~Rustic Computing~

May 23, 2009

here’s a short project description on what Brendan Howell, our current ArtistInResidence, is working on ::

Rustic Computing refers to the construction of calculation machines
using pre-industrial or even pre-historic technology.  It reveals a
history of computing as the pastime of dilettantes, amateur scientists
and gentleman tabulators who construct machines to manipulate abstract
symbols with no practical application.  As these machines are generally
less efficient than conventional pencil and paper computation, they
allude to a more epicurean practice of computing for pleasure rather
than production.  Much like "Slow Food", Rustic Computing valorizes the
process as being more "natural", "traditional" and "organic".  During my
stay at moddr_ I will attempt to build several components for a
potential "heirloom computer" as well as to document a history of the
practice.



Brendan Howell (b. 1976, USA) is a media artist and an engineer. He has
created various software works and interactive electronic inventions. He
lives and works in Berlin, Germany and teaches at the Berliner
Technische Kunsthochschule.  He works as a developer for the Fritzing
project at the FH Potsdam, University of Applied Sciences.