Tom Haymes – Object to Idea: Information Paradigms at the Dawn of AI
Tom Haymes examines the fundamental shift from viewing text as a static object to understanding it as a dynamic idea in the age of AI.
He traces the evolution from oral traditions through written text and hypertext to AI-mediated information, arguing that we’re experiencing a paradigm shift where AI serves as an intermediary that can extract meaning and context from information in ways that traditional search cannot. He emphasizes that AI doesn’t just retrieve information but interprets and contextualizes it, transforming how we interact with knowledge. The presentation explores how this changes our relationship with information from mere retrieval to meaning-making.
Andreea Ion Cojocaru – The Textual Border
Andreea discusses the concept of borders in text, both literal and metaphorical, exploring how we define boundaries between text and non-text, between different types of content, and between human and machine-generated material.
She examines how borders function as both barriers and points of connection, using examples from her work with Romanian literature and translation. Her presentation considers how AI and new technologies are blurring traditional textual boundaries, questioning what constitutes text in digital environments and how we navigate these shifting borders. She emphasizes that borders are not just divisions but spaces of negotiation and transformation.
Sam Brooker – The Chloropyll Moment
Sam presents the concept of the “chloropyll moment” – drawing an analogy to the evolutionary development of chlorophyll in plants – to describe a potential breakthrough in how we process and interact with information.
He argues that just as chlorophyll transformed life on Earth by enabling plants to harness solar energy directly, we may be approaching a similar transformative moment where AI and new interfaces allow us to process and synthesize information in fundamentally more efficient ways. He explores how current tools are still primarily based on old paradigms and suggests that we’re on the cusp of developing truly new ways of engaging with knowledge that could be as revolutionary as photosynthesis was for biology.
Frode Hegland – Text That Does Something
Frode discusses the concept of “text that does something” – moving beyond passive text to create interactive, functional textual experiences.
He explores how text can become executable, responsive, and dynamic, incorporating elements that allow users to manipulate, visualize, and interact with information in real-time. His presentation includes demonstrations and discussions of various tools and approaches for making text more active and useful, including visual meta capabilities, spatial arrangements, and connections between different types of information. He emphasizes the importance of making text work for users rather than having users work to understand text, advocating for interfaces that enhance comprehension and enable new forms of thinking.
Fabien Bénétou – XR Experiences
Fabien explores how extended reality (XR) technologies – including virtual and augmented reality – are creating new possibilities for textual and informational experiences.
He demonstrates various XR tools and environments that allow users to interact with text and data in three-dimensional space, manipulating information spatially and contextually. His presentation shows how XR can make abstract information more tangible and understandable by giving it spatial properties, allowing for more intuitive navigation and comprehension. He discusses the potential for XR to create collaborative workspaces where multiple users can interact with shared information in immersive environments, transforming how we collaborate and think together.
To experience this work in VR, please visit The Future Text Lab.