Books galore (and R.O.S.A.)!

Image result for cybernetic serendipity the computer and the arts

(A robot from a book, The Queen of France, see bottom of blog)

I started a "books that I had in my office" blog a while back.

That approach was a bit slow and I've unpacked some more today so I decided just to lay them all out on my deck and take a photo. So they are in no particular order or topic, and include computer science and a few philosophy and other random books (excluding novels and sci-fi as there are too many of them :-). The lighting was also a  bit odd (close to dusk).  There's 2 photos per row of books (with some duplication on the right/left edges).



Row 1 (just one photo)





 Row 2 (2 photos from here)






Row 3






Row 4



This row (1st photo, 3rd from the left at the top, open to colour graphics image) has an interesting old book, "Cybernetic Serendipity, the computer and the arts", Jasia Reichardt (Ed.), 1969. Yes, you read the date right, it's one of the oldest books on computer graphics and art that I've got.  It was actually based on an exhibition that was shown in both the UK and the USA.




 "Cybernetic Serendipity was the first large international exhibition of electronic, cybernetic, and computer art. It took place at the Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) in London, UK, from 2 August to 20 October 1968."

It included computer graphics (yes, in 1968! made by using an oscilloscope, filters and photograph), music, dance, interactive sculptures, poems and text, paintings, films, movies, art, architecture, mathematics surfaces, plotting, and even robots!  The caption from the book says:

Rosa Bosom (R.O.S.A. - Radio Operated Simulated Actress), 1965. 24 x 36 x 72  in. Designed as an actress to integrate with live performers in the Three Musketeers, where is played the Queen of France.

Image result for cybernetic serendipity the computer and the arts


And a lot more info.

And more.

A more recent photo with the inventor (Bruce Lacey), who says:



 I built her in 1965 and she’s inspired by the Harrier Jump Jet. She was Best Man at my second wedding. She gave me the ring, blew confetti and played the bridal march.”


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