995) is a waiting area, with no real experience attached to it, places contain spaces Humans tend to produce meaningful connections to feel safe and ”in place” Place making activates ephemeral knowledge through pitching initiatives, convincing and stabilizing

While a non-place (Auge, 1995) is a waiting area, with no real experience attached to it, places contain spaces

Humans tend to produce meaningful connections to feel safe and ”in place”

Place making activates ephemeral knowledge through pitching initiatives, convincing and stabilizing

“ place making” Place making is based on all six senses and serves to re-translate the relationship between information, capital, ideas, people and material resources in order to produce (1) identity, safety, local preferences (2) insight, knowledge, actions (3) fusion between place and space It seems to be a generic human process

Place making is based on all six senses and serves to re-translate the relationship between information, capital, ideas, people and material resources in order to produce

(1) identity, safety, local preferences

(2) insight, knowledge, actions

(3) fusion between place and space

It seems to be a generic human process

In short Place making, flow and technology evokes, sustains, and stabilizes epistemic practices into separate cultures Hacking, or experimental programming, goes on by ways of binary coding, algorythms and computer languages, but also occurs as face-to-face discussion and straight talk

Place making, flow and technology evokes, sustains, and stabilizes epistemic practices into separate cultures

Hacking, or experimental programming, goes on by ways of binary coding, algorythms and computer languages, but also occurs as face-to-face discussion and straight talk

Hacking evades description Charles Simonyi: (father of Bravo X for the Xerox Alto computer and coordinator for Microsoft’s work on Word and Excel) ” programming is art, just like high-energy physics is art ….actually, it is a mix of science, art and skill” ” the first step in programming is imagining … I try to imagine the structures that represent the reality I want to code”

Charles Simonyi:

(father of Bravo X for the Xerox Alto computer and coordinator for Microsoft’s work on Word and Excel)

” programming is art, just like high-energy physics is art ….actually, it is a mix of science, art and skill”

” the first step in programming is imagining … I try to imagine the structures that represent the reality I want to code”

Please consider Jazz quartet Snowboard group Software firm Dave Brubeck Quartet Totten Happy Campers Opentech* * Fictitious name Jazz performers Snowboarders Hackers

Methods Ongoing fieldwork Participant observation In-depth interviews Focus groups Use of secondary data Norwegian doctoral dissertation on Snowboarders, Christensen 2001 Annfeldt’s (2002) work on jazz, improvisation and gender Available texts on Dave Brübeck, as well as his CDs

Ongoing fieldwork

Participant observation

In-depth interviews

Focus groups

Use of secondary data

Norwegian doctoral dissertation on Snowboarders, Christensen 2001

Annfeldt’s (2002) work on jazz, improvisation and gender

Available texts on Dave Brübeck, as well as his CDs

Hacking the Hacker Driven by the desire to develop code The Open Source movement – has roots in the 1960s’ computer science departments Informationalism , a fundamentalist ideology (set information free at all costs) Opentech* – Open Source software firm trying to balance the extremes *fictitious name

Driven by the desire to develop code

The Open Source movement – has roots in the 1960s’ computer science departments

Informationalism , a fundamentalist ideology (set information free at all costs)

Opentech* – Open Source software firm trying to balance the extremes

*fictitious name

Hacker code (i) ” code is ready when it’s ready. Deadlines are stupid and an obstacle to developers” (programmer)

” code is ready when it’s ready. Deadlines are stupid and an obstacle to developers” (programmer)

Hacker code (i) ” Our code is simpler than its competitors”

” Our code is simpler than its competitors”

Hacker code (i) ” meetings are useful to distribute tasks that nobody wants … deep talk of a few individuals over a couple of beers combined with thought through written proposals via email are certainly more efficient. Meetings are a bad way to get work done … fellow workers talk to each other whenever this is needed” (leading programmer)

” meetings are useful to distribute tasks that nobody wants … deep talk of a few individuals over a couple of beers combined with thought through written proposals via email are certainly more efficient. Meetings are a bad way to get work done … fellow workers talk to each other whenever this is needed” (leading programmer)

Hacker organizing (ii) Programmers do their best work when they do what they want to do, not what they are told to do. Occasionally, there are boring tasks that just have to be done. These are distributed across the organization ” Things become too ad hoc sometimes. Customers propose some things, it seems interesting, and we [look into it]. We might find out it’s even bigger, and ask who wants to contribute. But unless our programmers want to, we don’t do it”

Programmers do their best work when they do what they want to do, not what they are told to do.

Occasionally, there are boring tasks that just have to be done. These are distributed across the organization

” Things become too ad hoc sometimes. Customers propose some things, it seems interesting, and we [look into it]. We might find out it’s even bigger, and ask who wants to contribute. But unless our programmers want to, we don’t do it”

Hacker motivation (iii) ” I am never bored. I rather have to be pushed to go home. Time flies. My primary motivation? Being able to work on a product that is so free ... you can bring in yourself so much. We have no real conditions from the outside. […] So I don’t have the feeling that if I fix something or write something new, that it will vanish somewhere in some proprietary product […] But we’re free as long as we’re still making profits with it” (programmer)

” I am never bored. I rather have to be pushed to go home. Time flies. My primary motivation? Being able to work on a product that is so free ... you can bring in yourself so much. We have no real conditions from the outside. […] So I don’t have the feeling that if I fix something or write something new, that it will vanish somewhere in some proprietary product […] But we’re free as long as we’re still making profits with it” (programmer)

Hacker work places (iv) The office is silent, no disturbances must be made, because the software developer is king and needs peace in order to work Programmers share offices in pairs. Extreme programming means intense collaboration on the same project

The office is silent, no disturbances must be made, because the software developer is king and needs peace in order to work

Programmers share offices in pairs. Extreme programming means intense collaboration on the same project

Hacker newbies (v) ” I wasn’t really aware of the Open Source movement when I joined [the company]. It’s really interesting to see how it will develop in the future, because it’s been management by anarchy in the past […] My weakness is on the technical side. What I’m working on right now is a coctail party level of knowledge” (newly hired Sales Manager) To do this he walks around asking the programmers ”stupid questions” when customer work has brought up issues he doesn’t understand

” I wasn’t really aware of the Open Source movement when I joined [the company]. It’s really interesting to see how it will develop in the future, because it’s been management by anarchy in the past […] My weakness is on the technical side. What I’m working on right now is a coctail party level of knowledge” (newly hired Sales Manager)

To do this he walks around asking the programmers ”stupid questions” when customer work has brought up issues he doesn’t understand

Company epistemics Characterized by network sociality non-disruptive flow of textual communication silence rules the floors face-to-screen work dominates customer contact mainly email-based, though undergoing change as company moves beyond early adopters Work is inspired by mentors [x], their überhacker and technical director the Open Source movement, Eric Raymond and Richard M. Stallman

Characterized by network sociality

non-disruptive flow of textual communication

silence rules the floors

face-to-screen work dominates

customer contact mainly email-based, though undergoing change as company moves beyond early adopters

Work is inspired by mentors

[x], their überhacker and technical director

the Open Source movement, Eric Raymond and Richard M. Stallman

Hackers meet reality The rules of big business The law of large numbers (organization, coordination, bureaucracy, repetitive work) Idealism meets professionalism Structuring work

The rules of big business

The law of large numbers (organization, coordination, bureaucracy, repetitive work)

Idealism meets professionalism

Structuring work

Snowboard data (i) Christensen (2001) Totten Happy Campers is a group of 40 snowboarders, most in their late 20s, and 80 percent are male Snowboarders emphasize three things: Play – expression and experience, not sport Opposition – enjoyment, kick, belonging Risk – extreme stunts, steep hills

Totten Happy Campers is a group of 40 snowboarders, most in their late 20s, and 80 percent are male

Snowboarders emphasize three things:

Play – expression and experience, not sport

Opposition – enjoyment, kick, belonging

Risk – extreme stunts, steep hills

Snowboard data (ii) Media plays an important part in snowboard epistemic culture: live events, advertising, web sites, magazines, videos Video plays an important suggestive, not only symbolic role. Seeing snowboard on the screen brings back strong bodily experiences Playboard magazine (www.playboard.no)

Media plays an important part in snowboard epistemic culture: live events, advertising, web sites, magazines, videos

Video plays an important suggestive, not only symbolic role. Seeing snowboard on the screen brings back strong bodily experiences

Playboard magazine (www.playboard.no)

Jazz performers Dave Brubeck Quartet is known for their improvised counterpoint and rapid rhythm changes , yet brought jazz to the masses Brübeck was a 1954 Time cover story ” everything has to be just right for every man in the group if the intire concert is really to come off …a good piano, good PA-system, good acoustics” (Dave Brubeck about the February 22nd 1963 Carnegie Hall performance)

Dave Brubeck Quartet is known for their improvised counterpoint and rapid rhythm changes , yet brought jazz to the masses

Brübeck was a 1954 Time cover story

” everything has to be just right for every man in the group if the intire concert is really to come off …a good piano, good PA-system, good acoustics” (Dave Brubeck about the February 22nd 1963 Carnegie Hall performance)

Jazz improvisation (i) Dave Brubeck went through the conservatory of music without knowing how to read music He was the best student of counterpoint Studied with French composer Milhaud, who became his mentor Survived from gig to gig for a while

Dave Brubeck went through the conservatory of music without knowing how to read music

He was the best student of counterpoint

Studied with French composer Milhaud, who became his mentor

Survived from gig to gig for a while

Jazz improvisation (ii) Joel Simpson http://www. allaboutjazz .com/bios/ dxbbio . htm “ After more than a decade of experimenting with odd time signatures Brubeck decided that the jazz public was ready for an album which focused on them. Jazz was so overwhelmingly stuck on 4/4, descended as it is from ragtime and the march, that Brubeck wanted to shake things up a bit, open new perspectives. He met with resistance from his label, Columbia, as he tells it: Even in the late 50s when we recorded Time Out , there was a lot of controversy over whether to ever release the album. We broke all the rules. An album with all originals. An album with a different concept, exploring odd time signatures. Using a painting on the cover. I wanted to use Joan Miro. Everything I was trying to do the sales people and the art people were all afraid of.

“ After more than a decade of experimenting with odd time signatures Brubeck decided that the jazz public was ready for an album which focused on them. Jazz was so overwhelmingly stuck on 4/4, descended as it is from ragtime and the march, that Brubeck wanted to shake things up a bit, open new perspectives. He met with resistance from his label, Columbia, as he tells it:

Even in the late 50s when we recorded Time Out , there was a lot of controversy over whether to ever release the album. We broke all the rules. An album with all originals. An album with a different concept, exploring odd time signatures. Using a painting on the cover. I wanted to use Joan Miro. Everything I was trying to do the sales people and the art people were all afraid of.

Jazz epistemics Playfulness Risk Outsider position

Playfulness

Risk

Outsider position

Online Jazz Websites Share experiences, exchange information, buy CDs www.jazzcorner.com , www.jazzimprov.com , The performance online is limited

Websites

Share experiences, exchange information, buy CDs

www.jazzcorner.com , www.jazzimprov.com ,

The performance online is limited

Jazz and the contemporary Jazz is now taken seriously as a model for business – workers are expected to improvise, and leaders are expected to be more like conductors ( Barret, 1998) Jazz performers still see themselves as outsiders somehow – or want to This might be related to hegemonic masculinity (Annfeldt, 2002)

Jazz is now taken seriously as a model for business – workers are expected to improvise, and leaders are expected to be more like conductors ( Barret, 1998)

Jazz performers still see themselves as outsiders somehow – or want to

This might be related to hegemonic masculinity (Annfeldt, 2002)

Taking it all together

Common ground Epistemic practices (scratch an itch, silence, inspiration, technique) Frames, rules, rigorous technique Counter culture Global environment Regarded as trendy, yet still creative Male dominated Commercial wrapping Embodies freedom

Epistemic practices (scratch an itch, silence, inspiration, technique)

Frames, rules, rigorous technique

Counter culture

Global environment

Regarded as trendy, yet still creative

Male dominated

Commercial wrapping

Embodies freedom

Similar epistemic practices Has a certain playful seriousness about it Only full immersion is accepted Activity sessions are characterized by flow – an experience of sustained concentration Technology, instruments and artifacts mediate the experiences and provide additional meaning Members have autodidactic careers, based on intrinsic motivation, inspiration from a larger group of insiders, and on watching and practicing with mentors

Has a certain playful seriousness about it

Only full immersion is accepted

Activity sessions are characterized by flow – an experience of sustained concentration

Technology, instruments and artifacts mediate the experiences and provide additional meaning

Members have autodidactic careers, based on intrinsic motivation, inspiration from a larger group of insiders, and on watching and practicing with mentors

Conclusion Improvising the Internet is based on quite striking epistemic practices Mentor learning Clear frames of reference Flow experience Physical closeness of practicioners Place making Through loooking at other improvised practices, we might gain perspective on how hackers operate

Improvising the Internet is based on quite striking epistemic practices

Mentor learning

Clear frames of reference

Flow experience

Physical closeness of practicioners

Place making

Through loooking at other improvised practices, we might gain perspective on how hackers operate