Introduction

Water molecules are, alone, powerless. O’s and H’s. They are small, simple, physical specks. They are governed strictly by the laws of fluid mechanics, and hold few, if any, surprises. But when these powerless specks interact, something moves. One collides with another, which collides with another, and from a stagnant ocean comes a great, unpredictable wave.

Bits  are, alone, meaningless. 0′s and 1′s. They are small, simple, digital specks. They are governed strictly by the laws of boolean logic, and hold few, if any, surprises. But when these meaningless specks interact, something changes. One builds upon another, which builds upon another, and from a lifeless piece of machinery comes a complex, intelligent program.

Pixels are, alone, beautyless. On and off. They are small, simple, fluorescent specks.  They are governed strictly by their electrical interactions, and hold few, if any, surprises. But when these beautyless specks are put side by side, something is felt. One blurs with another, which blurs with another, and from an empty collection of dots comes a moving, emotional film.

Our immediate decisions are, alone, trivial. Yes’s and no’s. They are small, simple, momentary specks. They are governed largely by whims and habits, and hold few, if any, surprises. But when these trivial specks are seen from a broader vantage point, something is created. One decision informs another, which informs another, and from a series of insignificant choices comes a character, and life, wholly defined.

As Voltaire said, “No snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible.” We live in a universe with small grain size and massive implications. Trivial ideas change history. Beautyless pixels evoke feeling. Meaningless bits solve difficult problems. Small movements become big waves, rippling from familiar shores through unexplored waters, carrying us swiftly through seas too far to reach.