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(April 11, 2003)
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"Experiential artifacts allow us to experience events as if we were there, even when we are not, and to get information about things that would be inaccessible, even if we were present. A telescope gives us information about something distant in space. A movie or recording lets us experience events distant in time and space. Instruments, such as the gas gauge of an automobile, give us information about states of equipment that would otherwise be inaccessible. Experiential artifacts thus mediate between the mind and the world."
--This essay is based on the script of a mini lecture I did last fall. As I'm trying to adapt the script to this book, I realized that I need to readjust the tone--it doesn't feel right to speak as if I were in front of a large audience.
--Ancient Chinese literati use "spiritual interaction," or shen jiao, to describe the imaginary dialogue between the author and the reader via the book. More than a dialogue, I decided to make this essay a discussion among a few people. First I publish the text on my web site with a "comment" feature--there is a "comment" button following every section so that any readers can type in their thoughts immediately after reading it. Then the web site forwards the comments to my e-mail mailbox. After I read the comments, I select the most interesting comments. Finally, I publish the selections.
--In the computer program Director lingo, the text starting with "--" is meant for a human to read. The computer, on the other hand, is blind to that part of text. I borrowed this device to designate the alternative text, which is more personal, more human.
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