FLOCK THEORY

Emergent self-organisation

in human interaction

FLOCK THEORY

Flock Theory models the flight of birds.

Flock theory has been used to explain

cooperative evolution in human interactions.

JAMMING

Eisenberg defines jamming (as used by jazz musicians) as• fluid behavioural coordination • that occurs without detailed knowledge of personality

Preconditions: skill, structure, setting, surrender, reward risk, engage respectfully, no dominant leadership, autonomous group ensures influx of novel ideas

Outcomes: • balance between autonomy and interdependence• nondisclosive but fulfilling route to community• closeness without self-consciousness

JAMMIMG VIDEO

To see what jamming looks like,

watch this video of Voxnorth improvising

http://vimeo.com/9347037

AUTOPOIESIS (Humberto Maturana)

Autopoiesis = recursive self-reproduction of system components

An autopoietic system (e.g. a biological cell):• is an assembly of organized bounded structures • that uses external flows of resources and by-products• to produce the components which, in turn,

– maintain the organized bounded structure – that is the autopoietic structure

SO:• resources come and go, • components are created and may die, BUT the structure continues through time

SIMULATING A FLOCK OF BIRDS

A flock exhibits many contrasts:– It is made up of discrete birds,

yet overall motion seems fluid– It is simple in concept

yet is so visually complex– It seems randomly arrayed,

yet is magnificently synchronized. – Most puzzling is the impression of intentional,

centralized control

(Reynolds 1987)

FLOCK OF STARLINGS

To experience

‘an impression of intentionality’,

watch this video of a flock of starlings:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81wFZavdhPU

AXIOMS and TENETS

Axiom 1:

Distance

Tenet A: (Extreme Cohesion)

Separation; close but not too close

Optimization Tenet B: (Extreme Dissenters)

Cohesion; far but not too far

Axiom 2:

Motion

Tenet A: (Goals)

Direction Matching; match direction of group members

Replication Tenet B: (Tempo)

Velocity Matching; match velocity of group members

Axiom 3:

Leadership

Tenet A: (Passing the Gavel)

Group leadership must shift, efficiently & in time

maintenance

Tenet B: (Purpose)

Leaders must guide group towards goal or destination

AXIOMS

Distance Optimisation

Motion Replication

Leadership Maintenance