Simpl
This picture was made a couple of weeks ago at an inspiring lecture by Prof. John Maeda (MIT Media Lab) in Beursschouwburg, Brussels. Maeda told the audience about his background and career (computer scientist, graphic designer, visual artist) and publications, then went on to discuss the suffering of machines — computers in particular — in this cruel world, then finally arrived on a lengthy explanation of his thirteen laws of simplicity from his forthcoming book The Laws of Simplicity.
I have listed Maeda’s laws of simplicity below. Some of them are trivial (#1), others (#3) clever, others (#7) are actually true. Some (#5, #13) are not laws but obsolete applications (in physics or consumer electronics) of an unspecified law. Law #6 is not what it seems (what does it seem?) but Maeda explains that in some cases adding noise to a target signal enables receivers with lower sensitivity to experience the target signal better. That’s a challenging claim! Law #8 explains that simplicity is not minimalism.
- A complex system of many functions can be simplified by carefully grouping related functions.
- The positive emotional response derived from a simplicity experience has less to do with utility, and more to do with saving time.
- When the richness of an experience is increased in a manner that facilitates the perception of the overall intent, by all means don’t skimp. Add more!
- The more you know about something beforehand, the simpler it will ultimately be perceived.
- A material’s failure to comply to a specific application provides indication that its more natural usage lies elsewhere.
- In order to “feel,” you gotta have noise. Too much noise, and all you’ve got is noise.
- The more care, attention, and effort applied to that which is less, the more it shall be perceived as more than it really is.
- Recognize not only the absolute laws of the physical universe as important constraints, but also the artificial laws as of equal importance when striving for simplicity.
- Simplification most commonly occurs through conscious reduction; the more uncommon form involves subconscious compression.
- Less breeds less; more breeds more. Equilibrium is found at many points between less and more, but never nearest the extrema.
- Simplicity is about subtracting the obvious, while adding the meaningful.
- A pure and resonant experience is only as simple as the greater context where it is appreciated.
- Electronic devices cannot achieve the ultimate level of simplicity unless they are not only untethered, but have (at least) the appearance of being unpowered.
Are these laws beautiful (I mean complete, non-redundant and orthogonal)? Hard to say — I am missing information (too simple?). But Maeda sure is a careful observer of the world (I know a scientist when I see one) and a gifted and inspiring speaker. Read his blog.
Laws # 4 and 7 are both true. I see them happening at work every day.
I also seem to be missing something, but nonetheless an interesting case.
I am doubtful though about its applicability because (forgive me if I got stuck in the wayback machine, but I believe in the beauty of chaos) don’t all systems strive towards entropy?
The second law of thermodynamics. The entropy of any totally isolated system not at thermal equilibrium will tend to increase over time approaching a maximum value.
On the other hand, consider self-organization.
At the microscopic level, the second law of thermodynamics and the principle of self-organization need not be in contradiction: it is possible for a system to reduce its entropy by transferring it to its environment.
Yes, that is the more classic interpretation of the second law (which doesn’t make it less true, of course).
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There also is a statistical interpretation of the second law that focusses on the measure of disorder of a system where, as wiki puts it, entropy is the amount of uncertainty that would remain about the exact microscopic state of the system, given a description of its macroscopic properties.
Which doesn’t contradict the classic definition nor, indeed, self-organisation.
I should pick up on my reading about this topic again, because it still fascinates me tremendously and I expect a lot has “changed” since I last read a book about it (aproximately 8 years ago!
So much knowledge, so little time…
This quote is appropriate.
“A theory is the more impressive the greater the simplicity of its premises is, the more different kinds of things it relates, and the more extended its area of applicability.
Therefore the deep impression which classical thermodynamics made upon me. It is the only physical theory of universal content which I am convinced that, within the framework of the applicability of its basic concepts, it will never be overthrown (for the special attention of those who are skeptics on principle).”
- A. Einstein, 1946
I stumbled back upon this beautiful piece of Maeda’s Poetry from the Ars Electronica 2003 catalogue.
Nice Burke cartoon