I had wondered why the museum, or Carsten himself hadn't come back to me yet over my concerns that his new Art project wasn't going to work as expected. The reason is- Carsten has done his research!
Despite me feeling all smug that I was about to ruin one of the world most prominent aritsts with my clever scientific pooh-poohing of his work- he already knows what I've been trying to tell him! The following is cribbed from the press release:
The eight-day experiment involves volunteers wearing the vision-inverting goggles and living together at a central location in Manchester, following a schedule they will record in a film of their experiences. Activities and entertainment will also be scheduled with the goggle-wearing volunteers finding their vision returning to normal as their brains correct the inversion.
It is expected that they will remove the goggles on stage – where their view will again be upside down, as their brains will have adjusted their vision to view the world the right way round while wearing the goggles. Vision is expected to return to normal, though, after a short period of time.
I suppose I should be pleased, pleased that he did his research, and pleased that the experiment will all work out as planned. Also I should be pleased that I can still remeber the GCSE physics I did so long ago (which is how this whole thing started.)
...but I'm not. I'm really disappointed I didn't get to outsmart an artist.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
A number of investigations
Hi everyone,
Last email I invited people to unsubscribe. I know I may not technically be a mailing list, and I didn’t have to ask, but I did, out of the goodness of my heart. But someone abused that goodness, someone abused my trust. They unsubscribed. That person is no longer with us. Be warned.
Not really. Well someone did really unsubscribe, but I won’t really
disappear any of you, except in the sense that you won’t appear on my email address list anymore if you don‘t want to, despite the internets best attempts, loosing an online identity still doesn’t result in immediate and painful death in the “real world”.
Anyway. I hope I’ve learnt my lesson. I thought I could get away with the last email which even admitted in it’s own title “Short and Sweet” that it was a little light on the literary or content merit and devoid of particular interest. I thought that in an age of Big Brother and mobile phones and blog sites that people resolutely refuse to read on a regular basis, that I could subsist on such drivel for a few weeks.
The shame of my poor judgement- I beg your forgiveness please. No more unsubscribers OK?
And will move swiftly on to more interesting pastures,
I had my precious bike stolen! I’d been paying off a quite smart Specialized Rockhopper (A type of bike) through a friend when it was mercilessly snatched away. I was at a publisher function in a park, and double locked my bike to a bike lock place. I was never more than 10 metres away but the thieving blighters still had away with it. Not all of it mind. I still have a front tyre, and the Halfords shackle lock I was using to secure it. The frame and back tyre, including the more expensive Specialized lock, were lifted.
Gutted. Anyone who knows me knows I was very excited when talking about, thinking of, and riding my bike (in fact my girlfriend remains a prime suspect in it’s disappearance). I was really fed up to loose it, especially because I’m still paying for it throughout July.
Anyway, not to be put down I bought a pair of jogging trainers and ran to work for a week. This 7 mile round trip was made possible through sheer bloody mindedness rather than any particular sporting prowess. I simply refuse to give in to paying bus fairs, whilst at the same time I’m too intrinsically decent to sneak on the buses without paying. That leaves me with a pair of tight running shorts, a bottle of Talcum Powder (don’t ask what it’s for…)and a pair of trainers.
Camilla thinks this is weird but I've logged my run on a website, which you can access through the links on my blog (www.therealword.blogspot.com) I just wanted to make the blog as interactive and entertaining as possible (in case anybody ever visits or reads it). Of course if you live nearby you are welcome to use the route yourself, although you will see that the traffic is high, the air pollution is bad and the scenery non- existant. It's not much of a run.
So apart from becoming as obssessed with jogging at least as qucikly as I became obsessed with cycling, the other thing I've been doing is some research into two fields: Art and Science. I read an article in the Metro that Carsten Holler (he's the artist that put slides in the Tate Modern) was doing an experiment where he gives people glasses to turn their vision upside down for 8 days). But I didn't think it would work, and got some scientists to deal with my questions online. Once a broad spectrum of scientists had responded I took my research and sent it to the Manchester Mueseum that are hosting the exhibtion, and it's PR company. No response just yet, but to learn more about this fascinating subject you should check out the recent posts on the www.therealword.blogspot.com (anyone spot a trend occuring here?)
One last thing I mentioned a while ago about a crazy landlord in Lewisham, and how he got drunk and left notes around for us... and then I met a publisher whose friend was writing a book on the subject of crazy notes left by flatmates. Well. I didn't make this version of her book (although if it sells well I might make the sequel) but I am going to be on her website when it works properly (which is in about a week). If you've had any odd note experiences from flatmates you should put them on here: www.flatmatesanonymous.com (also available as link on www.therealword.blogspot.com).
Anyway. Hope that was OK for all of you- a good one no? Certainly not worth unsubscribing over.
Last email I invited people to unsubscribe. I know I may not technically be a mailing list, and I didn’t have to ask, but I did, out of the goodness of my heart. But someone abused that goodness, someone abused my trust. They unsubscribed. That person is no longer with us. Be warned.
Not really. Well someone did really unsubscribe, but I won’t really
disappear any of you, except in the sense that you won’t appear on my email address list anymore if you don‘t want to, despite the internets best attempts, loosing an online identity still doesn’t result in immediate and painful death in the “real world”.
Anyway. I hope I’ve learnt my lesson. I thought I could get away with the last email which even admitted in it’s own title “Short and Sweet” that it was a little light on the literary or content merit and devoid of particular interest. I thought that in an age of Big Brother and mobile phones and blog sites that people resolutely refuse to read on a regular basis, that I could subsist on such drivel for a few weeks.
The shame of my poor judgement- I beg your forgiveness please. No more unsubscribers OK?
And will move swiftly on to more interesting pastures,
I had my precious bike stolen! I’d been paying off a quite smart Specialized Rockhopper (A type of bike) through a friend when it was mercilessly snatched away. I was at a publisher function in a park, and double locked my bike to a bike lock place. I was never more than 10 metres away but the thieving blighters still had away with it. Not all of it mind. I still have a front tyre, and the Halfords shackle lock I was using to secure it. The frame and back tyre, including the more expensive Specialized lock, were lifted.
Gutted. Anyone who knows me knows I was very excited when talking about, thinking of, and riding my bike (in fact my girlfriend remains a prime suspect in it’s disappearance). I was really fed up to loose it, especially because I’m still paying for it throughout July.
Anyway, not to be put down I bought a pair of jogging trainers and ran to work for a week. This 7 mile round trip was made possible through sheer bloody mindedness rather than any particular sporting prowess. I simply refuse to give in to paying bus fairs, whilst at the same time I’m too intrinsically decent to sneak on the buses without paying. That leaves me with a pair of tight running shorts, a bottle of Talcum Powder (don’t ask what it’s for…)and a pair of trainers.
Camilla thinks this is weird but I've logged my run on a website, which you can access through the links on my blog (www.therealword.blogspot.com) I just wanted to make the blog as interactive and entertaining as possible (in case anybody ever visits or reads it). Of course if you live nearby you are welcome to use the route yourself, although you will see that the traffic is high, the air pollution is bad and the scenery non- existant. It's not much of a run.
So apart from becoming as obssessed with jogging at least as qucikly as I became obsessed with cycling, the other thing I've been doing is some research into two fields: Art and Science. I read an article in the Metro that Carsten Holler (he's the artist that put slides in the Tate Modern) was doing an experiment where he gives people glasses to turn their vision upside down for 8 days). But I didn't think it would work, and got some scientists to deal with my questions online. Once a broad spectrum of scientists had responded I took my research and sent it to the Manchester Mueseum that are hosting the exhibtion, and it's PR company. No response just yet, but to learn more about this fascinating subject you should check out the recent posts on the www.therealword.blogspot.com (anyone spot a trend occuring here?)
One last thing I mentioned a while ago about a crazy landlord in Lewisham, and how he got drunk and left notes around for us... and then I met a publisher whose friend was writing a book on the subject of crazy notes left by flatmates. Well. I didn't make this version of her book (although if it sells well I might make the sequel) but I am going to be on her website when it works properly (which is in about a week). If you've had any odd note experiences from flatmates you should put them on here: www.flatmatesanonymous.com (also available as link on www.therealword.blogspot.com).
Anyway. Hope that was OK for all of you- a good one no? Certainly not worth unsubscribing over.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Vision Inversion- an update
The good old professors at Null Hypothesis have had some responses to my question about Carsten Hollers vision inversion question (see post below). The results are inconclusive at the momment, but I felt it was my duty to make sure Carsten, the museum, and anybody else with an email address I could find was aware of the findings so far.
So I sent the following to the museum, and its PR agency:
Hi there,
I read about Carstens new experiment in the London Metro a while ago- but I was worried that it wouldn't go according to plan so I've been doing some research on wether or not vision inversion is even possible- the museum (and Carsten) might find the following interesting:
http://www.null-hypothesis.co.uk/science/interactive
/item/dear_Prof_prisms_vision_inverted
I'd be really pleased to hear how it goes- the science community is watching!
Thanks for reading,
Alistair Spalding
PS. Sorry- I've had to split the link to keep my page neatly formatted- you need to copy the whole thing into your web browser to see the page.
So I sent the following to the museum, and its PR agency:
Hi there,
I read about Carstens new experiment in the London Metro a while ago- but I was worried that it wouldn't go according to plan so I've been doing some research on wether or not vision inversion is even possible- the museum (and Carsten) might find the following interesting:
http://www.null-hypothesis.co.uk/science/interactive
/item/dear_Prof_prisms_vision_inverted
I'd be really pleased to hear how it goes- the science community is watching!
Thanks for reading,
Alistair Spalding
PS. Sorry- I've had to split the link to keep my page neatly formatted- you need to copy the whole thing into your web browser to see the page.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
But Null Hypothesis come through!
Check the link:
I'm on their letters page and everything! Fame- Glory- an answer to my question! All are mine!
Dear Alistair,
Perhaps the Null community can help. I hope you won't mind me publishing your thoughts... http://www.null-hypothesis.co.uk/science
/interactive/item/dear_Prof_prisms_vision_inverted
Dear Prof: Your Letters
Dear Prof,
I see that conceptual artist Carsten Holler (the man who put slides in the Tate) has a new project on. 24 volunteers will be given goggles that invert their vision to wear for eight days. The idea is that they'll see the world upside down.At the end of the time they will take their goggles off in front of an audience at the Manchester International Arts Festival in July. I got this from the London Metro, which says "Their sight is expected to return to normal shortly after."I seem to remember from GSCE physics that if you hold prisms in front of your eyes (inverting your vision) that within a matter of hours the brain will compensate and flip your vision the right way up.If that's true then within a few hours of putting the goggles on the volunteers will actually begin to experience normal vision again. Then on the eighth day, when they take them off they will see things upside down again for a few hours before, once again, the brain compensates and turns it back to normal.Is this true? And if it is doesn't that kind of ruin his experiment? He should have the people at the show in Manchester put goggles on until their brain flips things the rightway up and then have them take them off again, putting things upside down (for a while).It's making my head spin, please help!Alistair Spalding, The Real WordCan you help Alistair?If you think you may have an answer for Alistair, please email letters@null-hypothesis.co.uk The Prof is currently huddled in a corner, quivering at the very thought GCSE physics.You can also get talking to the Null community by joining our Unlikely Science group on Facebook.
I'm on their letters page and everything! Fame- Glory- an answer to my question! All are mine!
Dear Alistair,
Perhaps the Null community can help. I hope you won't mind me publishing your thoughts... http://www.null-hypothesis.co.uk/science
/interactive/item/dear_Prof_prisms_vision_inverted
Dear Prof: Your Letters
Dear Prof,
I see that conceptual artist Carsten Holler (the man who put slides in the Tate) has a new project on. 24 volunteers will be given goggles that invert their vision to wear for eight days. The idea is that they'll see the world upside down.At the end of the time they will take their goggles off in front of an audience at the Manchester International Arts Festival in July. I got this from the London Metro, which says "Their sight is expected to return to normal shortly after."I seem to remember from GSCE physics that if you hold prisms in front of your eyes (inverting your vision) that within a matter of hours the brain will compensate and flip your vision the right way up.If that's true then within a few hours of putting the goggles on the volunteers will actually begin to experience normal vision again. Then on the eighth day, when they take them off they will see things upside down again for a few hours before, once again, the brain compensates and turns it back to normal.Is this true? And if it is doesn't that kind of ruin his experiment? He should have the people at the show in Manchester put goggles on until their brain flips things the rightway up and then have them take them off again, putting things upside down (for a while).It's making my head spin, please help!Alistair Spalding, The Real WordCan you help Alistair?If you think you may have an answer for Alistair, please email letters@null-hypothesis.co.uk The Prof is currently huddled in a corner, quivering at the very thought GCSE physics.You can also get talking to the Null community by joining our Unlikely Science group on Facebook.
No Response from the Guardian
badscience@guardian.co.uk
Hi Ben,
I see that conceptual artist Carsten Holler (the man who put slides in the Tate) has a new project on. 24 volunteers will be given goggles that invert their vision to wear for eight days. The idea is that they'll see the world upside down.At the end of the time they will take their goggles off in front of an audience at the Manchester International Arts Festival in July. I got this from the London Metro, which says "Their sight is expected to return to normal shortly after."I seem to remember from GSCE physics that if you hold prisms in front of your eyes (inverting your vision) that within a matter of hours the brain will compensate and flip your vision the right way up.If that's true then within a few hours of putting the goggles on the volunteers will actually begin to experience normal vision again. Then on the eighth day, when they take them off they will see things upside down again for a few hours before, once again, the brain compensates and turns it back to normal.Is this true? and if it is doesn't that kind of ruin his experiment? He should have the people at the show in Manchester put goggles on until their brain flips things the rightway up and then have them take them off again, putting things upside down (for a while).It's making my head spin, please help!
Labels: Art, blog, blogging; ads; brands; science, Carsten Holler, complaint
Hi Ben,
I see that conceptual artist Carsten Holler (the man who put slides in the Tate) has a new project on. 24 volunteers will be given goggles that invert their vision to wear for eight days. The idea is that they'll see the world upside down.At the end of the time they will take their goggles off in front of an audience at the Manchester International Arts Festival in July. I got this from the London Metro, which says "Their sight is expected to return to normal shortly after."I seem to remember from GSCE physics that if you hold prisms in front of your eyes (inverting your vision) that within a matter of hours the brain will compensate and flip your vision the right way up.If that's true then within a few hours of putting the goggles on the volunteers will actually begin to experience normal vision again. Then on the eighth day, when they take them off they will see things upside down again for a few hours before, once again, the brain compensates and turns it back to normal.Is this true? and if it is doesn't that kind of ruin his experiment? He should have the people at the show in Manchester put goggles on until their brain flips things the rightway up and then have them take them off again, putting things upside down (for a while).It's making my head spin, please help!
Labels: Art, blog, blogging; ads; brands; science, Carsten Holler, complaint
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