design everywhere: natural machines and the success (and failure) of emergent networks
DESCRIPTION
Design is a universal principle present in all things, animate and inanimate, as explained by Adrian Bejan's constructal law. At every scale of matter, time and organization there are design processes at work that recognize differences and exploit those differences to accomplish constructive work. These design processes are embodied as natural machines that do the work of intelligent construction at micro scales that become visible at macro scales as patterns, terrains and networks. Alex Wissner-Gross has conceived of intelligence as “an engine for maximizing future freedom of action.” His theory posits that two factors contribute to the quality of intelligence in a given system, the length of time frame and the number of entities within the system that are considered as part of this maximization. There is a bridge between Wissner-Gross’s intelligent agents and the evidence of design in Bejan’s constructal law in the form of emergent networks that maximize flow. Human technology has become better and better over time at creating natural machines of its own. Particularly in the areas of software applications and social networks it is apparent that these human domains have become areas of inquiry relevant to all areas of animate and inanimate natural phenomena. Artificial intelligence, machine learning, natural language processing, social media as well as the rendering of software applications themselves on diverse environments of devices all provide instructive analogies that illuminate these fundamental design principles. From this perspective, heat transfer is an app that has users that include snowflakes. Not all design processes are equal and the consideration of the failures of natural machines is as instructive as their successes. Computational linguistics, for instance, can quantify miscommunication as well as predict patterns of language usage. The degree of success of a design process, of a natural machine, should be discernible through the shape and configuration of the networks it engenders. Presented on April, 8 2014 | Duke Network Analytics Center Referenced in http://onforb.es/1ur7qOzTRANSCRIPT
DESIGN EVERYWHERENatural Machines and the Success (and Failure)
of Emergent Networks
DESIGN EVERYWHERE1. Technology as Flow
2. Design and Behavior 3. Failures of Flow
4. Power of Visualization
NATURAL MACHINESnatural machines do the work of intelligent construction
at micro scales that become visible at macro scales
ITER FUSION REACTORMore gaps introduced into the design lead to more
neutrons penetrating and heating the machine
1. TECHNOLOGY AS FLOW
DESIGN: PHYSICS vs INTENTION
Nature Technology
IntentionIntelligent
Design Designer
Physics Constructal Law Intelligent Designer
STACKED S-CURVEStechnology follows a predictable arc through a
series of refinements and optimizations
NEW CONFIGURATIONDyson's Air Mutliplier bladeless fans remove
the central assumption of fan design
SHAFTLESS JET ENGINEThe HyperMach solution is capable of
increasing fuel efficiency by as much as 100%
APPLE GROWTH CURVESApple added to its original iPod line the
iPhone, iPad and perhaps next an iWatch?
2. DESIGN AND BEHAVIOR
ADRIAN BEJANConstructal trees are composed of wide, fast
channels that branch into slower, thinner channels
ALEX WISSNER-GROSS“Intelligence is an engine for maximizing
future freedom of action.”
ENTROPIC CHESSA strategy for opening up options for as many of pieces as possible so a plan naturally emerges
ALEX WISSNER-GROSSRelativistic statistical arbitrage applies model of human reflex arcs to high-speed trading
MAXWELL’S DEMONA smart partition separates cool particles from
warm to create a pressure difference
THE CLASSIFIERMachine learning techniques plot data in order
to separate them into distinct groupings
BJ FOGG The Fogg Behavior Model is a two factor
optimization between motivation and ability
NIR EYALEyal’s Hook Model iterates through triggers,
actions, variable rewards and investments
3. FAILURES OF FLOW
CONSTRUCTAL TUMORUnnaturally disproportionate flow systems are evidence of a lack of freedom or corruption
IDEA TRANSMISSIONThe challenge of language is how to flow images through another’s mind reliably
4. POWER OF VISUALIZATION
FAMO.USThis new JavaScript framework assures smooth 60 fps animations by making everything happens in 16 ms
THE TWO MAN BOBSLEDThe US Olympic team had a new sled
designed by BMW and a gold medal driver
THE TWO MAN BOBSLEDThe Russian team had 200 training runs to the US teams’ 40 and the Russians won every run