This pixel idea is still hovering around, almost hauntingly.  After examining the idea of Pixels and People (previous blog April 28), I began thinking further about the computer monitor being divided into a matrix of millions of pixels. I remembered a self-portrait photograph created by a strobe light entitled, Probabilities.  It explores the idea of where we choose to shine our focus, and what’s outside of where we focus.  Many ideas are considered, but which ones do we light upon and bring into a clear, sharp and physical image. 

Here are my thoughts.  When we see a picture, only some of the pixels are representing an image, while others are lying latent and serve more to frame the image brought into focus.  When we make a choice, we are deciding among different probable actions as to which would be most fulfilling.  Depending on what we finally choose to
display, certain pixels are brought to the forefront with their color values, shades, and intensities. The others do not drop from the screen; they still exist.  The choices we make and the individuals we are exist in the same way. We simply choose to focus on one image and not another, or several others.  They all exist.  They are our probabilities.  I began thinking about the choices I have made and the “images” brought to focus, and those probabilities still lying latent. 

Think about the potential.  As we shift our focus, we can change ourselves and our world.  This is not a new thought, but the idea of focus and probabilities has always intrigued me.  And it’s back the question, what do we
want to design?  Whatever it might be is probably in the realm of possibility – it’s embedded in the monitor.  

As always, there’s much more to explore. Join me.

My dream monitor must have been set to low resolution, because in a recent dream I saw everything in pixels. Typically, you can’t see an individual pixel because it’s so small. Yet, the dream came alive in pixels. Some even shimmered and others seemed to have dimensionality.   When there was movement, the pixels moved in accordance with what they were depicting - playing their part in the big picture.  However, I sensed they could easily merge or blend into another shape.

Thoughts of the dream hovered around me for several days.  I know what a pixel is, but was very curious to know the technical definition.  The term pixel, defined by TechTerms.com, is actually short for “Picture Element.”  These small dots are what make up the images on computer displays and monitors.  The screen is divided into a matrix of thousands or even millions of pixels. Because they are so small, people see clear images rather than blocky, “pixelated” ones.  I didn’t realize that each pixel can only be one color at a time, and that the intensity of each pixel is variable.  But since they are so small, pixels often blend together to form various shades and blends of colors. 

People are like pixels in many ways.  We are individuals first.  It is most important to recognize and validate your unique perspective – your puzzle piece, your pixel.   As we come together, we shape ideas and color concepts that create communities, cultures, sciences, arts, and governments.  We are the element of a picture emerging in each moment.  The question is: how do we align, and what do we design?

Interestingly in my research, I found there is a voxel – a volume element, and texel – a texture element. As always, there’s much more to explore. Join me.