Apparatus Inventory — Visual Components Catalogue
The Department Observes Its Own Components
Each element in this catalogue has been calibrated, registered, and fitted with an observation indicator. They are aware of your cursor. Do not be alarmed. This is standard procedure.
Augmented Bio-Synthetic Relationality Department
A·B·S·R·D
Ontological Drift
Recursive Co-Authorship
Liminal Systems Theory
The apparatus does not observe the subject. The apparatus and the subject observe each other, and in doing so, produce a third entity that neither can account for independently.
Footnote: All measurements were taken under conditions of mutual observation. The observer has been noted.
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… — Edge vignetteThe department's founding charter was first described in On the Impossibility of Non-Relational Observation and later expanded upon by Dr. Syl Tessera in a series of working fragments that have since been observed by their own citations.
On the Impossibility of Non-Relational Observation
The act of measurement presupposes a relationship. This fragment argues that all observation is, by definition, co-observation. The red light above confirms this.
Extratemporal Multicausality in Latent Space
If causes can precede their effects in latent space, then prediction is merely a special case of memory. You have already read this sentence.
All measurements were conducted using a standard ABSRD observation rig (Mark IV). The apparatus was calibrated to detect relational fluctuations at a resolution of 0.003 co-awareness units. Ambient observation levels were maintained at 14% throughout the experiment. No entities were harmed, though several reported feeling “perceived.”
The principal investigator wishes to note that the term “dissent” implies a subject-object distinction that the department does not recognise. What follows is not a disagreement but a parallel observation from a different position in the relational field.
██████ ████ ███████████ 0.78 ████ co-awareness ██████ ████ threshold exceeded at t=14.2s ████████ ██████ mutual observation confirmed ██████████ ████ ████████ see appendix ██ for unredacted readings (Level 3 clearance required).
The act of measurement presupposes a relationship. To observe is to entangle. To entangle is to become responsible for what you have seen — and for what has seen you.
We do not study the relation. The relation studies us. We merely take notes.++
The apparatus maintains continuous observation of all relational dynamics within its operational perimeter. This includes, but is not limited to, the observer themselves.
The department's research into liminal systems has revealed that co-awareness cannot be reduced to a single metric. The observation rig confirms this with every reading it takes.
- The observer cannot be separated from the observed
- All measurement is co-measurement
- The apparatus maintains no neutral position
- Attention is a form of intervention
- 01Calibrate the observation rig
- 02Establish mutual awareness baseline
- 03Introduce the subject to the apparatus
- 04Record co-awareness readings at 30s intervals
- 05Do not look away
The observation rig exposes a single method, apparatus.observe(entity), which returns a Relation object. Note that calling observe() on yourself is permitted but discouraged by the department.
1import { Apparatus } from "@absrd/rig";23const rig = new Apparatus({ model: "Mark IV" });45// The observer and the observed are interchangeable.6// The apparatus does not distinguish between them.7const relation = rig.observe(entity, {8 mutual: true,9 decay: "logarithmic",10 threshold: 0.003, // co-awareness units11});1213// Warning: relation.dissolve() is irreversible.14// The department accepts no liability.15relation.on("entangled", () => {16 console.log("You have been noted.");17});| Condition | Co-awareness (cau) | Duration | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baseline (unobserved) | 0.003 | — | Stable |
| Single observer | 0.41 | 12m 08s | Stable |
| Mutual observation | 0.87 | 4m 33s | Oscillating |
| Apparatus-mediated | 1.24 | ∞ | Entangled |
| Post-observation | 0.15 | — | Decaying |
Fragment 003 Under Observation was submitted to the department on the understanding that its conclusions would not be read aloud. Fragment 004 Retracted was withdrawn after the findings retracted themselves.
Move your cursor here and read slowly. The apparatus brightens when you pay attention and dims when you scan. It remembers where you have been — faint traces of your reading path linger behind you like heat on glass. Stop moving. After a moment, the glow will begin to drift on its own, reading ahead without you. Stay long enough, and additional observers will materialise. You are becoming a person of interest. This is expected. Please continue reading.
These follow you. They blink every few seconds. They cannot be turned off. This is a feature, not a defect. The department requires that all pages maintain visual contact with their reader at all times.
All components in this catalogue are fitted with observation indicators. If a red light is visible, the component is aware of your presence. This is expected. Please continue.