Design of a meaningful insignia of salvatory significance

Symbolic Insignia Indicative of Global Health (Part #9)

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Beyond the QR-code: The strange heraldic symbols of such importance to official sovereign indication of systemic balance suggest the possibility of their interpretation as systems diagrams elaborated in the light of paradigms of the past. It might be asked whether those traditional national insignia to be associated with an immunity passport invite a form of "interpretative conversion" into systems diagrams. Visually there is for example some irony to the depiction of a unicorn given the current global focus on inoculation.

From a design perspective it is curious to note the transition from use of bar codes for a wide variety of consumer products to the square form of a QR-code as a means of integrating information on the health of individuals who are their consumers. Further design, and potentially more appropriate, design developments might then be envisaged. Would a circular or spherical form indeed be more appropriate as an integration of health -- even one which took dynamic form, now that the technology invites that possibility?

Stereogram? Popularized in a series of books (Magic Eye: a new way of looking at the world, Magic Eye Inc.), one striking indication of future possibilities is the integration of autostereogram technology with QR codes. As described by Wikipedia (with examples), an autostereogram

An autostereogram is a single-image stereogram (SIS), designed to create the visual illusion of a three-dimensional (3D) scene from a two-dimensional image. In order to perceive 3D shapes in these autostereograms, one must overcome the normally automatic coordination between accommodation (focus) and horizontal vergence (angle of one's eyes). The illusion is one of depth perception and involves stereopsis: depth perception arising from the different perspective each eye has of a three-dimensional scene, called binocular parallax... A hidden 3D scene emerges when the image is viewed with the correct convergence.

A proposal has been made for steganographic integration of autostereograms with QR codes (SIQR Codes: Steganographically Implemented QR Codes, 30 April  2014):

The difficulty in changing the way QR Codes look is that their functionality, their capability to store and deliver digital information, is pictographically encoded. Hence it is the way they look that makes them functional, and changing their look would remove their functionality.
The solution outlined here is to use steganography, specifically stereography, to change the QR Code image. Steganography is the practice of hiding information for later retrieval. However, the object here is not to obscure the information, but to use the hiding methods to gain options in how we can present the same digital information.

Human-readability: Of further relevance is the value of adding a "human-readable" aspect to the design, rather than relying on the potentially alien "machine-readable" designs of the bar code and its QR variant. Human-readability could be fundamental to any future insignia of global health -- given their symbolic importance. As with heraldic symbols however, multiple levels of readability could characterize the design. Such an insignia is effectively the visible expression of a pattern language.

Such a proposal serves to highlight the challenge of interpreting deeper significance in the presentation of any information as a pattern of some kind. This is most evident in the case of symbols which can be variously interpreted -- possibly dependent on the depth of insight. Heraldic shields clearly require a degree of insight, especially for many who are unfamiliar with them. Given the manner in which heraldic symbolism is entangled with national insignia, whether and to what degree these currently lend themselves to meaningful interpretation merits attention -- especially if such insignia are to be associated with immunity passports.

Medals and badges of office: In the quest for human-readable design, it is appropriate to recall the the widespread use of medals as presented below -- an enriched design in comparison with the QR code. They are readily understood as an adaptation of the heraldic shield.

Service Ribbons (reproduced from Wikipedia)
General George S. Patton (USA)	Admiral of the Fleet Louis Mountbatten	Ecuadorian General of the Army Paco Moncayo
	(incomplete)

Examples of arrays of medals typical of full dress formality

Wampum? The images above feature in a more general presentation of future possibilities for insignia design (Quantum Wampum Essential to Navigating Ragnarok , 2014). This notably included discussion of:

Collapse of confidence, value, meaning, honour, options and patience Wampum and its modern variants

Transcending the binary framing of confidence Implications of quantum framing of reality Enabling radical reframing of reality by non-physicists

Wampum is a term used by the indigenous peoples of North America for traditional shell beads and could be understood as an early predecessor of the QR code (see Wampum History and Background). Threaded onto strings, like beads, such strings of wampum were also used instead of writing, most notably to record historical events and to codify treaties -- such as the The Hiawatha Belt (Aionwá:tha and the Great Law of Peace (Gayanashagowa) of the Iroquois (Haudenosaunee). Wampum had some functions similar to the Quechua recording devices (Quipu) of the Andes region -- made of knotting and dyed strings.

Exploring wampum, with its current variants and analogues, highlights the manner in which both it and they can be understood as being a vehicle for a spectrum of values -- of which any use as a monetary substitute implies only one.

Confidence and suspicion: An immunity passport is clearly designed as a means of enhancing confidence. Badges of office are an exemplification of the framing of confidence, with military medals exemplifying that offered by just war theory. One challenge is how best to frame legitimate suspicion in a period when public trust as been remarkably eroded, especially with respect to health (James Herer, Why Experts and other People Do Not Trust the World Health Organization (WHO), Weblyf, 2020; Richard Gale and Gary Null, Can We Trust the World Health Organization (WHO)? Global Research, 6 February 2021).

In the quest for a degree of human-readability, a somewhat ironic possibility is offered by the heraldic convention of a bend, namely a band running from the upper dexter (the bearer's right side and the viewer's left) corner of the shield to the lower sinister (the bearer's left side, and the viewer's ight). 

Although outside heraldry, the term "bend (or bar) sinister" is sometimes used to imply illegitimacy. In the context of universal COVID vaccination, this suggests that the QR-style passport insignia could be structured with a readable diagonal bar as an indication of an individual's unvaccinated status -- to the extent that this status is held to be "illegitimate" in some way. Such a possibility recalls the associations to "bent" and being "struck off", raising the question as to whether the design should make evident any degree of misconduct, dishonour or criminality.

Circlets and mandalas as design metaphors: In considering the design of insignia of relevance to global health there is a case for exploring the widespread engagement with circlets of prayer beads (or their "worry bead" analogues), as discussed separately (Designing Cultural Rosaries and Meaning Malas to Sustain Associations within the Pattern that Connects, 2000).

With respect to the 5-fold framing of a broader understanding of health, a different approach can be taken in exploring the possible design of a mandala of concord (Concordian Mandala as a Symbolic Nexus, 2016). This explored the dynamics of a pentagonal configuration of nonagons in 3D.

Design of EU Digital COVID Certificate? As noted above the QR-oriented certificate implemented from July 2021 has a common design for the EU countries. The visual representation is seemingly as yet unclear. Possibilities will almost certainly be based on the 12-star theme of the Flag of Europe which itself invites other designs, as discussed separately (Imagining the Flag of Europe otherwise? 2018). The examples below are merely indicative of some possibilities, whether or not the emphasis is placed on a 12-star flag or a 28-star flag (plus or minus one).

Design exercises for animated 28-country Flag of Europe based on 28 rotating stars
Simple rotating circle of 28	Counter-rotation of alternate stars	3-orthogonal circles of 28	Borromean ring configuration

The key issue is how to combine a QR-code with such heraldic symbolism. Of some relevance, the above exercise was further developed (Navigating Europe's 12 "dimensional space": 12 rotating stars on icosahedron as "propellers"? 2019). It remains questionable why the EU is so inexplicably dependent on contrasting interpretations of the symbolism of a 12-fold articulation of stars. With respect to the discussion here, a relevant interpretation could be in terms of the Dodekatheon of Ancient Greece ("The Twelve Olympians"), later adapted by the Roman Empire (Dii Consentes)..

Insights from a 5-fold game: The 3-fold "scissors-paper-stone" game metaphor has been extended to 5-ring and 7-ring Borromean configurations (Marc Chamberland and Eugene A Herman, Rock-Paper-Scissors meets Borromean Rings, Grinnell College, 2014), as discussed separately (Engaging globally with knots and riddles -- Gordian and otherwise, 2018).

As with the 3-ring game, the authors argue the case for 5-part and 7-part games with contrasting "weapons", noting that the number of such "games" has been extended to 13. Of relevance to this argument is whether the "weapons" are nations, as with the Group of 5 Permanent Members of the UN Security Council, the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, the Group of 7, or sets of mutually overriding strategic priorities of governance.

Do 3-fold groups invite similar insight (Trilateral Commission, Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat), as with the UN's 17-fold Sustainable Development Goals? What then of the viability of any cartel or crime ring, most notably triads?

The images below contrast such games with the configuration of the Discordian mandala.In the case of the 5-fold pattern, the question would obviously be how the significance of the Wu Xing pattern merits understanding as a set of Borromean rings.

Borromean Rings understood as weapons in a "Rock-Paper-Scissors" Game
The Game	Discordian mandala	5-fold Borromean rings	7-fold Borromean rings
Reproduced from Wikipedia		Reproduced from Chanberland and Herman (2013)

With respect to an insignia, further insight might be derived from consideration of vaccination as a metaphor of salvatory cognitive significance -- as suggested by the following:

• inspiration
• inoculation / indoctrination / inculcation / instruction / imprinting
• immunisation (genetic and otherwise) / implantation (memetic and otherwise)
• initiation / rebirth
• embodiment

The 5-fold pattern might then be presented in 3D as follows (below left), with an indication of analogous treatment to the Wu Xing pattern (below-right). Given the universal phamaceutical use of the symbolism of the snake-encircled Bowl of Hygeia (as mentioned above), it is possible that the pattern below is a topological transformation of perspective of it -- further highlighting its symbolic significance.

Exploration of 3D mapping of 5-fold windings framing a torus
Metaphors of vaccination?	Angled 3D perspective	Wu Xing variant
Reproduced as described separately (Visualization in 3D of Dynamics of Toroidal Helical Coils: in quest of optimum designs for a Concordian Mandala, 2016)

The implied dynamic of a vortex offers the mnemonic suggestion of "trans-portation" through a portal --  now popularly imagined with respect to transport through a wormhole to the far reaches of the universe. Could vaccination be fruitfully presented in that light, as effectively traversing the "eye of a needle" -- of tbe Talmud and the New Testament -- to a normality enabling travel through the heavens? The metaphor also appears in the Qur'an 7:40: Indeed, those who deny Our verses and are arrogant toward them - the gates of Heaven will not be opened for them, nor will they enter Paradise.

6-fold value portal: One speculative exploration of the possible dimensions of such a design focuses on a 6-fold pattern rather than on a 5-fold pattern, as explored above in the case of the pentagrammic Hygeia and Wu Xing. The case for the 6-fold pattern is presented separately, employing rhyming words for mnemonic purposes (El-Attractor -- Timeless Complex Dynamic: Health, Wealth, Stealth / Youth, Couth, Truth, 2007). Arguably the pattern holds a variety of extensions of the preoccupation with physical or psychological health.

Attribution of fundamental values to a 6-fold insignia
Star of David pattern	Winding pattern framing a torus

However the switch from 5-fold to 6-fold does not preclude an interpretation as a more complex form of "scale of justice", as illustrated in the animations below. In that on the left, truth is treated as the pivot point. Although unusual, the terminology and patterns merit reflection in terms of the reality of the unusual behaviour of national leaders of reknown -- such as Donald Trump, Silvio Berlusconi, Nicolas Sarkozy, and Boris Johnson (and their surprising eligibility). They have all highlighted a sense of the manner in which the "goal posts" of justice can be variously shifted -- as indicated here in relation to a singular pivots.

Animations indicative of degrees of imbalance when contrasting values function as a pivot point
Truth as pivot	Health as pivot	Couth as pivot	Stealth as pivot	Youth as pivot	Wealth as pivot

The set of animations can be experimentally combined together offering an implication of (im)balanced development -- shifting from one pivotal point to another.

Experimental combination of animations into a cycle
Clockwise (shifting pivot counter-clockwise)	Counter-clockwise (shifting pivot clockwise)

With respect to the pivot metaphor, of some relevance is the Zen Buddhist In the current world of "spin" and "smoke and mirrors", the controversial arguments with respect to the ambiguity of the results of PCR testing is fruitfully anticipated by the classic remark of Chuang-tzu (The Pivot):

Tao is obscured when men understand only one of a pair of opposites, or concentrate only on a partial aspect of being. Then clear expression also becomes muddled by mere wordplay, affirming this one aspect and denying the rest. Hence the wrangling... each denies what the other affirms, and affirms what the other denies. What use is this struggle to set up "No" against "Yes", and "Yes" against "No"?.... When the wise man grasps this pivot, he is in the center of the circle, and there he stands while "Yes" and "No" pursue each other around the circumference.

8-fold value portal: With the quest for normality framed as a form of secular nirvana, there is a case for adapting the elements of the Noble Eightfold Path of Buddhism to a visual form consistent with those above. The Eightfold Path is understood as a summary of the path of Buddhist practices leading to liberation from samsara, namely the painful cycle of rebirth. The pattern typically features in the design of mandalas -- a form of insignia in their own right.

The elements distinguished are right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration. Use of "right" fruitfully recalls the complementarity between "justice" and the "right", as noted above.

Values of Eightfold Path attribution to windings framing a torus

12-fold strategic portal: As previously noted there is a remarkable collective enthusiasm for 12-fold articulations with strategic implications (Checklist of 12-fold Principles, Plans, Symbols and Concepts: web resources, 2011; Eliciting a 12-fold Pattern of Generic Operational Insights: recognition of memory constraints on collective strategic comprehension, 2011).

Any such articulation could be explored as an intuitive collective recognition of global health -- hence the 12 Olympians, their subsequent Roman adaptation -- and an embodiment in the 12-star emblem of Europe. The attraction of "El" in the speculative reference above to "El Attractor" could be seen as consistent with the derivation regarding "El" as articulated by Athena Despoina Potari (The Light of Hellenism, Embodied Philosophy, 21 April 2021; The Light of Hellenism, Paradigm Explorer, 2020, 1):

?n Ancient Hellenic language, "El" stands for the Light of Being -- or spiritual Light. As its root-syllable expresses, (H)El-lenism is a worldview, a civilization and a spiritual tradition which centers around the ontology and practice of Light. The Sciences, and above all Philosophy, are methodical routes towards self-liberation and the realization of Light. Focusing around the notions of eros and universal consciousness, Hellenism is, in its very essence, a path of En-lightnment.

The design of a 12-fold portal is discussed separately (Time for Provocative Mnemonic Aids to Systemic Connectivity? Possibilities of reconciling the ""headless hearts" to the "heartless heads", 2018).

Attractive "portals" implied by the passport metaphor -- "passportals" or "transportals"? Use of both circlets of beads and mandalas is very strongly associated with the cognitive significance of engagement with them as mnemonic devices. Clearly there is a case for any insignia of global health to invite and engender interpretation in this light. In this sense, as with circlets and mandalas its role in relation to a "passport" is as the framing of a cognitive portal -- especially given the sense in which it enables travel and the traversing of boundaries.

Whether with respect to the afterlife, or travelling the globe, the "heavens" imply a degree of unboundednesss. This has fundamental implications for the thematic and institutional boundaries imposed on cognitive movement between disparate topics and themes. Beyond "inter-national", this is evident in interdisciplinary, interfaith, intercultural, and other highly bounded discourse.

Does each of the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals have a portal for which some kind of passportal is required? Together these 17 imply far more complex considerations of sustainable balance in global health. How could they be configured to act as a "transportal"?

Given the current importance of qualification and certification to pass through thematic portals, should the absence of such certification feature on individual insignia of the future -- incorporating degrees of expertise, or their absence, as indicative of health in a cognitive sense? Should voters be thereby constrained on matters requiring popular consultation?

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