THE INVERTED MACHINE
The inverted machine - Rechnender Raum (Calculating Space) is a light-weight sculpture, constructed from sticks, strings and little plumbs. At the same time it is a full functional logic exact neural network. Through its strict geometric and otherwise very filigree construction, the observer is able to track the whole processing logic from every viewpoint around the machine. This disclosure of the machines core is enforced by an uncommon distribution of its constructing elements: a nine angled architectural body forms a torus. In contrast to an ordinary alignment of a hidden logic and an outer user facing display its geometric basis is turned inside-out. The core of the machine, with all its computing elements, is shifted outwards on the surface, while the "display" which indicates the results of the tasks is displaced into the center of the system. Even though the tasks and their logic runs directly in front of the viewers eyes and even if one is long sinking into the interaction of the elements which is accompanied by a polyphonic but steady and reassuring buzz, it is not possible to follow the succession of the single conditions of the machine.
On one hand by turning the machine inside-out its function is completly transparent, on the other hand a strict self-referentiality and ignorance to the viewer is realized. The machine turns away from the visitor and carries out its computations only for itself. Without depending on interaction or requesting it, it goes through its own states endlessly. The results of the computations are sent inwards -into its own center- they are not intended for the viewer. So an interesting paradox appears: while the machine opens up everything it closes it at the same time, as if it has a secret.
"Besides, it must be admitted that perception, and anything that depends on it, cannot be explained in terms of mechanistic causation — that is, in terms of shapes and motions. Let us pretend that there was a machine, which was constructed in such a way as to give rise to thinking, sensing, and having perceptions. You could imagine it expanded in size (while retaining the same proportions), so that you could go inside it, like going into a mill. On this assumption, your tour inside it would show you the working parts pushing each other, but never anything which would explain a perception. So perception is to be sought, not in compounds (or machines), but in simple substances. Furthermore, there is nothing to be found in simple substances, apart from perceptions and their changes. Again, all the internal actions of simple substances can consist in nothing other than perceptions and their changes." (The Monadology, G.W. Leibnitz)
RR is captured in a continuous contemplative process. After it is launched by moving one of its 200 levers it tries to compensate the disturbance. But every try produces impulses which cause new disturbances. The logic, inscribed into the configuration of the levers and strings, forces the machine to process its possible states continuously. The panoptic construction maps the mechanical processes of the surface into its inner core (wireframe display). Based on the formal concept of a cellular automaton, every digital switching logical unit is constructed by strings, levers and plumbs. Initially is the idea of using strings as signal carriers for binary information (loose string = 0; pulled string = 1). The boolean operations NOT/AND/OR are realized by corresponding interconnected levers and blumbs. In the broadest sense RR is a very basic computer. (For detailed information read the "Elementary mechanics" section)
The first cellular automatons where used by Stanislaw Ulam and John von Neumann for their research on the growth of crystals and self-replicating systems back in the 1940s. The term Rechnender Raum (Calculating Space) was first used in the 1960s by Konrad Zuse. In the same-titled book he proposes that the physical laws of the universe are discrete by nature, and that the entire universe is just the output of a deterministic computation on a giant cellular automaton.
Ralf Baecker