Inspired Design

Observable Mimicry

The Foundational Sciences

Architecture & Engineering

Organisms

Nature

Organism-Made Tools

Inspiration for system design draws on cross-

disciplined mimicry.

Mimicry in PatternsCommon problems and solutions are documented. Avoid reinventing the

wheel.

“Pattern Name”“Problem::Solution”

“Consequence”

Mimicry in Governance

Our method of defining and enforcing policies mimics social and corporate

governance.

“Policies”“Governing Bodies”

“Approval Workflow”

Mimicry in DesignDesign

principles are the foundation for our software architectures.

“Iteration”“Layering”

“Redundancy”

Mimicry in ReligionThe gospels of

software development state a preferred

approach for followers.

“Rules”“Best Practices”

“Tenets”

Mimicry in BiologyComplex organisms competing to

survive and thrive.

Separation of System Concerns

deep dive

A SystemThe several ways to think of and define a system include:

• A system is composed of parts.• All the parts of a system must be related (directly or indirectly),

else there are really two or more distinct systems• A system is encapsulated, has a boundary.• The boundary of a system is a decision made by an observer, or a

group of observers.• A system can be nested inside another system.• A system can overlap with another system.• A system is bounded in time.• A system is bounded in space, though the parts are not

necessarily co-located.• A system receives input from, and sends output into, the wider

environment.• A system consists of processes that transform inputs into

outputs.• A system is autonomous in fulfilling its purpose.

Same Type System Coupling

Decoupling is a mechanism for

separating independent systems.

Distinct Type Decoupling

Man

and

Machine

Separating a biological system

from add-on mechanical tools enables each to

evolve independently.

Encapsulation

A gastroschisis or omphalocele occurs when a person is born with their intestines or other internal organs outside their body.

The boundary for self-containment isn’t always intuitive.

Unintentional Hybridization

Joel Robinson

We are the Creators in our made-up

universe. Not all of our ideas will be good

ideas.

A Deep Dive in Biomimicry

Biomimicry• Biologically Inspired Design - The paradigm

espouses use of analogies to biological systems in generating conceptual designs for technological systems.

• AKA, Biomimetics or biomimicry is the imitation of the models, systems, and elements of nature for the purpose of solving complex human problems.

• Biology is the Template

Biomimicry in Software Systems

If you want to create a highly survivable system, don’t give it an off-button. Let it earn money. Let it spend money. Let it buy real-estate in the cloud of it’s choice. Let it move when it desires.

Let it go. Let it evolve.

Principles of Autonomic Computing

1. Self-configuration: Automatic configuration of components;2. Self-healing: Automatic discovery, and correction of faults;3. Self-optimization: Automatic monitoring and control of resources to

ensure the optimal functioning with respect to the defined requirements;4. Self-protection: Proactive identification and protection from arbitrary

attacks.5. Self-aware: application “knows itself” and is aware of it’s state and

behaviors. 6. Context Aware: aware of its execution environment and able to react to

changes in the environment7. Open: functions across multiple hardware and software architectures. 8. Anticipatory: anticipates needs and manages itself proactively

Multi-Organism Relationships

• Mutualism is a relationship in which both species benefit.• In Parasitic relationships one species benefits and the

other suffers.• Commensalism is a relationship between species in which

one benefits and the other is unaffected. • Symbiotic relationships can also be classified by the

physical relationship between the two species. – Endosymbionts live inside the tissues of the host, while

ectosymbionts live outside of their partner species.

http://www3.cis.fiu.edu/conferences/icac2011/files/Keynote_Kephart.pdf http://users.soe.ucsc.edu/~griss/agent-papers/ieee-autonomic.pdf

Software that mimics organic systems is an old concept.

Within an organism there exists an encapsulation hierarchy.

Each abstraction unit represents a field of study.

The boundary between units represents yet another field of study.

Our software systems are inspired by the constructs we use to make sense of

our world.

We create hierarchies, taxonomies,

grammars and lexicons – entire fields of study to

provide the building blocks of our

artificial, digital worlds.

We are the omnipotent deities who strive to mimic

the beauty of the universe and nature that surrounds us.

Every biologist is, at heart, a chemist.And every chemist is, at heart, a physicist. And every physicist is, at heart, a mathematician. And every mathematician is, at heart a philosopher. And every philosopher is, at heart, a biologist."—Anonymous

What is every software developer?

What is your inspiration?

What is your design center?

The Universe as Inspiration

Math, Physics, Chemistry

ProtectiveStructures

Survival Organisms

Nature

Organism-Made Tools

Clothing

Know your inspiration.

Codify your design center.

Know that you’re wrong.

Evolution isn’t a static.

Evolve.