International symposium September 22nd-23rd 2000, Luxembourg

The word C y b e r n e t i c s came into use at least 50 years ago. It
was used to describe the idea that every observed activity is dependent
upon uninterrupted exchange with its surroundings. From the end of the
1940s, what was actually exchanged was termed I n f o r m a t i o n; the
process of exchange was termed C o m m u n i c a t i o n . The process
of self-organization and self-control was termed C y b e r n e t i c s .
This reasoning initially appeared to be helpful for controlling rockets
and machinery, for electronic data processing and ecological ideas. The
applications for cybernetic reasoning over three decades were rare; in
contrast, there was a great deal of fundamental research and
accompanying theories.

-Cybernetics' history of design and development For 50 years, the
sectors which can be defined by the principles of cybernetics have
become ever more extensive. Not least, the media-technological 'C y b e
r s p a c e' has been set up as a global model in surroundings which are
dynamically supported by a network. After the scientific and
technological dimensions, cultural dimensions are now being discussed.
How are dynamic, unstable cultures comprehensible?

-Making perceptions real Ideas about dynamic environments interconnected
through the network and adaptive learning still irritate ideals of
identity and stable individuality. Which models can be used to clarifiy
that identity is unstable and how can freedom and creativity,
abstraction and artificiality be newly understood from it?

-Staging the artificial/digital artificiality/Technological
acceleration of the media and interconnections through the network,
influence the rational way in which people perceive, trade and
communicate. How can the technical dimensions of artificiality be
incorporated into intelligent, participative, integrative, economical
and derived embodiments, i.e., productions?

-Transmission in artificial space One of the greatest challenges to
cybernetically artificial developments is the weakness in transmitted
classifications of significance. Will there be a global culture? How
will this be remembered? How will it be able to be taught and learned?
In what will the knowledge of this global culture or other civilization
be kept?

International referees: Peter Anders, Mindspace.net, Michigan-Gernot
B