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Cinema of the Mind (the graduate course)
STUDENT ASSISTANT for CINEMA OF THE MIND:
Takuma, Kei  leo@sfc.wide.ad.jp

This course is about the design of software, which means the design of imaginary worlds.  Most people think in terms of "interfaces", which is too simple-minded.  An interface is a connection to something which is already designed.  But the conceptual structure of software, not just the interface, must be invented-- the cosmology of the imaginary world.

I believe that interactive software is a branch of film-making. Right now most software does not have a director, a person who unifies the ideas and effects, the way movies do.  Computer games and video games usually do have a unifying director, and that is why they are so much better than office software.

We will consider especially the theory of virtuality, which is a generalization of film theory.  Virtuality consists of conceptual structure and feel, but these can be seen as generalizations from film: conceptual structure is the generalization of the ideas, the script and characters; feel is the generalization of effects, atmosphere, suspense, etc.

Not only computers, but everyday objects-- wristwatches, cars, cameras-- are software now.  Somebody has designed an arbitrary new structure for these objects, not based on any physical requirements, and you are expected to learn it and deal with it.  In some ways this is very oppressive.  It is also a great opportunity for GOOD software.

There are many views of software.  Today, everyone has an opinion.  This course will present the opinions of the instructor.  A principal reading will be my book The Future of Information.

The idea is to present you with a theory of design and stress the opportunity to design.

Interactive Software is a branch of motion pictures.

Computers deal with imaginary worlds.  The subject is therefore not computers.  The subject is imaginary worlds, and designing good ones.

SPACES: Dimensionality and imaginary worlds.

THE THEORY OF VIRTUALITY (discussed in The Future of Information).

ACCESS STRUCTURE: a model of convenience and co-reachability.

STATE DESIGN and lollipop notation for it.

REFERENCE STRUCTURE AND NOTATIONAL ENGINEERING.