The Wikipedia definition reveals the basic cognitive bias where
language and mind is given primary importance and also the linear
mindset.

It says it is a mechanism of indirect coordination

This statement assumes that direct coordination is between the
subjects that are taking part in the act by means of direct
instruction by language or some action.

I have a video of two fishermen rowing a catamaran which exhibits this
behavior. Both are doing different actions and one can find absolute
coordination between these two people but they are responding directly
to their experience even though they are not talking to each other. I
began to notice this among non-literate people only after seeing this
in children if they are completely left alone to experience the world.
Among folk communities, such spaces are still available.

The second point I want to point out is the simultaneity of these
actions. The actors are responding at the same time but both are
involved in two different actions.

"The principle is that the trace left in the environment by an action
stimulates the performance of a next action....."

Wikipedia definition:
Stigmergy is a mechanism of indirect coordination, through the
environment, between agents or actions.[1] The principle is that the
trace left in the environment by an action stimulates the performance
of a next action, by the same or a different agent. In that way,
subsequent actions tend to reinforce and build on each other, leading
to the spontaneous emergence of coherent, apparently systematic
activity.
https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stigmergy&oldid=759137352

The cognitive system of 'modernity' has been developed by learning the
WORD where as it is the   WORLD that forms the cognitive system of the
non-literate people where their dependence on language is minimal.

Jinan



On 19/03/2017, Don Norman <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Several comments, most of which go against tradition.
>
>
> *On the definition of Stigmergy*
>
> The study of stigmergy might produce some wonderful new insights for
> design, for designers, and for design education.
>
> Wikipedia does a nice job of defining it:
>
> Stigmergy is a mechanism of indirect coordination, through the environment,
> between agents or actions.[1] The principle is that the trace left in the
> environment by an action stimulates the performance of a next action, by
> the same or a different agent. In that way, subsequent actions tend to
> reinforce and build on each other, leading to the spontaneous emergence of
> coherent, apparently systematic activity.
> https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stigmergy&oldid=759137352
>
>
> In one of my books (Living with Complexity) I wrote about "desire lines"
> in the landscape. That is, architects and landscape designers make nice
> regular walkways. People like direct paths, so they take shortcuts,
> avoiding the nice designed walkways. The first person who cuts across the
> grass or field (or snowy area) leaves a faint trail of depressed plant
> growth or footprints behind, which guides the next people. Eventually they
> have worn a path.
>
> The stupid architects and landscape architects put up signs and barriers to
> avoid this destruction. The smart one realize that this is a good signifier
> of where the path ought to go -- so they provide a better surface (e.g.,
> they pave it). I am told that one of the walkways going to the Design
> Department at TUE (Eindhoven) was made in this way.
>
> That is *Stigmergy. *It is a wonderful concept to study and learn from, to
> use in education. It is related to Von Hippel's "lead user" in his many
> works. See his books (his latest, Fre Innovation, is available free in PDF
> form from MIT Press: https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/free-innovation
>
> So ignore all the people trying to figure out where the word comes from.
> Who cares? What matters is if it inspires you.
>
>
> *On getting the meaning and origins correct*
>
> I say the hell with it. Scholars care. Scientists don't.
>
> A story.  When I was a young scientist starting out in psychology, I read a
> brilliant book by the British Psychologist, Donald Broadbent. It inspired
> me and from that inspiration I wrote some early papers (that turned out to
> be quite influential).
>
> Years later, when I had become friends with Broadbent, he told me that I
> had completely misunderstood his book, and in fact, my insights were
> precisely the opposite of what he had intended.
>
> My response? I didn't care. I will take my insights wherever i find them,
> even if it is from misconstruing someone else's arguments. And i will give
> them credit for my ideas, even if they hate them. Broadbent was an
> inspiration to me. I learned a lot from him, even if it wasn't what he was
> trying to teach me.
>
> (He was a behaviorist, i was a cognitive psychologist. He thought he was
> preaching behaviorism, but i found all his work fodder for the development
> of a deep understanding of cognitive mechanisms.)
>
>
> I say the same about my works. If someone misunderstand me and is puzzled,
> I try to explain more clearly. If someone misunderstands me and then, as a
> result, produces a brilliant new idea, I applaud.
>
> Take your ideas wherever you can find them.
>
>
> *On doing the "proper" thing first, and after you are established, do the
> right (risky) thing.  *
>
> On Sat, Mar 18, 2017 at 8:10 AM, Lubomir Savov Popov <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
>
>> About Don's advice: My appreciation Don. About my advice: I think it can
>> help people get on the bandwagon and then try to fly high.
>
>
> That's a really bad idea.  Basically, you only get one chance.
>
> I have known numerous bright, energetic young assistant professors who have
> really creative, earth-shattering ideas, but who tell me "I'm going to
> publish a lot of safe, conventional papers so that I get tenure, and then i
> will be able to explore these risky concepts."
>
> Bullshit.  They did get tenure, but they never returned to their creative
> stage. Writing conventional papers turned them into dull, conventional
> people.
>
> Break the rules. Make a contribution.
>
> it isn't easy.  I have been publicly insulted, scorned and turned away. I
> once gave a talk at a small university in the US and the department chair
> was so annoyed that he told me he would try to avoid paying for my travel.
>  (But years later, the young faculty thanked me for my talk.)
>
>
> That's life in science.  At first, your work is ignored, denied
> publication, and insulted.  Then people start catching on and following. In
> a decade or two you become the leader.
>
> So do what you think is important. Do NOT "get on the bandwagon." People on
> the bandwagon are always playing the wrong tunes.  And if you join them,
> you will find it difficult to get off.
>
>
> * And then what happens?*
> When you get older, with white hair (a grayback), the next bright
> generation comes along and decides you are the old, dull establishment and
> tries to replace all that you have done.
>
> My response to that is to learn their arguments and build on them.
> Invariably they have new insights that are valuable.  When people
> criticize, learn from the critics. But build your own path.
>
>
> Don Norman
> Prof. and Director, DesignLab, UC San Diego
> [log in to unmask] designlab.ucsd.edu/  www.jnd.org  <http://www.jnd.org/>
>
>
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-- 
Jinan,
TEXT DISTORTS, DIGITAL DESTROYS, WORLD AWAKENS
http://existentialknowledgefoundation.weebly.com/
http://rethinkingfoundation.weebly.com/
reimaginingschools.wordpress.com
http://sadhanavillageschool.org/
https://www.youtube.com/user/sadhanavillagepune
https://www.youtube.com/user/jinansvideos
www.re-cognition.org
http://designeducationasia.blogspot.com/
http://awakeningaestheticawareness.wordpress.com/
https://independent.academia.edu/JinanKodapully
09447121544
0487 2386723


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