Self-typing Machines

Lorraine Oades with Martin Peach

Two adapted electronic typewriters communicate with one another autonomously without the aid of the human hand. When the keys move up and down the typewriter mechanisms are engaged as if someone was actually typing. In addition to being typed out on the page, messages are displayed on a low resolution LED display making them visible to onlookers as they are being typed.

There are two possible scenarios for communication:

Machine to machine communication: two typewriters send messages to one another.

Human to machine communication: a viewer types messages and a typewriter responds.

The script for Self-typing Machines is based on philosophical, literary and critical texts that are structured on a question and answer format. For each question asked there are anywhere between one to thirty different possible answers. The questions and answers are randomized so an infinite exchange is possible

Programming and electronic design: Martin Peach

The artist gratefully acknowledges the support of the Concordia University Part-time Faculty Association, Professional Development.