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warp: http://constantvzw.org/site/-Ageing-companions-.html
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#<multi>[en]Ageing Companions[fr]Les cyborgs viellissants[nl]Geprogrammeerde veroudering</multi>

<multi>[en]_Ageing companions_ (a worksession with three titles) explored the interconnected ageing of bodies and technologies. The lifecycles of different species are linked via electronic circuits with limited lifespan: accessories that measure biorhythms or monitor the growth-rate of specimens; interactive medical implants, networked pacemakers or wireless defibrillators are an everyday reality. As minerals, plants, animals, people and machines wear out, the technologies they carry and/or are part of, age as well. The ageing processes of biological and technological merge and it is not always so clear whether we are faced with physical or programmed obsolescence.[fr]_Les cyborgs vieillissants_ est une séance de travail sur le vieillissement interconnecté des corps et des technologies. Les cycles de vie des différentes espèces sont reliés par des circuits électroniques à durée de vie limitée : les accessoires qui mesurent les biorythmes ou surveillent les taux de croissance des échantillons, les implants médicaux interactifs, les stimulateurs cardiaques en réseau ou les défibrillateurs sans fil sont une réalité quotidienne. Les processus de vieillissement des processus biologiques et technologiques se fusionnent et il n’est pas toujours évident à savoir si nous sommes confronté à l’obsolescence physique ou programmée.[nl]_Geprogrammeerde veroudering_ is een werksessie met drie titels over de verweven veroudering van lichamen en technologieën. De levensloop van mensen, dieren en machines is met elkaar verknoopt via elektronische circuits met beperkte levensduur: accessoires die bioritmes of de groei van specimens meten, interactieve medische implantaten, genetwerkte pacemakers en draadloze defibrillators zijn een alledaagse realiteit. De veroudering van biologische en technologische processen versmelt en het is niet altijd duidelijk of we met fysieke of met geprogrammeerde obsoletie te maken hebben.</multi>

## Invitation

[Open Call](http://constantvzw.org/site/Open-Call-Ageing-companions-Geprogrammeerde-veroudering-Les-cyborgs.html)

  
[Download full-size illustration](http://constantvzw.org/AgeingCompanions/illustration.tif)

## Videolibrary
A list of references to moving images, videos, films was made available before the worksession and updated along the way. 

[Catalog](http://constantvzw.org/AgeingCompanions/Videotheque.pdf)

## Reader
Helen Pritchard proposed a set of reading materials: <http://constantvzw.org/AgeingCompanions/readingcompanion.pdf>

## Participants
Matthias Pitscher, Azahara Ubera Biedma, Anja Hertenberger, Marije Baalman, Rebecca Louise Breuer, Riek Sijbring, Fanny Zaman, Blanca Callen, Laura Benitez, Konstantin Mitrokhov, Maria Dada, Helen Pritchard, Claudia Borges, Joana Chicau, Lionel Broye, Constanza, Emile Devereaux, Andrea Charise, Kristin Neidlinger, Anne-Laure Buisson, Donatella Portoghese, Femke Snelting, Gregor, Jara Rocha, Martino Morandi, Peter Westenberg, Wendy Van Wynsberghe, Zoumana Méïté

* <https://pad.constantvzw.org/p/geprogrammeerdeveroudering.participants>
* <http://ageingcompanions.constantvzw.org/etherdump/collective_notes.diff.html>

## Programme

<https://pad.constantvzw.org/p/geprogrammeerdeveroudering.programme>


### Workshop proposed by Marije Baalman, Riek Sijbring, Anja Hertenberger
What would you write in a loveletter to the device you feel most intimate with? How to touch the room and make others touch it? How to move with different attachments?

* 40 Questions for your companion <http://ageingcompanions.constantvzw.org/introduction_workshop/40-questions-for-your-companion.pdf> 
* _My legs feel different_ <http://ageingcompanions.constantvzw.org/introduction_workshop/My_Legs_Feel_Different.pdf>


### Visit to IMEC and COSIC
During a visit to the IMEC tower in Leuven we were toured along the 'cleanrooms' by Thomas Kallstenius followed by an on-line conversation with Eduard Marin on pacemaker security, and a reading session provoked by Helen Pritchard. The cleanroom visit was 'confidential' so there are no pictures or recordings from this visit.

* Notes on the introduction by Thomas Kallstenius to IMEC: <http://ageingcompanions.constantvzw.org/etherdump/confidential.diff.html>
* On-line conversation with Eduard Marin: <http://sound.constantvzw.org/AgeingCompanions/AgeingCompanions_Eduard_Marin.ogg>


### Provocation Helen Pritchard

* Recording: <http://sound.constantvzw.org/AgeingCompanions/AgeingCompanions_Helen_Pritchard.ogg>
* Notes: <http://ageingcompanions.constantvzw.org/etherdump/afternoon.diff.html>


### Pianorama Cinema
Film programme within the framework of senior cinema Pianorama. With care robots, digital grandmothers and hybrid animals. Cake, coffee and discussion included!

* Flyer: <http://constantvzw.org/AgeingCompanions/pianorama_extra_a4+a3.pdf>
* Playlist: <http://constantvzw.org/AgeingCompanions/playlist.txt>


### Zoumana Meite workshop 
Performer and theater-maker Zoumana Meite proposed a workshop on device-related blot patterns.


### Zoumana Meite performance
A public performance on Saturday afternoon. Zoumana performed with electromagnetic devices to explore what old ideas of ’soul’ these so-called new technologies might carry. Using his observations from participating in the worksession, he moved with radio-waves, ink-drops and the memories of his own body. 

> I form the vision of a black ink drop falling in my eye, bringing a recollection of the possible. I see each and every hesitation, trembling, shaking like an oscillography of my flesh, magnetically charged. Those objectivised vibrations in front of us are spread and spattered spores, generating other hesitations, doubts, ... slides of an oriented gesture. I partially charge my flesh with a strong craving, something obsessing me. I gather liquid from my liver on blottingpaper. Drops of an (id)entity …

* Flyer: <http://constantvzw.org/AgeingCompanions/flyer.pdf>
* Video-recording: <http://video.constantvzw.org/AgeingCompanions/>


## Processes, prototypes, research

### Area of work: Bitflipping - Ageing on the command line - semi-conductor

* Interview with Maria, Martino, Jara, Helen, Andrea: <http://sound.constantvzw.org/AgeingCompanions/AgeingCompanions_Interview02A.ogg>
* Notes: <http://ageingcompanions.constantvzw.org/etherdump/agingcommandline.diff.html>
* Cosmic Rays! <http://video.constantvzw.org/AgeingCompanions/Cloud_chamber_ageing-companions.mp4>

> Is it worth it? Let me work it
> I put my thing down, flip it and reverse it
> Ti esrever dna ti pilf, nwod gniht ym tup
> Ti esrever dna ti pilf, nwod gniht ym tup
> If you got a big, let me search ya
> And find out how hard I gotta work ya
> Ti esrever dna ti pilf, nwod gniht ym tup
> Ti esrever dna ti pilf, nwod gniht ym tup
(Missy Elliott)

### Area of work: Ageing/Queering interfaces

* Interview with Constanza, Lionel: <http://sound.constantvzw.org/AgeingCompanions/AgeingCompanions_Interview01A.ogg>
* Notes: <http://ageingcompanions.constantvzw.org/etherdump/queering_interfaces.diff.html>


### Area of work: The unthought - The Vibration - Touch

* Interview with Anja, Rebecca, Marije, Konstantin, Laura, Matthias: <http://sound.constantvzw.org/AgeingCompanions/AgeingCompanions_Interview03A.ogg>
* Code: <http://ageingcompanions.constantvzw.org/the_vibes/normative_vibrations/>
* Notes: <http://ageingcompanions.constantvzw.org/etherdump/the-vibes.diff.html>
* Manifesto: <http://ageingcompanions.constantvzw.org/the_vibes/THE_UNTHOUGHT_MANIFESTO_OF_VIBRANT_MATTERS.docx>


#### How to be a water kettle

* Script: <http://ageingcompanions.constantvzw.org/etherdump/Kettle.diff.html>


### Area of work: Micro-awareness - Mirror matter touch - empathy with material others, human and non human others

* Interview with Emile, Riek, Blanca: <http://sound.constantvzw.org/AgeingCompanions/AgeingCompanions_Interview04A.ogg>
* Notes: <https://pad.constantvzw.org/p/mirrormatter>
* Slowing down exercise: <http://sound.constantvzw.org/AgeingCompanions/Ageing_Companions_field_rec03.ogg>


### Area of work: Organising/caretaking

* Interview with Donatella: <http://sound.constantvzw.org/AgeingCompanions/AgeingCompanions_Interview_Donatella.ogg>
* Interview with Wendy + Femke: <http://sound.constantvzw.org/AgeingCompanions/AgeingCompanions_Interview_Femke_Wendy01A.ogg>+ <http://sound.constantvzw.org/AgeingCompanions/AgeingCompanions_Interview_Femke_Wendy01B.ogg> + <http://sound.constantvzw.org/AgeingCompanions/AgeingCompanions_Interview_Femke_Wendy02A.ogg> + <http://sound.constantvzw.org/AgeingCompanions/AgeingCompanions_Interview_Femke_Wendy02B.ogg>

## A ball full of water
Fanny Zaman, sound recording of the practice "A ball full of water": <https://soundcloud.com/user-329152928/a-ball-full-of-water>

## Collected documents/documentation

* Etherbox: <http://ageingcompanions.constantvzw.org>
* Sounds (also WAV versions of the soundfiles linked above): <http://sound.constantvzw.org/AgeingCompanions/>
* Videos: <http://video.constantvzw.org/AgeingCompanions/>
* Images: <http://gallery.constantvzw.org/index.php/Aging-companions>
* Documents: <http://constantvzw.org/AgeingCompanions>
* An overview of ideas, plans and problems (compiled on Wednesday afternoon): <http://constantvzw.org/AgeingCompanions/plansproblems.odt>