commit 0e65ff1fc7fd38a2f2845e88043c44c6794c03e9
parent 632e260988cb6de22cb60e46c27d095047d3831f
Author: Ville-Matias Heikkila <viznut@low.fi>
Date: Mon, 25 Jul 2022 17:40:13 +0300
add page
Diffstat:
1 file changed, 42 insertions(+), 0 deletions(-)
diff --git a/aesthetics.mdwn b/aesthetics.mdwn
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+**Aesthetics** is relevant to many aspects of computing. Here, we are mostly
+concerned of the superficial visual appearances and their technological
+bases.
+
+A predomidant aesthetic in mainstream computing is **[[maximalism]]**, that
+is based on the idea that increased detail, complexity and "fidelity" are
+the key to "better graphics". This kind of preference is highly problematic
+from the permacomputing point of view because it creates a preference for
+energy usage maximization (when uncapped). Permacomputing should therefore
+strongly prioritize non-maximalist aesthetic approaches.
+
+The dominant approach on the [[demoscene]] is optimalism, or "capped
+maximalism". It often proves that mass appeal can be reached despite tight
+limitations, but the aesthetic basis is still maximalist – fitting a maximal
+amount of content within the limits, the more the better.
+
+Ideally, the low complexity itself can be a source of beauty: things can
+look good *because* of their smallness, not *despite* it. If this succeeds
+really well, even the most mainstreamy viewer won't be longing for more
+resolution or detail.
+
+In user interfaces, the ideal of low complexity may easily lead to the now
+fashionable oversimplification, where the internal details are hidden from
+the user. This is not what we want. We should rather find ways to keep users
+aware of what is going without overwhelming them with the information.
+
+[[Media minimization]] techniques sometimes lead to styles such as
+"ditherpunk" that require acquired taste and are still more likely to belong
+to the "despite" category than the "because" category.
+
+Another example of acquired taste is "Unix brutalism" that uses a lot of
+monospaced fonts, program code and other elements typical of
+[[character terminal]]s. It should be noted that despite its "hardcore
+low-level vibes" it is often a suboptimal way of using display hardware.
+
+The characteristics of [[electronic paper]] (slow update speeds, low
+saturation, no flashing, bookiness) may be used as an antithesis for the
+psychologically intensive mainstream computer aesthetics – regardless of
+what kinds of screens are actually used. Elements may grow in rather than
+scroll in (more like plants than cars). The semblance of printed media
+alludes to a world that is slower and more thoughtful than the mainstream
+Internet.
