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So to demonstrate how a 'computer' works, you make your employees participate in a 'creative exercise' with vague instructions and non-deterministic results, th

So to demonstrate how a 'computer' works, you make your employees participate in a 'creative exercise' with vague instructions and non-deterministic results, thus proving you shouldn't be frustrated with the 'dumb box full of opinions'? I kind of get it, but there are much simpler and less performative ways of illustrating the concept. Probably better suited to a low-code metaphor, though.

oldsecondhand 4y ago
I think it's better as a demonstration of the difficulty of creating a comprehensive specification.
- schoen 4y ago
  For that purpose, it's kind of like the thing that I've seen some computer science teachers do, where they ask students to tell them how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. The teacher then tries to follow the instructions as literally as possible, without making any common-sense assumptions, usually with comical results. (For example, the teacher won't open the jars unless the student's instructions specifically said to do so.) I think there's a lot of potential value in appreciating how informal the instructions we usually give other people are, and how much additional work and concentration it will take to fully formalize a set of instructions.
infpeace 4y ago
> a member of the studio comes up with a creative activity to get us out of our heads and thinking more playfully. It wasn’t about finding the simplest or best way. It was freedom to be playful. Freedom to not be driven by criticism or optimisation. Freedom to have an idea, ask people to join you in playing, and enjoy seeing what emerges. It happened that what emerged from this play session was a way to think about programming. I think it was a wonderfully creative, collaborative and joyful idea. I loved reading about this space for designers to explore and try ideas without worrying if someone would say ‘this could be better’. Designing and brainstorming needs openness and freedom to experiment. I feel happy that there’s spaces in the world where this is encouraged.

oldsecondhand 4y ago

I think it's better as a demonstration of the difficulty of creating a comprehensive specification.

schoen 4y ago
For that purpose, it's kind of like the thing that I've seen some computer science teachers do, where they ask students to tell them how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. The teacher then tries to follow the instructions as literally as possible, without making any common-sense assumptions, usually with comical results. (For example, the teacher won't open the jars unless the student's instructions specifically said to do so.) I think there's a lot of potential value in appreciating how informal the instructions we usually give other people are, and how much additional work and concentration it will take to fully formalize a set of instructions.

infpeace 4y ago

> a member of the studio comes up with a creative activity to get us out of our heads and thinking more playfully. It wasn’t about finding the simplest or best way. It was freedom to be playful. Freedom to not be driven by criticism or optimisation. Freedom to have an idea, ask people to join you in playing, and enjoy seeing what emerges. It happened that what emerged from this play session was a way to think about programming. I think it was a wonderfully creative, collaborative and joyful idea. I loved reading about this space for designers to explore and try ideas without worrying if someone would say ‘this could be better’. Designing and brainstorming needs openness and freedom to experiment. I feel happy that there’s spaces in the world where this is encouraged.