Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
Two-Way Translation: From Nature
to Technical Solutions and from
Products to Human Perception
biological chemistry examines chemical processes
in living matter, information transfer and flow of
energy through metabolism, mostly in cellular
components such as proteins, carbohydrates,
lipids, and nucleic acids including DNA and
RNA. At the atomic level, scientists examine soft
condensed materials in states of matter neither
liquid nor crystalline solid. Soft matter builds
membranes and cytoplasm within our cells, and
it is so omnipresent in biological systems that we
may say we are soft matter examples. Scientists
apply abstract concepts, for example permeability
(an ability of a material to pass molecules and ions
or transmit magnetic flux) or electromagnetism
(interaction of the electric and magnetic currents
or fields) to find rules and patterns that govern
these materials. Explorations on structure and
functions occurring in living and artificial matter
involve intensive use of visualization techniques
providing visual representation of information,
data, and knowledge through pictures, information
graphics, and also artistic display.
In further parts of this topic we will focus on
visualization - translation of mental, abstract,
formal concepts into images by looking and see-
ing objects and processes, an “ability to perceive
objects and events that have no immediate mate-
rial existence made possible the visualization
and creation of tools” (Ittelson, 2007, p. 279). It
has been said that visualization means making
the unseen visible; in our projects we will also
build a meaningful net of associations - mental
connections between the ideas, and connotations
- additional, secondary meanings. A large data-
base of visualization projects can be found at an
online gallery “Visual Complexity” (Lima, 2012).
Visitors can choose a subject from a selection of
domains such as art, biology, business networks,
computer systems, food webs, Internet, knowledge
networks, multi-domain representation, music,
pattern recognition, political, semantic, social,
and transportation networks, World Wide Web,
and others.
Many of us would agree with propositions by
Mitchell (2005), first that perception changes
thought, because what a person sees (and hears,
and feels) influences what a person thinks about
it; second, that thought changes perception, as
how a person sees depends on experiences and
memories built up over a lifetime; and third, that
the body shapes thought and perception.
Figure 4 presents a visual complement to this
thought. Philosophers used to believe nothing
comes ex nihilo but everything comes out of
Nature. We translate our perceptions into the
content of our inner thoughts, but they influence
what we see.
One may suppose that translation of nature-,
science-, or technology-derived concepts into art
production and appreciation may go in two direc-
tions. First, artists' inspiration from nature (water,
sky, earth, animals), science (physical events and
processes, mathematical order), and human gen-
erated environments (such as rural or urban sur-
roundings) may result in patterns, shapes, and
colors that translate the regularities and laws found
in nature or science into visual language. Second,
it has been generally accepted that advances in
science, technology and the emergence of new
media art change our perception of reality shifting
our frames of reference in criticism, aesthetics,
and philosophy of art.
On the other hand, biology-inspired technolo-
gies along with biology-inspired art increase the
opportunities to advance our way of thinking
about materials, resources, their management,
and to apply new solutions for the developments
in computer science and applications. We may see
nature itself and natural processes in a different
way due to information coming from the current
research results and evolving technologies. As
consequence, our ideas and concepts about nature
change along with our knowledge base. Redström,
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