Imitation of Life: How Biology Is Inspiring Computing

by Nancy Forbes and Nancy Forbes

Book Overview

How scientists are using nature as model and metaphor to reinvent computing: a survey of an emerging field.

As computers and the tasks they perform become increasingly complex, researchers are looking to nature--as model and as metaphor--for inspiration. The organization and behavior of biological organisms present scientists with an invitation to reinvent computing for the complex tasks of the future. In Imitation of Life, Nancy Forbes...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0262562154
• ISBN13: 9780262562157
• Release Date: September 2005
• Publisher: MIT Press
• Length: 190 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.1" x 8.9"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Does it cover the Enteprise Software?

No, it doesn't. The author is a gifted technical analyst, working for Government Agencies. The text teaches what is the "bio-inspired" computation in high level research at universities and research agencies As commercial software coverage, the mention of RSA In. for encription software, IBM and SAP DNA algorithms One of the most stringent needs is to apply learning algorithms in Enterprise Computing. Huge data centers must have policies decided by humans, designed for autonomic self-healing. The theory of change management claims new idea in business - enterprise software is nothing but a reflection of the business idea - is a seed that must grow naturally. The use of bio-inspired , self-evolutionary software code would be not only a great fit, but a commercial success. The market for such software is every business that operates a data center and/or a compute grid. As I work in creating enterprise software products, I bought the book with great expectations. This explains my probably biased disappontment with an otherwise a good book that opens the gates of new possibilities. There is an Enterprise Biology Software Project ongoing http://www.enterprisebiology.com/report_2004.htm . It's mere existence and name illustrates the need described in this review.