Computer/Vision

Abstract

The human ability to distinguish between individual letters, like A or B, is relatively straightforward. However, when it comes to establishing a set of rules to precisely define what constitutes “an A” versus “not an A” for a computer, the task becomes significantly more complex. Computers do not forgive ambiguity or subtlety; they demand clear rules and sharp definitions. Computer/Vision is an invitation to ponder the limitations of computation and compels us to contemplate the implications of the dichotomy between human cognition and computational precision. It grants a computer full authority over the arbitrary generation of letters, their subsequent classification as letters of the alphabet through text recognition, and their integration into a writing system. This real-time project unfolded throughout the duration of the exhibition, gradually introducing an array of characters and producing multiple alphabet sets, all of which were uploaded as open-source fonts now available for download.