Aleister Crowley defined magic as “The science and art of causing change to occur in conformity with will”. The same could be said for technology. But, “magic” is still the keyword we use to describe the wonders of a new technology before it becomes ubiquitous.
From thousands years to modern Vegas and Broadway shows, “magic” is considered a tradition of using technology, ritual, and performance to create wonders. As 21 st century technologists there is still a lot we can learn from this tradition. Engineering illusions requires close attention to the limits of human perception, disciplined practice of the art of showmanship, and subtle use of the crafts of deception—skills that are just as relevant to contemporary technology demos as they were to 19th century stage illusions. Magic is one of the central metaphors people use to understand the technology. From install wizards to voice commands and background daemons, the cultural tropes of magic permeate user interface design. Understanding the traditions and vocabularies behind these tropes can help us produce interfaces that use magic to empower users rather than merely obscuring their function.
Scope
- STEAM Education
- Teaching
- Curriculum Development
- Creative Programming
Highlights from the workshop held at Tumo Center for Creative Technologies, Jan 2020
10
Days
17
Students
6
Original projects
2
Countries
What’s in common ?
“Magicians connect events and emotions and transform them in a sequence that can be easily perceived and experienced. The same applies to programming, like implementing functions and algorithms as the flow of calculations are programmatically performed.”
Do you think that programming is like magic?
Introduction to the art of performing magic focusing on the exploration of magic as a prompt to create real world solutions to real world challenges. You will get a sense on what is it like to be a magician as well as we will learn how to develop curiosity towards your passion. You will also learn storytelling and acting techniques required to perform a magic trick.
With a focus on the creation of functional prototypes and practicing real magical crafts, my workshops combine theatrical illusion, game design, sleight of hand, machine learning, camouflage, and neuroscience to explore how ideas from ancient magic and modern stage illusion can inform cutting edge technology. And, finally, I will tell you why you should never play poker with strangers.
Learning Objectives
Learning a new craft – magic
We start with an introduction to the art of magic.
Foundations of machine learning
Google’s machine learning and NLP engine is among the best on the market.
Learning hacking smart devices
Delight your audience by intuitive omnichannel conversational AI.
Develops curiosity and creativity
Ask better questions and be willing to change or challenge your perspective.
New way of creative expression
Looking for an ultimately different space to speak up and create?
Learning magic is FUN!
One of the fun experiences you will ever have is learning how to create wonders.
Final Projects
Highlights from the workshop held at Tumo Center for Creative Technologies, Jan 2020
