|
|
<!DOCTYPE html>
|
|
|
<html lang="en">
|
|
|
<head>
|
|
|
<meta charset="UTF-8" />
|
|
|
<meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge" />
|
|
|
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" />
|
|
|
<title>SI16 - Learning how to walk while catwalking</title>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<!-- style -->
|
|
|
<link rel="stylesheet" href="./static/css/variables.css" />
|
|
|
<link rel="stylesheet" href="./static/css/global.css" />
|
|
|
<link rel="stylesheet" href="./static/css/manifesto.css" />
|
|
|
|
|
|
<!-- script -->
|
|
|
<script src="./static/js/lodash.js"></script>
|
|
|
<script src="./static/js/spawnSticker.js" defer></script>
|
|
|
</head>
|
|
|
<body>
|
|
|
<section id="sticker-container"></section>
|
|
|
<section id="sticker-fixed-container"></section>
|
|
|
<section class="page--header">
|
|
|
<header>
|
|
|
<h1 class="title">My friend came to try it</h1>
|
|
|
<!-- <h2 class="subtitle">Sub--title</h2> -->
|
|
|
</header>
|
|
|
<nav>
|
|
|
<a href=".." data-fixed_sticker="Back"></a>
|
|
|
<a href="/" data-fixed_sticker="Home"></a>
|
|
|
</nav>
|
|
|
</section>
|
|
|
<main class="page--content chat">
|
|
|
<p>So tell me dear, how was your first term at school?</p>
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
It was a trip mom! We jumped on a thing we called Soupboat and started diving into
|
|
|
an ocean of data, inputs, readings, Python, Jupyter notebooks, etherpads,%!*!J)
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
<p>What are you talking about?</p>
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
I know, it sounds rather abstract. So it is for us. That’s why we called our Special
|
|
|
Issue Learning how to walk while catwalking
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
<p>Ha, that sounds funny. Are you hungry?</p>
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
You know I am always hungry. So, the title originated from the idea of creating new
|
|
|
things with unfamiliar tools in relation to language processing, while learning it
|
|
|
at the same time. It is about embracing vulnerability, sharing the clumsiness with
|
|
|
little time and little technical knowledge through the medium of a toolkit and
|
|
|
encouraging others to walk with us.
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
I see… Still I’m not sure if I understand. Did you make good friends? How many are
|
|
|
you? Are your classmates from Rotterdam?
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
Yes mom, we are a nice experimental group! None of them is from Rotterdam! And we
|
|
|
are basically embracing the chaos and juggling and balancing. It is nice because we
|
|
|
do laugh together but not at each other..We met in a common broken English ground,
|
|
|
like a vernacular English let’s say..
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
Good. Then your English should be getting better finally! So the rest also didn’t
|
|
|
know how to do all these new things?
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
Some of them did know, but they are kind enough to don’t lose their patience and
|
|
|
help the others and that’s also the main point, that we want to demonstrate how
|
|
|
mistakes and trials are not just part of the process but can also be results!
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
I’m not sure if I agree with that but maybe I’m just too old and boring, sweetheart…
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
That’s okay, maybe you’ll agree once you see it :) But yeah, on that note, we want
|
|
|
to bring the human touch to the machine computing through language processing and
|
|
|
individual perceptions.
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
<p>Honey your food is getting cold..</p>
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
Yes but you asked about my term before asking if I was hungry so let’s go one by
|
|
|
one. Our publication is made for users to be able to understand how these processes
|
|
|
work, and what it is interesting is that we, when starting the project and also
|
|
|
throughout the realization of the ladder, didn’t know what the result, the meaning
|
|
|
or the use of it would be. This project is characterized by the use of functions
|
|
|
that process vernacular language. From gathering information by the public, to using
|
|
|
texts produced by other authors, the SOUPBOAT group aims to process this content in
|
|
|
order to showcase the use of these functions and produce new vernacular materials.
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
<p>Ahhh yes I remember you mentioning this vernacular thing before,..</p>
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
Yessss, you still have some memory left :) so, the topic of this term was vernacular
|
|
|
language and or language processing with vernacular ways. We had a big journey for
|
|
|
understanding vernacular and language processing with big data. We started thinking
|
|
|
that the concept of rejection can be our main umbrella for initiating things and we
|
|
|
created a glossary of the different and unexpected faces of rejection.
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
I also remember you talking about rejection but I am getting a bit lost here, like
|
|
|
how is rejection related to vernacular?
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
Yes, this is an ongoing discussion, but basically we were trying to depart from a
|
|
|
common ground, something that we could all relate to (the same as anything
|
|
|
vernacular)
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
<p>But what did you m a k e ? This is rather confusing dear</p>
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
LOL wait until I tell you about the API..so we made a toolkit!! A toolkit for
|
|
|
processing language with a vernacular mood. This toolkit is not just a set of tools
|
|
|
but also the world we are building around them: how do we want this tools affects
|
|
|
reality? This toolkit can be expanded, as new tools can be added, and the world
|
|
|
around them stretched. There is a strong focus in the way we are working on it: a
|
|
|
decentralized approach that builds from the ground up. Perspectivism is a nice word
|
|
|
but not sure it makes sense for you.
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
<p>Yes I am not sure either..</p>
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
Yes that was a bit conceptual but basically - physically, our project is meant to
|
|
|
give bunch of users several tools: ✂️scissors, 📃sticky notes, ✏️pencils, erasers,
|
|
|
and printed paper. ✂️🖊📝✏️📃 And let them have fun. Cutting it and putting it
|
|
|
together, making notes and writing jokes. But everything in a digital format. And
|
|
|
the cool part is it’s constantly updated by the magic of API.
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
Ok maybe you can tell me about the API after dinner. Or tomorrow. I think I need a
|
|
|
break now.
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
<p>I understand mom, it is okay. Tomorrow I’ll explain to you the API, I can’t wait.</p>
|
|
|
|
|
|
<!-- —-----------------------—-----------------One day later —------------------------------------------------ -->
|
|
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
Dear are you ready, we are already late, your dad is waiting for us in the car so
|
|
|
maybe you can explain us this other IPA thing on the way to visit grandma?
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
<p>For sure, maybe dad or even grandma have some nice feedback about it.</p>
|
|
|
<p>Don’t make fun of us darling, your grandma even learnt how to use Whatssapp now!</p>
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
I know! She’s a baddass isn’t she? Anyway, so, the API, there’s this very good meme
|
|
|
that I think explains it in a rather good way. OK I see you cannot look now so I’ll
|
|
|
describe it. Imagine a bar with different staff in it. The cooks working in the
|
|
|
kitchen would be the backend, the ones behind the bar the frontend, andddd the
|
|
|
people that run from the bar to the tables are the API.
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
So an API translates the content of the Internet? What does the acronym stand for?
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
Yes! Brilliant! I mean, kind of! So, API means Application Programming Interface,
|
|
|
but I guess that doesn’t really help. It is a protocol through which most of the
|
|
|
Internet we use functions, but it remains invisible,..mysterious, intangible! I’m
|
|
|
not sure if we understand but you look quite excited, that’s nice, you seem to be
|
|
|
learning a lot. Indeed. So basically we have created a toolkit that is deployed in
|
|
|
the form of an API, the rules of which will be defined by the collection of filters
|
|
|
and functions we are writing. A bit meta, yes. But it will be these rules that will
|
|
|
define the politics and access of it.
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
<p>Well that does sound serious, like in a positive way I mean.</p>
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
Indeed, I’ll take that as a compliment! The idea behind choosing the form of an API
|
|
|
to publish our Special Issue is that it is a way to not just publish contents but
|
|
|
also the tools that we are using to generate them.
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
<p>A cute altruist gesture in these times!</p>
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
Thank you, that was the point, yes. The idea was to create an interface between the
|
|
|
public and our functions as a way to offer a service, make it accessible and
|
|
|
question the relations of power that this kind of structure creates.
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
So you mean that Google, Markplaats, The New York Times, Buienradar… they all use an
|
|
|
API?
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
Exactly! OMG I’m so happy that you guys got it. So basically the API - through
|
|
|
Flask, (but here I won’t get into detail, I see that we are about to arrive also)
|
|
|
synchronizes the content between the functions that we have written in our notebooks
|
|
|
in Python with the website.
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
Yes honey maybe you can help us unload the car and we can continue this conversion
|
|
|
with Grandma later…
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
<!-- -----------------------—---------------- After lunch —---------------------------------------------- -->
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
(Grandma) So what are these filters your mum says you have made in class? She has
|
|
|
explained to me something about a website and some waiters running to the kitchen?
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
LOLOLOL. Let’s forget about that, but maybe we can try some functions already ! They
|
|
|
should still be running online, and since it’s a weekday, the API - and website
|
|
|
should be open for the public.
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
Ah so you have proper opening times! Like in the good old times, when people had
|
|
|
normal schedules and no one worked on Sunday.
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
Of course! This is why it’s a vernacular API, made by humans for other humans :)
|
|
|
That was the main point for us, designing a platform that was approachable, that
|
|
|
resembles our group and that is accessible for everyone. Even you grandma! Anyway,
|
|
|
answering your question: we have developed 3 main projects into subgroups. One of
|
|
|
them works on vernacular maps, another one on a replace function that changes words
|
|
|
from a text transcript and another one that contaminates texts.
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
And tell me sweetheart, how are the people in your class? Did you make nice friends?
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
|
Yes Grandma, I was telling mom, that we made a very eclectic group. It is being very
|
|
|
enriching because of the different backgrounds. We are ambitious, politically
|
|
|
engaged, and very committed with the studies. I am proud of them-us, indeed!
|
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
</main>
|
|
|
<section class="page--footer">
|
|
|
<footer>Special Issue 16—Learning How to Walk while Catwalking</footer>
|
|
|
</section>
|
|
|
</body>
|
|
|
</html>
|