Very interesting reading, Ryan. I like the questions presented at the end and the avenues of inquiry that they open. But I think there is one interesting part that could be added. In this process of convolution, the degree of interaction is something that affects the degree of mixing. My question would be who decides this degree of interaction and how does it affect the systems. One example is human cultures where one culture might start imposing ideas on another and then the mixing appears to be unidirectional. This of-course is natural to any interaction but when we are pondering the coevolution of humans and technologies, and we would like to assert control on this process, the question of participation in the mixing process can be crucial.
Thanks for the comment Afzal! I see what you mean by your question. My opinion is that it is important to consider the subsystems that are involved in the interaction / mixing. Certainly, the interaction of two systems may affect one of them in a more fundamental way than the other (perhaps even eliminating one of them), but I think that this can be explained by looking at the subsystems involved in the interaction. If a critical subsystem of a System A mixes with a non-critical extension of another System B, we would be more inclined to say that System B is imposing itself on System A (even though the mixing was reciprocated). One might keep their vulnerabilities hidden from the outside world for this exact reason, especially when in unfamiliar territory. On the other hand, the transformations that result from vulnerability can be quite positive if the systems in the environment are benevolent.
So in structuring our interactions with technology, I think it is important to be mindful of which aspects of ourselves we expose. This can be done by slowly getting to know new technologies, without falling in love too quickly.
Very interesting reading, Ryan. I like the questions presented at the end and the avenues of inquiry that they open. But I think there is one interesting part that could be added. In this process of convolution, the degree of interaction is something that affects the degree of mixing. My question would be who decides this degree of interaction and how does it affect the systems. One example is human cultures where one culture might start imposing ideas on another and then the mixing appears to be unidirectional. This of-course is natural to any interaction but when we are pondering the coevolution of humans and technologies, and we would like to assert control on this process, the question of participation in the mixing process can be crucial.
Thanks for the comment Afzal! I see what you mean by your question. My opinion is that it is important to consider the subsystems that are involved in the interaction / mixing. Certainly, the interaction of two systems may affect one of them in a more fundamental way than the other (perhaps even eliminating one of them), but I think that this can be explained by looking at the subsystems involved in the interaction. If a critical subsystem of a System A mixes with a non-critical extension of another System B, we would be more inclined to say that System B is imposing itself on System A (even though the mixing was reciprocated). One might keep their vulnerabilities hidden from the outside world for this exact reason, especially when in unfamiliar territory. On the other hand, the transformations that result from vulnerability can be quite positive if the systems in the environment are benevolent.
So in structuring our interactions with technology, I think it is important to be mindful of which aspects of ourselves we expose. This can be done by slowly getting to know new technologies, without falling in love too quickly.