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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body bgcolor=white lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>A thoughtful piece, Harold. Thank you. The Fly is definitely a whimsical addition to the OS menagerie – pretty much what one might expect from the fertile mind and puckish spirit of Phelim. And as you point out, The Fly is actually not a new comer. The recorder/observer role is one that has been played, in one way or another since the very first Open Space. And of course it is also very much present in our everyday life. So what else is new?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>All that said I think there are some issues here worthy of discussion. And I am not really sure that the metaphor of the Fly will take us to where we need to go. After all, just think about what attracts flies… or even worse, what flies leave behind…<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>The real issue for me is the role of technology in all its forms… in the opening and holding of space. On the one hand technology is very much with us, inescapably so. In any gathering of two or more folks in Open Space or anywhere else – there you will surely find at least a cell phone in their midst. As long as the technology serves life (our lives) it is wonderful, but when the relationship is reversed (our lives governed by technology) – it seems to me that we got trouble in River City.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Over the years, proponents of various technologies have approached me with the proposition that their technology is the absolutely perfect fit for use in Open Space. More often than not, however, it seemed to me that their technology was in search for an application and not in service to the community. Really good technology for me is subtle and invisible. When it takes over, I get really uncomfortable. Think for example of two folks sitting side by side, texting each other. They might just try talking!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>So when it comes to things like video, etc – subtle invisibility is my criterion. And our resident videographer in London totally met that standard, I thought. He was a real pro, but I never thought of him a fly… Rather more a participant in a different way and realm. That is high art, and the product of many hours and much intention. Subtle, invisible, and sensitive – and unfortunately, somewhat rare characteristics in the electronic graphic arts world. But totally wonderful and contributory when they appear.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Harrison <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Harrison Owen<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>7808 River Falls Dr.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Potomac, MD 20854<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>USA<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>189 Beaucaire Ave. (summer)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Camden, Maine 20854<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Phone 301-365-2093<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>(summer) 207-763-3261<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><a href="www.openspaceworld.com%20"><span style='color:blue'>www.openspaceworld.com</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><a href="www.ho-image.com%20"><span style='color:blue'>www.ho-image.com</span></a> (Personal Website)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Consolas;color:#1F497D'>To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of OSLIST Go to:<a href="http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org"><span style='color:blue'>http://lists.openspacetech.org/listinfo.cgi/oslist-openspacetech.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:windowtext'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";color:windowtext'> oslist-bounces@lists.openspacetech.org [mailto:oslist-bounces@lists.openspacetech.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Harold Shinsato<br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, October 18, 2012 6:16 PM<br><b>To:</b> oslist@openspacetech.org<br><b>Subject:</b> [OSList] New Animal from London - "The Fly"<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'>In London last week Phelim formally introduced a new animal to add to our familiar butterflies and bumblebees. As noted in an earlier post, Phelim called it the Fly.<br><br>There was a sketch of the Fly on the wall - an insect with huge eyes, wings, and a camera. When Phelim introduced the creature on one of the morning openings, the fellow with the large high quality video camera came to demonstrate an aspect of "the Fly". When the fly came close to Phelim, he shooed it away. And then soon it came back. And he shooed it away again, repeating several times.<br><br>Having video taped a number of sessions and events in Open Space before - not with as excellent equipment - the Fly metaphor is really resonating. We're like the proverbial "Fly on the Wall" that provides access to events that others wish they could have seen. But the Fly can also detract. Some people get annoyed. It hampers their safety in being able to share. Sometimes people want to swat the Fly so they can just be present in the moment.<br><br>It felt like we had a professional "Fly" at WOSonOS 2012, and I look forward to some of the sweet stuff he captured after it gets digested.<br><br>But it also seems like the Fly is not a new animal at Open Space Technology events. In some ways, "The Fly" is part of the documentation story, not just for video but even for notes, drawings, audio recordings, and photos. Even written notes help those not present to be "the fly on the wall", yet it can be annoying to be quoted, or even to be the notes taker. Phelim even warned folks that the notes are visible to the whole world - so be sensitive to what you share!<br><br>I'm thinking of adding the Fly to our crew of insects to help remember some aspects that come up especially for videographers as they record and document. The metaphor empowers the participants to have a dialog with the recorders, empowers them to shoo away the flies, and prepares the flies that they may indeed be invited to stop recording in a light and fun way. <br><br>Does this metaphor fit? Is there a better one?<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>-- <br>Harold Shinsato<br><a href="mailto:harold@shinsato.com">harold@shinsato.com</a><br><a href="http://shinsato.com">http://shinsato.com</a><br>twitter: <a href="http://twitter.com/hajush">@hajush</a><o:p></o:p></p></div></div></body></html>