<nettime> Unpacking the _Synthaptic_: Version 1.

["mez breeze" <netwurker@gmail.com>]

Unpacking the _Synthaptic_: Version
1.<http://arsvirtuafoundation.org/research/2008/05/30/unpacking-the-_synthaptic_-version-1/>
Posted May 30th, 2008 by mez

Biological science defines _synapses_ as neural units that primarily
operate as a juncture between neurons. Synapses are viewed as
conductors that are essential in determining functions in the central
nervous system. Synaptic connections provide for transmission and
production of information crucial to the survival of the relevant
organism. Each synaptic connection operates via surges in a system
dependent on constant electrochemical streaming. In Synthetic
environments, a similar fluid process of content absorption and
production, social data surging and information engagement is termed
_Synthapticism_.

Synaptic performance is specific to a biological organism; in
contrast, synthaptic functioning is specific to synthetic spaces and
the entities that inhabit them. Synthetics engage synthaptically
through a networked equivalent of geospatial orientation, biochemical
triggering and geophysical body language. These equivalences are
dependent on the platform[s] involved and levels of operational
focus generated. This focus is represented by a concentrated
mass of aggregational attention. An illustration of how this
focused/concentrated attention manifests is the phenomena of
_Crowdsourcing_. Crowdsourcers produce clusters of user-mediated
data through surges of concentrated attention. MMOGs also utilize
aggregational-generated information through the construction of guilds
or collectives.

Synthetics display attentional surges appropriate to synthaptic
shiftings. Synthetic environments operate in accordance with this
surge potentiality, with users adopting platforms that offer a
contemporary catering for the relevant surge. For instance, early
adopters flock towards software that allows for adequate community
transference. Synthapticism is evident in the transference of
attention from one synthetic platform to another via this surging.
Contemporary examples of such shifts are MMOGers uptake of the
newly released _Age of Conan_ whilst abandoning their current game
platforms, or Twitter users migrating to a consistently usable
micro-blogging software.

Synthapticism produces unprecedented connections between synthetic
participants. Adjunctive relationships are constructed via Identity
interfacing and cushioned by support networks with a comparable
emotional weighting to those found in traditional sociocentric
structures [acquaintance>friendship>family>community]. Synthaptic
communication may appear as fractured or trivial to those not
connected synthaptically. One important component of the establishment
of these synthaptically-defined relationships is the formation of
appropriate semantic structuring. This will be discussed in _Unpacking
the _Synthaptic_: Version 1.1_.

-- 
: http://augmentology.com
: http://knott404.blogspot.com
: http://netwurker.livejournal.com




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