A Search for a Poetic Technology | Nhân Phan | TEDxULIS

Quick Overview

Nhân Phan argues for the necessity of "Poetic Technology," which involves artists using technology to express the human condition, contrasting with technology optimized only for commercial efficiency, as exemplified by his project to generate 76,000 novel Vietnamese syllables by combining phonetic components.

Key Points: Phan's talk centers on "Poetic Technology," defining it as a field where artists use technology to express the human condition, moving beyond mere commercial optimization. He contrasts early internet experiences, like playing the game Audition and discussing things on forums, with the modern, standardized, and often hollow digital interactions characterized by 'scroll, like, share, and repeat.' Phan introduced a Vietnamese project that analyzes the structure of Vietnamese, a monosyllabic language with approximately 6,000 existing syllables, to explore the potential for 76,000 novel syllables through phonetic combination. The project used Python to traverse the Vietnamese dictionary, breaking down syllables into pre-consonant, vowel, and post-consonant components to generate new combinations. He references Taeyoon Choi's idea that computers are not neutral objects but sites of contested politics operating under capitalist logic. The project aims to create tools for expression, creativity, and humanity, contrasting with tools designed only for efficiency or commerce. The speaker's own project, "Để quá khứ (sẽ tiếp diễn)" (For the past (to continue)), was featured at the Future Tense Award in Hong Kong in 2025.

Context: The presentation, titled "A Search for Poetic Technology," is delivered by Nhân Phan at TEDxULIS 2025. Phan explores the evolution of human interaction with technology, moving from early, more personal digital experiences to current, algorithm-driven environments that he suggests lack emotional depth. He champions "Poetic Technology" as a necessary counterpoint, focusing on technology's potential for artistic expression and exploring the human condition.