Race in Science

Science receives much of its authority from the perception that it is based on "objective" examination of data through the scientific method. Yet, when it comes to race, science has been anything but objective. A great example of this is Stepehen Jay Gould's classic work, The Mismeasure of Man, which attacks the racist science of Eugenics at the turn of the 19th-20th centuries and demonstrates the way the white supremacist biases of scientists influenced their research. It is a great book, accessible and important.

In a similar, but more contemporary vein, a group of historians at the University of Toronto has created a website, "Racesci," which, in their own words:

is a resource for scholars and students interested in the history of "race" in science, medicine, and technology. RaceSci is dedicated to encouraging critical, anti-racist and interdisciplinary approaches to our understanding of the production and uses of "race" as a concept within the history of science. Instead of assuming race as a natural category that science then uncovers, this site assembles scholarly works that look at how cultural processes of racialization have profoundly shaped knowledge about humanness, health, and even our understanding of "nature" itself. The aim of RaceSci is to serve as a catalyst and support for the increased critical study of "race" and science amongst students and researchers by bringing together in a common forum the interdisciplinary English-language literature on the topic, with a particular strength in U.S. history. In addition, RaceSci tracks the continuing history of "race" in contemporary science and its reporting in the media. For scholars, the site provides samples of university syllabi and announcements of events.

The site contains lots of interesting resources.

Check it out!

The Reactogon

A little while back, I posted about the "reactable," interactive synthesizer-table. Here is another version of the same cool technology. Check it out:

Jeff Han: Unveiling the genius of multi-touch interface design

This is really cool! Jeff Han shows off a cheap, scalable multi-touch and pressure-sensitive computer screen interface that may spell the end of point-and-click:

Reactable

OK, many weeks ago on Freedom Road, I thought the air guitar t-shirt was cool, but the "Reactable" synth-table-instrument featured in the YouTube clips below blows that silliness out of the water. Seriously, check this out:



Here is an improv session on the "Reactable":


Bjork has been using this amazing instrument on tour recently. It isn't available for consumers, yet, but plans appear to be in the works to put it on the market. I WANT ONE as soon as it is out for the masses. iPhones? Bush-league. Give me a Reactable!

Wow. Really cool...

What do you think? Anyone else know of other funky, cool instruments out there?

Air Giutar... t-shirt!?!!?!

I heard about this invention a year or so back, but I thought THE WHOLE WORLD should know about it, so I am blogging on the subject now...

Some guy has developed an air guitar t-shirt... or as they call it, "a wearable instrument shirt (WIS)." Here is how they explain it: ”Our air guitar consists of a wearable sensor interface embedded in a conventional 'shirt' which uses custom software to map gestures with audio samples. It’s an easy-to-use, virtual instrument that allows real-time music making – even by players without significant musical or computing skills. It allows you to jump around and the sound generated is just like an original mp3.”

Well, that is about the coolest sounding thing ever. All my childhood fantasies have come true. I can finally become a rock star... without taking any guitar lessons!

Here is the story:
Air Guitar t-shirt

And, while we are at it, if you plan to pick up this new gadget, you best head to your video store and rent "Air Guitar Nation"...

"Air Guitar Nation" reviews at Rottentomatoes.com

World Change: Change Your Thinking

Justin Kemerling, a brilliant young graphic designer here in Lincoln, turned me on to World Change recently when I posted about the Urban Culture Project in Kansas City. It is a fascinating website with all kinds of positive ideas and resources aimed at creating a better world.

From the World Change Manifesto:



"WorldChanging.com works from a simple premise: that the tools, models and ideas for building a better future lie all around us. That plenty of people are working on tools for change, but the fields in which they work remain unconnected. That the motive, means and opportunity for profound positive change are already present. That another world is not just possible, it's here. We only need to put the pieces together."

"Informed by that premise, we do our best to bring you links to (and analysis of) those tools, models and ideas in a timely and concise manner. We don't do negative reviews – why waste your time with what doesn't work? We don't offer critiques or exposes, except to the extent that such information may be necessary for the general reader to apprehend the usefulness of a particular tool or resource. We don't generally offer links to resources which are about problems and not solutions, unless the resource is so insightful that its very existence is a step towards a solution. We pay special attention to tools, ideas and models that may have been overlooked in the mass media. We make a point of showing ways in which seemingly unconnected resources link together to form a toolkit for changing the world."

Check it out for yourself:

World Change website