A paper delivered at the 2009 Pacific Ancient and Modern Languages Association Conference that describes how British cyberneticist Stafford Beer's writing, infographics, and industrial design for his ambitious Cybersyn Project worked together to create a science fictional narrative of omniscience and omnipotence for Salvador Allende's socialist government in Chile. Watch it here:
Jem Axelrod teaches U.S. History, American Studies, and Cultural Studies at Occidental College. His book Inventing Autopia: Envisioning the Modern Metropolis in Jazz Age Los Angeles was recently published by University of California Press and he is currently well underway on another, called A Theory Toolkit, written with Rise Axelrod under contract from W.W. Norton. In addition, he has co-founded several internet start-ups with Greg Borenstein.
Greg Borenstein is a Master's student in the Interactive Telecommunications Program in the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University where his work focuses on the implications of physical computing technologies for the practice of art and design. He is currently working with UNICEF's Innovation Office to apply cell phone technology to improve humanitarian aid delivery in sub-Saharan Africa. After acquiring a BA in Art History from Reed College, Greg spent the last six years in the technology industry running an internet startup co-founded with Jem Axelrod.