What is computational semiotics?
Computational semiotics is a way of thinking about computers, about what we (and others) make with them, and about how we use them. As its name suggests, it takes the theories of structuralism and semiotics as its starting point, though neither structuralism nor semiotics are entirely coherent, monolithic, unified theories. As a result, we acknowledge that there is a great deal of latitude about what computational semiotics is and how it can be applied. There are, of course, already theories that allow us to look at various aspects of computing individually (and many of these will naturally already draw upon structuralism and semiotics). HCI, for example, already has theories that allow us to look at the interface and how the user interprets it. Those working in Al will likewise have their theories, as will art critics who write about digital art or sociologists who study the use of computers. The strength of computational semiotics is that it is a versatile theory and you can look at
