science

Technoetics

Technoetics is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Technoetics rather than just read about it. In short: Technoetics is a neologism introduced by Roy Ascott, who coined the term from techne and noetic theory, to refer to the emergent field of technology and consciousness research. Definitions The Technoetic relates to that which concerns the technology of consciousness.

Key takeaways

Technoetics belongs to science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Technoetics to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Technoetics from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Technoetics is a neologism introduced by Roy Ascott, who coined the term from techne and noetic theory, to refer to the emergent field of technology and consciousness research.

Definitions The Technoetic relates to that which concerns the technology of consciousness. Such technology may be telematic, digital, genetic, vegetal, moist, or linguistic. The emergence of Technoetics can be juxtaposed with a number of other innovative interdisciplinary areas of scholarship which have surfaced in recent years including: technoscience, technoethics, viractuality, and technocriticism.

Technoetics is a convergent field of practice that seeks to explore consciousness and connectivity through digital, telematic, chemical or spiritual means; embracing both interactive and psychoactive technologies and the creative use of moist-media. -Roy Ascott, Technoetic Art Intellect Books 2003

History of technoetics Technoetics is a syncretic research area linked to the transdisciplinary methodology between art and science. This is rooted in the research of Roy Ascott and his Planetary Collegium; including its CAiiA-Hub, Trento-Node (Italy), Lucerne-Node (Switzerland), and DeTao-Node (Shanghai, China) research communities. The term appeared for the first time in 1997 in the Ascott paper: "The Technoetic Aesthetic: Art and the Matter of Consciousness". In: R. Ascott (ed) Consciousness Reframed: art and consciousness in the post-biological era: 1st International CAiiA Research Conference Proceedings published by University of Wales College, Newport. Since 2014, the field and research area of Technoetics is being taught in the Shanghai Institute of Visual Art. The Technoetic arts undergraduate course was created by Roy Ascott and is provided by the Roy Ascott Technoetic Arts Studio and the Detao Masters Academy at the Shanghai Institute of Visual Art.

Footnotes

References Ascott, R. (2003). Quando an onça se deita com a ovelha: a arte com mídias úmidas e a cultura pós-biológica. In: DOMINGUES, D. (ed). Arte e vida no século XXI. São Paulo: Editora UNESP. pp. 273–284 Ascott, R. (2003). Telematic Embrace: visionary theories of art, technology and consciousness. (Edward A. Shanken, ed.) Berkeley: University of California Press, pp. 6, 376, 378, 380-381 Monico, F. (2008). La Variazione Technoetica in "Le variazioni Grandi" Quaderno di Comunicazione 8. Roma: Meltemi. Ascott, R. (1997) TECHNOETIC AESTHETICS. 100 Terms and Definitions for the Post-biological Era. 1997. LASER talks at Roy Ascott Studio (2023) * TECHNOETIC AESTHETICS * Psiborgian Incursions. LASER Chair: Dr. Clarissa Ribeiro. https://leonardo.info/civicrm/event/info%3Fid%3D820%26reset%3D1

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Technoetics

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Technoetics claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Technoetics before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Technoetics ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Technoetics

In research: Technoetics appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Technoetics in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Technoetics is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Technology neologisms, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Technoetics outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Technoetics in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Technoetics means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Technoetics out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Technoetics in simple terms?

Technoetics is a neologism introduced by Roy Ascott, who coined the term from techne and noetic theory, to refer to the emergent field of technology and consciousness research. Definitions The Technoetic relates to that which concerns the technology of consciousness.

Why does Technoetics matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Technoetics?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Technoetics.