Category: Spring 24

The text explores different approaches to live coding, with some individuals relying on pre-written code, while others start from scratch with no preparation. It notes that the emphasis on “liveness” in live coding is not meant to undervalue or underestimate the programming and practice that occur behind the scenes or before a live coding performance. Instead, the goal is to draw attention to the unique dynamics that arise during real-time live coding.

In my experience, the main factor that prevents me from adding new layers live is the unpredictability of the notes I might enter. For example, what if the notes I play clash with the current sound? What if they’re in different keys, creating harsh dissonance? I think these concerns stem from my past reliance on traditional digital audio workstations (DAWs), where I would improvise on a MIDI keyboard to determine which notes to use. Even when I prepare for a live coding performance, I often rely on this method to generate new ideas for my code. Besides this, I try to experiment more with adding effects and functions to my existing code during live demonstrations.

The text also notes that “live coding involves a sense of embodied awareness, where knowing how and when are just as important as knowing what. Unlike some forms of computer-generated performance, live coding demands heightened levels of dexterity, focus, cognitive agility, and tactical intelligence.” This resonates with me because I tend to trigger new lines of code only at the end of a cycle or a four-beat loop, which helps smooth transitions.

I also want to point out that the “liveness” in coding is not just about the interaction between the performer and the computer, but also about the interaction between the performer and the audience. This made me wonder how that human-to-human interaction could manifest in live coding performances.

The exploration of “liveness” in live coding provokes a reconsideration of how we define and interact with both technology and performance. The distinction between live coding and generative processes in audiovisual performances, where the latter is pre-coded and the former improvisational, raises questions about authenticity and originality in digital art forms. The text’s analysis of how live coding practices serve as a model of liveness — integrating human-machine interactions into a hybrid and complex system — challenges our traditional views on performance and audience engagement.

By reframing liveness not as a mere authentic experience but as a dynamic and interactive one, the text invites us to think about the implications of these live coding practices. For instance, how do these practices alter our understanding of control and creativity in performance arts? The idea of “machine liveness” — where technology responds instantly and semantically to the coder’s inputs — raises intriguing questions too: How does this immediacy transform the creative process? What does this seamless integration of action and response reveal about our potential to harmonize with increasingly intelligent systems? By emphasizing the continuous and collaborative nature of live coding, where technology is not merely a tool but a partner, the text invites us to reconsider our roles as creators and interactors within the digital landscape. This perspective not only challenges our traditional notions of artistic and technological domains but also suggests a future where the boundaries between creator, creation, and audience are fluid and dynamic.

The difference between live coding and traditional programming is funny. essentially they are both the same, predefined functions, known variables and different ways of variable manipulation that changes how things are from input to output. The difference stems however in how manupilatable this output is and a chance to completely change the output of a function based in one keyboard symbol to get a string of completely different outputs that were not exactly planned by the function creator is even more interesting.

“Rejected the use of prewritten code and structures” in favor of “acting in the moment, responding to context… developing a structure as we work, continually creating and resolving tension”

ALGOBABEZ (Shelly Knotts and Joanne Armitag)

Live coding brings the definition of expected/planned output to a different form of adapting to the user response. Not a coded reaction, not an expected reaction, but a way of letting a human determine the next course of action in a way that combines the viewer’s reaction with the artist’s to create an instant change that combines both together. It’s like the authors said,

Yet, for all that computing neglects— those bodies hunched over keyboards and mice, at their desk- and- chair sets in the offices of the world— the live coding performer is unavoidably embodied (“made flesh”)

Live coding brings the person manipulating the code to life in a way traditional coding does not.

Something else that also stood out to me in this chapter is comparing the live coding to a performance. If we think about dance, then all traditionally dancing is the same as traditional programming, but maybe more contemporary, like an unpracticed dance performance, a free dance performance with code. The dancers know the dances, the programmers know the code, but neither know the trajectory of the performance

liveness as a connecting principle for exploring the relation between live coding (performing with programming languages) and live art (performing with actions).

In what sense is live coding “live”? Live coding is live in that it is an active conversation between the coder, the machine, the audience, and everything else that surrounds and permeates the setting at hand; live coding is live in that it proceeds in a constant state of spontaneity and is characterized by its resistance to being defined and boxed. Live coding is an amorphous creature, very much alive in that it is never stagnant and craves change. It materializes not just as lines of code or musical notes; live coding is a representation of the relationships that manifest between everything that is present and around the performance itself.

As described in the excerpt, live coding by nature resists a singular definition—and in turn, a singular liveness. It thus demands a nuanced understanding that takes an array of perspectives into account: “The interdisciplinary nature of live coding . . . requires that its very liveness be understood from more than one epistemological and ontological perspective” (159). Live coding is unique in that it transcends spatiotemporal conventions. A performance may exist and be experienced in the present, but certain sequences and samples may be prescripted and prerecorded. Then there is the concept of the undetermined future, which live coding embraces in all its uncertainty. Live coding also creates a platform upon which the physical and digital coexist; it lives in the in-between. 

What emerges from a live coding performance is vastly different for each individual that experiences it, whether they be the live coder on the stage or a member of the audience. Live coding is thus an indeterminate manticore that assumes a different form to all and can only be defined through this ambiguity. Live coding is alive, thriving and pulsating in the bricolage of the predetermined and the yet-unborn.

The underlining of the various intersectionalities that live coding exists between, by performance scholars Matthew Reason and Anja Mølle Lindelof, helped me internalize the multiplicities inherent in this medium we have been practicing. Reason and Lindelof bring up live coding’s position between music studies and media studies, and extend this into the various definitions of the word “live” in this field. They note how music studies views liveness in terms of recording while media studies views it with a focus on transmission. Hence, the exploration of “liveness” that we have been doing over this semester is a nascent concept, with spontaneity, improvisation and performance elements borrowed from multiple disciplines.

The paper later on highlights the somatic and corporeal nature of live coding as well. Viewing our performances from a kinaesthetic lens, the author highlights our physical interaction with the machine:  “a sensorimotor movement vocabulary of micro adjustments, changes, and shifts performed in the frantic keystrokes, in the shuttling of the cursor around the screen, in the flash points of activation and execution”. This brought me back to our discussions regarding adding a performance element to our final showcase. While certain traditional instruments, like a piano or violin, lend a formality to music performances akin to an orchestra, live coding can be seen in the same paradigm as DJing perhaps. Many DJs construct a performance element around otherwise kinesthetically simple action,  like pushing faders and turning knobs, successfully transforming what would be a mundane performance into stadium-selling events.

In the chapter on Live Coding’s Liveness(es), the author discusses the concept that “for some live coders, nothing is saved, recorded, or archived in support of future replaying: the performance both begins and ends with the blank screen/slate.” This idea prompted me to consider the role of archiving in live coding, especially given its spontaneous real-time and potentially ephemeral nature.

Recently, I came across an essay in the book “Electronic Superhighway: From Experiments in Art and Technology to Art after the Internet” that discussed Performative archiving. The author critiques the notion of ephemerality as an excuse for relinquishing control and suggests that “materiality” is a more fitting term, one that evolves over time and through performance. The essay also reflects on how materiality is represented in museums, particularly during the 1990s and 2000s, noting the practice of listing the materials used in net artworks on wall labels, treating digital materials as physical substances.

I found it fascinating that even something as live and real-time as live coding can evoke a sense of materiality. This prompted me to think about the complexities of defining and preserving works in digital realms or those of a performative nature. When we view live coding as an art form, can it truly be considered as such without being archived? Is it the very act of documenting it that solidifies its significance within the discourse?

It establishes a single, immutable ledger accessible to all participants, ensuring a consistent and auditable record whose transparency minimizes disputes and blockchain for payments enables efficient reconciliation. Enterprises can also take advantage of the enhanced security features inherent in blockchain, guarding against fraudulent activities that threaten the integrity of their financial data. Blockchain offers a novel method for charitable donations, promoting transparency, efficiency, and donor trust.

• Both are needed for a user to view their balance and send and receive crypto transactions.
• The initial setup costs, including hardware, software, and skilled personnel, can be substantial.
• Blockchain records and stores data on all manipulations across payment-related documents (invoices, receipts, bills of lading, letters of credit, etc.), including details on document creation, editing, viewing and sharing.
• I agree to the Privacy Policy and give my permission to process my personal data for the purposes specified in the Privacy Policy.
• The UK, aspiring to establish itself as a global cryptocurrency hub, successfully incorporated stablecoins into the country’s payments regulation in June 2023.
• More organizations are focusing on the utility of blockchain to accelerate their business processes, reduce the cost of payment processing, add more security layers, and tackle potential business risks.
• For example, Ripple, a blockchain payment company, has partnered with over financial institutions, including Santander and American Express, to facilitate faster and more secure cross-border transactions.

Advantages of Using Blockchain for Financial Transactions

A UK-based fintech startup Mercuryo has developed a blockchain payment processing solution that enables businesses and individuals to easily send and receive cross-border payments. The solution supports 50+ cryptocurrencies Non-fungible token and fiat currencies, offers fast processing of international payments, and facilitates traceability of cross-border payment transactions. It provides automated AML/KYC compliance checks and offers prebuilt APIs to integrate with the corporate clients’ systems.

Blockchain for payments: the market state for 2024

Circle Pay blockchain allows for the safe transfer of money between different individuals, currencies and countries. The Circle Pay function is available in over 30 countries and in U.S. dollars, euros and British pounds. Each money transfer or payment is encrypted on a blockchain to ensure a safe transaction. The Circle Pay app acts as a group messaging app with a payment feature integration, so. https://www.xcritical.com/ You can transfer money cross-border and cross-currency in between sending your friends selfies and memes.

Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs)

However, traditional PvP systems are often plagued by inefficiencies, high costs, and settlement risks. Due to the anonymity of bitcoin transactions with the use of addresses, the number of payments is not exact and should be estimated from the type of transaction. We have assumed that any transaction outputs is a payment, apart from one output being the change of the transaction when there is at least 2 outputs.

Over 175 global payments companies leverage Fireblocks to scale their digital asset operations and quickly enter new markets. From payment orchestration and automated workflows to connecting with on- and off-ramps, Fireblocks delivers a unified digital asset payments solution across blockchains and geos. As mentioned, payment processing efficiency will face several challenges in the blockchain space. Blockchain integration with multiple chains, blockchain compliance, and scalability solutions are just a few of the hurdles to overcome. In the years ahead, digital wallets and payment gateways may increasingly offer “decentralized payments” that occur in the crypto-blockchain space. Already, consumers show an interest in peer-to-peer transactions via mobile devices like Zelle, Venmo, Cash App, and PayPal.

Furthermore, stablecoins can be obtained through bank transfers and used within blockchain ecosystems. Some blockchain projects and fintech companies also work on solutions to bridge the gap between traditional banking and blockchain, enabling direct transfers from bank accounts to blockchain wallets. Thus, while blockchain doesn’t accept bank transfers, these integrations allow seamless transitions between traditional and digital finance. Surely, the biggest slice of that blockchain revenue pie is driven by the hundreds of cryptocurrencies that form the crypto market. On the enterprise level, blockchain provides a robust solution for large-scale financial transactions.

Read on to learn about blockchain in payments and explore the potential benefits it provides. While blockchain technology for payments holds great promise for payments, it’s important to note that there are still challenges to overcome, such as scalability and regulatory considerations. This technology allows users to make anonymous payments and cross-border transfers between jurisdictions. Anonymity allows you to hide the direction of payment and its amount to avoid paying taxes. Crypto blockchain-based payments also provide an opportunity to overcome sanctions regimes.

Plus, blockchain payments aren’t only restricted to cryptocurrency transactions, meaning the technology can support payments from multiple currencies like U.S. dollars, Canadian dollars and more. More organizations are focusing on the utility of blockchain to accelerate their business processes, reduce the cost of payment processing, add more security layers, and tackle potential business risks. Both public-private concerns pay attention to decentralized as it can take their business growth to the mainstream. While implementing blockchain solutions, special attention needs to be given to the regulatory compliance required.

The nonce value is a field in the block header that is changeable, and its value incrementally increases with every mining attempt. If the resulting hash isn’t equal to or less than the target hash, a value of one is added to the nonce, a new hash is generated, and so on. The nonce rolls over about every 4.5 billion attempts (which takes less than one second) and uses another value called the extra nonce as an additional counter.

Consequently, this leaves no room for anyone to engage in corrupt practices or financial mismanagement without detection. Blockchain serves as the foundational technology in crypto payments, playing a vital role in maintaining transactional security and reliability. It applies cryptographic principles to authenticate transactions, embedding an additional layer of trust and integrity within digital payments.

Any attempt to alter a record would be immediately noticeable, safeguarding the data against tampering. Validation and confirmation involve all network nodes coming to a consensus on the transaction’s validity. After consensus is reached, the new block is added to the existing blockchain. Each block contains a unique cryptographic hash and the hash of the previous block, ensuring the chain’s integrity. PvP is crucial in reducing settlement risks, which can lead to significant financial losses and systemic failures.

With the expected growth of the global blockchain market from $27.84 billion in 2024 to $825.93 billion by 2032, the segment of blockchain-based cross-border payments is anticipated to show the corresponding increase. Veem uses blockchain technology to make payments faster and safer than ever before. Countless industries and multiple levels of business leverage blockchain to automate and optimize their processes and operations. GAO recommends Congress consider legislation for federal oversight of nonsecurity crypto asset spot markets and stablecoins.

Bits of data are stored in files known as blocks, and each network node has a replica of the entire database. Security is ensured since the majority of nodes will not accept a change if someone tries to edit or delete an entry in one copy of the ledger. This may not appear to be substantial because we already store lots of information and data.

These instant payment solutions aim to modernize the payment landscape and meet the evolving needs of customers in today’s digital economy. They are based on blockchain technology, a distributed database that records transactions. This makes blockchain payments more secure and transparent than traditional payment methods. Blockchain-based payment solutions can be integrated into point-of-sale systems, allowing merchants to accept cryptocurrency payments directly from customers. Cross-border payment transactions are submitted by the blockchain network members or automatically enforced by smart contracts upon predefined events.

Blockchain plays a significant role in transforming digital payments and financial services. By utilizing decentralized ledgers and smart contracts, blockchain reduces fraud, streamlines cross-border transactions, and enables financial inclusion. However, challenges like scalability and regulatory frameworks must be addressed for its widespread adoption and integration into the financial ecosystem. The future trends include the tokenization of real-world assets and the emergence of CBDC projects across central banks.