I’d like you to imagine someone knitting a scarf what does this person look like
a scarf what does this person look like
a scarf what does this person look like what are they wearing where are they
what are they wearing where are they
what are they wearing where are they sitting now I’d like you to imagine
sitting now I’d like you to imagine
sitting now I’d like you to imagine someone programming a nap what does this
someone programming a nap what does this
someone programming a nap what does this person look like where are they sitting
person look like where are they sitting
person look like where are they sitting what are they wearing I’m going to guess
what are they wearing I’m going to guess
what are they wearing I’m going to guess that you didn’t imagine the same person
I’m going to guess that when you imagine
I’m going to guess that when you imagine someone knitting you probably imagined a
someone knitting you probably imagined a
someone knitting you probably imagined a woman probably older maybe your mother
woman probably older maybe your mother
woman probably older maybe your mother or grandmother sitting at home and when
or grandmother sitting at home and when
or grandmother sitting at home and when you imagine a programmer probably
you imagine a programmer probably
you imagine a programmer probably imagine a man probably younger maybe
imagine a man probably younger maybe
imagine a man probably younger maybe hunched over a keyboard in a really hip
hunched over a keyboard in a really hip
hunched over a keyboard in a really hip office maybe like this these stereotypes
office maybe like this these stereotypes
office maybe like this these stereotypes are pretty much universal but these two
are pretty much universal but these two
are pretty much universal but these two practices are much more closely related
practices are much more closely related
practices are much more closely related than you might think understanding this
than you might think understanding this
than you might think understanding this relationship can create entry points for
relationship can create entry points for
relationship can create entry points for people who otherwise may struggle to
people who otherwise may struggle to
people who otherwise may struggle to find their way into the tech space and
find their way into the tech space and
find their way into the tech space and understanding this relationship might
understanding this relationship might
understanding this relationship might change our perceptions of who we think
change our perceptions of who we think
change our perceptions of who we think belongs in that space I am a designer
belongs in that space I am a designer
belongs in that space I am a designer technologist educator and crafter I
technologist educator and crafter I
technologist educator and crafter I recently graduated from New York
recently graduated from New York
recently graduated from New York University with my masters and
University with my masters and
University with my masters and interactive telecommunications and for
interactive telecommunications and for
interactive telecommunications and for the past two and a half years i have
the past two and a half years i have
the past two and a half years i have been researching the overlap of craft in
been researching the overlap of craft in
been researching the overlap of craft in tech today i want to talk about those
tech today i want to talk about those
tech today i want to talk about those inner woven histories and what this can
inner woven histories and what this can
inner woven histories and what this can mean for the future but first I want to
mean for the future but first I want to
mean for the future but first I want to start by addressing an issue that
start by addressing an issue that
start by addressing an issue that plagues a tax base a lack of diversity
plagues a tax base a lack of diversity
plagues a tax base a lack of diversity and inclusion
belonging is very important to us humans
belonging is very important to us humans at a very young age we’re taught to
at a very young age we’re taught to
at a very young age we’re taught to point out the thing that doesn’t belong
point out the thing that doesn’t belong
point out the thing that doesn’t belong and it sticks with this has anyone here
and it sticks with this has anyone here
and it sticks with this has anyone here ever gone to a party wearing jeans and
ever gone to a party wearing jeans and
ever gone to a party wearing jeans and realized everybody else is in formal
realized everybody else is in formal
realized everybody else is in formal attire or has anybody here ever gone to
attire or has anybody here ever gone to
attire or has anybody here ever gone to a company meeting and realize that
a company meeting and realize that
a company meeting and realize that you’re the only woman if we look at
you’re the only woman if we look at
you’re the only woman if we look at major tech companies such as Apple
major tech companies such as Apple
major tech companies such as Apple Google Microsoft Facebook and Twitter
Google Microsoft Facebook and Twitter
Google Microsoft Facebook and Twitter only one in five tech positions are
only one in five tech positions are
only one in five tech positions are filled by women and that is not the only
filled by women and that is not the only
filled by women and that is not the only group that’s underrepresented only 3 out
group that’s underrepresented only 3 out
group that’s underrepresented only 3 out of 100 tech positions are filled by
of 100 tech positions are filled by
of 100 tech positions are filled by people who are hispanic or latino and
people who are hispanic or latino and
people who are hispanic or latino and only one in 100 of those positions are
only one in 100 of those positions are
only one in 100 of those positions are filled by someone who is black these
filled by someone who is black these
filled by someone who is black these companies make decisions that impact the
companies make decisions that impact the
companies make decisions that impact the entire world but the world is not being
entire world but the world is not being
entire world but the world is not being represented hiring practices of these
represented hiring practices of these
represented hiring practices of these companies is just as just a part of a
companies is just as just a part of a
companies is just as just a part of a much larger issue but today I want to
much larger issue but today I want to
much larger issue but today I want to focus on one example of where this comes
focus on one example of where this comes
focus on one example of where this comes from a recent study by girls who code an
from a recent study by girls who code an
from a recent study by girls who code an organization dedicated to closing the
organization dedicated to closing the
organization dedicated to closing the gender gap in tech found that three out
gender gap in tech found that three out
gender gap in tech found that three out of four middle school-aged girls had an
of four middle school-aged girls had an
of four middle school-aged girls had an interest in science engineering and math
interest in science engineering and math
interest in science engineering and math but when those girls go to apply for
but when those girls go to apply for
but when those girls go to apply for college only three out of a thousand
college only three out of a thousand
college only three out of a thousand choose computer science as a major the
choose computer science as a major the
choose computer science as a major the likelihood of a girl choosing computer
likelihood of a girl choosing computer
likelihood of a girl choosing computer science is a major increases 25% if he
science is a major increases 25% if he
science is a major increases 25% if he just believes that coding is for girls
just believes that coding is for girls
just believes that coding is for girls but it decreases thirty-three percent if
but it decreases thirty-three percent if
but it decreases thirty-three percent if she doesn’t believe she’ll have any
she doesn’t believe she’ll have any
she doesn’t believe she’ll have any friends in her class so it all comes
friends in her class so it all comes
friends in her class so it all comes back down to belonging
but why don’t girls feel like they
but why don’t girls feel like they belong why do we imagine that craft is
belong why do we imagine that craft is
belong why do we imagine that craft is for old ladies and tech is for young men
for old ladies and tech is for young men
for old ladies and tech is for young men why do we think of these as kind of
why do we think of these as kind of
why do we think of these as kind of opposite things but to answer that
opposite things but to answer that
opposite things but to answer that question let’s look at history starting
question let’s look at history starting
question let’s look at history starting around 1750 we have this great time
around 1750 we have this great time
around 1750 we have this great time called the Industrial Revolution it
called the Industrial Revolution it
called the Industrial Revolution it starts in Great Britain and spreads
starts in Great Britain and spreads
starts in Great Britain and spreads around the world and we have this new
around the world and we have this new
around the world and we have this new idea of Industry so we have to also
idea of Industry so we have to also
idea of Industry so we have to also define what isn’t industry and we come
define what isn’t industry and we come
define what isn’t industry and we come up with this idea of craft so industry
up with this idea of craft so industry
up with this idea of craft so industry is mass-produced and machine made and
is mass-produced and machine made and
is mass-produced and machine made and craft is handmade and inefficient and
craft is handmade and inefficient and
craft is handmade and inefficient and industry is progressive and masculine
industry is progressive and masculine
industry is progressive and masculine and craft is conservative and feminine
and craft is conservative and feminine
and craft is conservative and feminine and then craft you know serves to
and then craft you know serves to
and then craft you know serves to preserve the past while industry and
preserve the past while industry and
preserve the past while industry and Technology are representative of
Technology are representative of
Technology are representative of aspirations for the future but prior to
aspirations for the future but prior to
aspirations for the future but prior to the Industrial Revolution we only had
the Industrial Revolution we only had
the Industrial Revolution we only had the idea of things that were human-made
the idea of things that were human-made
the idea of things that were human-made so craft and technology are the same
so craft and technology are the same
so craft and technology are the same thing they’re human innovation they only
thing they’re human innovation they only
thing they’re human innovation they only became separate when it became
became separate when it became
became separate when it became politically useful to divide them so
politically useful to divide them so
politically useful to divide them so let’s look at some examples I want to
let’s look at some examples I want to
let’s look at some examples I want to start with leaving during the industrial
start with leaving during the industrial
start with leaving during the industrial revolution a an English mathematician
revolution a an English mathematician
revolution a an English mathematician inventor and engineer Charles Babbage
inventor and engineer Charles Babbage
inventor and engineer Charles Babbage became completely fascinated with this
became completely fascinated with this
became completely fascinated with this brand new invention called the jacquard
brand new invention called the jacquard
brand new invention called the jacquard loom and this loom revolutionized
loom and this loom revolutionized
loom and this loom revolutionized textile making but to understand just
textile making but to understand just
textile making but to understand just how great it was it’s helpful to
how great it was it’s helpful to
how great it was it’s helpful to understand a little bit about weaving
a woven fabric has threads that run
a woven fabric has threads that run vertically and horizontally the work
vertically and horizontally the work
vertically and horizontally the work threads go on the loom first and they
threads go on the loom first and they
threads go on the loom first and they run vertically and the horizontal
run vertically and the horizontal
run vertically and the horizontal threads are the weft and they’re woven
threads are the weft and they’re woven
threads are the weft and they’re woven into the warp threads and this forms an
into the warp threads and this forms an
into the warp threads and this forms an interlocking structure the jacquard loom
interlocking structure the jacquard loom
interlocking structure the jacquard loom is fed a set of pre punched cards that
is fed a set of pre punched cards that
is fed a set of pre punched cards that control the configuration of the of the
control the configuration of the of the
control the configuration of the of the threads so each card contains
threads so each card contains
threads so each card contains information specific to one row whatever
information specific to one row whatever
information specific to one row whatever pattern you want for your fabric will be
pattern you want for your fabric will be
pattern you want for your fabric will be formed row by row and this is really
formed row by row and this is really
formed row by row and this is really similar to if you’ve ever been on a
similar to if you’ve ever been on a
similar to if you’ve ever been on a website and an image is loading really
website and an image is loading really
website and an image is loading really slowly loading in actually rows of
slowly loading in actually rows of
slowly loading in actually rows of pixels so being able to control
pixels so being able to control
pixels so being able to control individual threads is actually a lot
individual threads is actually a lot
individual threads is actually a lot like being able to control individual
like being able to control individual
like being able to control individual pixels and this is a portrait of Joseph
pixels and this is a portrait of Joseph
pixels and this is a portrait of Joseph Murray jacquard the inventor of the
Murray jacquard the inventor of the
Murray jacquard the inventor of the jacquard loom this was woven and silk in
jacquard loom this was woven and silk in
jacquard loom this was woven and silk in 1839 and actually dozens of these were
1839 and actually dozens of these were
1839 and actually dozens of these were woven from the same set of punch cards
woven from the same set of punch cards
woven from the same set of punch cards and they were sent all over Europe most
and they were sent all over Europe most
and they were sent all over Europe most people at this time had never seen a
people at this time had never seen a
people at this time had never seen a photograph so you can kind of imagine
photograph so you can kind of imagine
photograph so you can kind of imagine that this level of detail was pretty
that this level of detail was pretty
that this level of detail was pretty amazing especially in silk so you can
amazing especially in silk so you can
amazing especially in silk so you can kind of think of this as a Victorian era
kind of think of this as a Victorian era
kind of think of this as a Victorian era viral marketing campaign and Charles
viral marketing campaign and Charles
viral marketing campaign and Charles Babbage had to have one of these and
Babbage had to have one of these and
Babbage had to have one of these and this brings me to what is so amazing
this brings me to what is so amazing
this brings me to what is so amazing about the jacquard loom it’s
about the jacquard loom it’s
about the jacquard loom it’s programmable this weaving machine
programmable this weaving machine
programmable this weaving machine inspired Charles Babbage to invent the
inspired Charles Babbage to invent the
inspired Charles Babbage to invent the analytical engine this is the first
analytical engine this is the first
analytical engine this is the first general purpose computer machines up to
general purpose computer machines up to
general purpose computer machines up to this point would carry out a specific
this point would carry out a specific
this point would carry out a specific function or calculation but using a
function or calculation but using a
function or calculation but using a punch card system we could actually um
carry out any number of functions
carry out any number of functions without altering the mechanics some of
without altering the mechanics some of
without altering the mechanics some of you might remember the programming with
you might remember the programming with
you might remember the programming with punch cards on mainframe computers they
punch cards on mainframe computers they
punch cards on mainframe computers they were the precursors to the laptops that
were the precursors to the laptops that
were the precursors to the laptops that we have today stepping back a bit you
we have today stepping back a bit you
we have today stepping back a bit you can think of even the most basic loom as
can think of even the most basic loom as
can think of even the most basic loom as a precursor to the modern computer both
a precursor to the modern computer both
a precursor to the modern computer both leaving and compute computing can be
leaving and compute computing can be
leaving and compute computing can be boiled down to a binary system which
boiled down to a binary system which
boiled down to a binary system which means they rely on just two states for
means they rely on just two states for
means they rely on just two states for weaving this is the weft going above and
weaving this is the weft going above and
weaving this is the weft going above and below the warp and for computing this is
below the warp and for computing this is
below the warp and for computing this is zeros and ones email internet all the
zeros and ones email internet all the
zeros and ones email internet all the apps on your phone are all made of just
apps on your phone are all made of just
apps on your phone are all made of just zeros and ones and we call these bits of
zeros and ones and we call these bits of
zeros and ones and we call these bits of data so Weaver’s are like computers
data so Weaver’s are like computers
data so Weaver’s are like computers because they process their own bits of
because they process their own bits of
because they process their own bits of data and translate them into something
data and translate them into something
data and translate them into something that is visually meaningful to humans
that is visually meaningful to humans
that is visually meaningful to humans you can see a similar pattern inditing
the woman who taught me to knit Barclay
the woman who taught me to knit Barclay done was also a programmer at the
done was also a programmer at the
done was also a programmer at the company where I worked we met once a
company where I worked we met once a
company where I worked we met once a week over lunch to attend it together
week over lunch to attend it together
week over lunch to attend it together and it never occurred to me that these
and it never occurred to me that these
and it never occurred to me that these parts of her life might be related but
parts of her life might be related but
parts of her life might be related but eventually I was learning to program and
eventually I was learning to program and
eventually I was learning to program and I started to notice all these
I started to notice all these
I started to notice all these similarities between knitting and what I
similarities between knitting and what I
similarities between knitting and what I was learning in class so for example
was learning in class so for example
was learning in class so for example when you learn to knit the first thing
when you learn to knit the first thing
when you learn to knit the first thing you learn is a two-dimensional array
you learn is a two-dimensional array
you learn is a two-dimensional array also known as a matrix and you might
also known as a matrix and you might
also known as a matrix and you might know it as a scarf so let me explain an
know it as a scarf so let me explain an
know it as a scarf so let me explain an array is a set of something and in this
array is a set of something and in this
array is a set of something and in this case it’s the set of stitches a 2d array
case it’s the set of stitches a 2d array
case it’s the set of stitches a 2d array a two-dimensional array is a set of sets
a two-dimensional array is a set of sets
a two-dimensional array is a set of sets and the width of a scarf is determined
and the width of a scarf is determined
and the width of a scarf is determined by the width of the first row of
by the width of the first row of
by the width of the first row of stitches
stitches
stitches this is a an array of stitches and the
this is a an array of stitches and the
this is a an array of stitches and the length of the this scarf is determined
length of the this scarf is determined
length of the this scarf is determined by the number of rows so a scarf is a
by the number of rows so a scarf is a
by the number of rows so a scarf is a two-dimensional array of stitches so I
two-dimensional array of stitches so I
two-dimensional array of stitches so I just used knitting to explain a data
just used knitting to explain a data
just used knitting to explain a data structure and a data structure to
structure and a data structure to
structure and a data structure to explain knitting so once you’ve mastered
explain knitting so once you’ve mastered
explain knitting so once you’ve mastered your two-dimensional array you probably
your two-dimensional array you probably
your two-dimensional array you probably want to move on to some
want to move on to some
want to move on to some three-dimensional structures socks hats
three-dimensional structures socks hats
three-dimensional structures socks hats mittens sweaters and these require
mittens sweaters and these require
mittens sweaters and these require calculations that can get fairly complex
calculations that can get fairly complex
calculations that can get fairly complex so we have a system of shorthand that we
so we have a system of shorthand that we
so we have a system of shorthand that we use to communicate these instructions
use to communicate these instructions
use to communicate these instructions once it’s called a knitting pattern and
once it’s called a knitting pattern and
once it’s called a knitting pattern and these are the instructions to make this
these are the instructions to make this
these are the instructions to make this hat these patterns also resemble
hat these patterns also resemble
hat these patterns also resemble computer code so someone who is used to
computer code so someone who is used to
computer code so someone who is used to reading and writing and the syntax of
reading and writing and the syntax of
reading and writing and the syntax of knitting patterns would actually be in
knitting patterns would actually be in
knitting patterns would actually be in an excellent position to learn a
an excellent position to learn a
an excellent position to learn a programming language and yet they aren’t
programming language and yet they aren’t
programming language and yet they aren’t necessarily the people that we imagined
necessarily the people that we imagined
necessarily the people that we imagined when we imagine a programmer so craft
when we imagine a programmer so craft
when we imagine a programmer so craft has been a tool for me to find my way
has been a tool for me to find my way
has been a tool for me to find my way into the tech space and technology in
into the tech space and technology in
into the tech space and technology in turn has led me back to craft I’ve
turn has led me back to craft I’ve
turn has led me back to craft I’ve become fascinated by just the complex
become fascinated by just the complex
become fascinated by just the complex relationships and systems that exist
relationships and systems that exist
relationships and systems that exist between craft and technology so I’ve
between craft and technology so I’ve
between craft and technology so I’ve even come up with my own word to
even come up with my own word to
even come up with my own word to describe it cybernetics during my
describe it cybernetics during my
describe it cybernetics during my master’s thesis research I set out to
master’s thesis research I set out to
master’s thesis research I set out to kind of illustrate this idea of
kind of illustrate this idea of
kind of illustrate this idea of cybernetics and I wanted to answer one
cybernetics and I wanted to answer one
cybernetics and I wanted to answer one fundamental question will cyborgs knit
fundamental question will cyborgs knit
fundamental question will cyborgs knit I developed a wearable device for the
I developed a wearable device for the
I developed a wearable device for the crafter of the future as the wearer
crafter of the future as the wearer
crafter of the future as the wearer knits the device tracks and sauna faiz
knits the device tracks and sauna faiz
knits the device tracks and sauna faiz their hand movements so the natural
their hand movements so the natural
their hand movements so the natural rhythm of knitting becomes a rhythm that
rhythm of knitting becomes a rhythm that
rhythm of knitting becomes a rhythm that you can hear and the result is very
you can hear and the result is very
you can hear and the result is very mindful and calming and it connects the
mindful and calming and it connects the
mindful and calming and it connects the we’re more closely to the process of
we’re more closely to the process of
we’re more closely to the process of knitting as opposed to when we think of
knitting as opposed to when we think of
knitting as opposed to when we think of just the result and this brings me to
just the result and this brings me to
just the result and this brings me to the title of my talk the future is soft
the title of my talk the future is soft
the title of my talk the future is soft improving that cyborgs will knit I must
improving that cyborgs will knit I must
improving that cyborgs will knit I must also prove that crafting has a has a
also prove that crafting has a has a
also prove that crafting has a has a place in the future there is a false
place in the future there is a false
place in the future there is a false assumption that technology is will
assumption that technology is will
assumption that technology is will become so advanced that we no longer
become so advanced that we no longer
become so advanced that we no longer want or need to make things by hand but
want or need to make things by hand but
want or need to make things by hand but actually crafts and tech coexist
technology more than any other modern
technology more than any other modern industry would benefit from more
industry would benefit from more
industry would benefit from more viewpoints if we do away with the
viewpoints if we do away with the
viewpoints if we do away with the artificial separation between tech and
artificial separation between tech and
artificial separation between tech and craft it becomes clear that crafters are
craft it becomes clear that crafters are
craft it becomes clear that crafters are some of the most qualified people to
some of the most qualified people to
some of the most qualified people to provide these viewpoints tech and craft
provide these viewpoints tech and craft
provide these viewpoints tech and craft both permeate our lives and more ways
both permeate our lives and more ways
both permeate our lives and more ways than we realize and if we can bring
than we realize and if we can bring
than we realize and if we can bring these two seemingly disparate groups
these two seemingly disparate groups
these two seemingly disparate groups together imagine the brilliant minds
together imagine the brilliant minds
together imagine the brilliant minds that we can bring into this space now
that we can bring into this space now
that we can bring into this space now remember earlier when I told you that
remember earlier when I told you that
remember earlier when I told you that three out of four middle school-aged
three out of four middle school-aged
three out of four middle school-aged girls expressed an interest in science
girls expressed an interest in science
girls expressed an interest in science engineering and math but didn’t carry
engineering and math but didn’t carry
engineering and math but didn’t carry that interest through a higher education
according to a recent study by Facebook
according to a recent study by Facebook and mackynzie 3 out of 4 parents or
and mackynzie 3 out of 4 parents or
and mackynzie 3 out of 4 parents or guardians do not know how to help their
guardians do not know how to help their
guardians do not know how to help their child pursue a degree in computer
child pursue a degree in computer
child pursue a degree in computer science so let’s get rid of the idea
science so let’s get rid of the idea
science so let’s get rid of the idea that anybody has to fit into a mold to
that anybody has to fit into a mold to
that anybody has to fit into a mold to get into that space
get into that space
get into that space and I will leave you with this thought
and I will leave you with this thought
and I will leave you with this thought if you can weave you can think like a
if you can weave you can think like a
if you can weave you can think like a computer and if you can knit you can
computer and if you can knit you can
computer and if you can knit you can program and if you can so you can
program and if you can so you can
program and if you can so you can engineer and as long as you are thinking
engineer and as long as you are thinking
engineer and as long as you are thinking and creating your valuable and you
and creating your valuable and you
and creating your valuable and you belong
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
you
you [Music]
”
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