Complexity - ARO NSB

Complexity
The Design of Nature

“Human beings, viewed as behaving systems

are quite simple. The apparent complexity of

our behavior over time is largely a reflection

of the complexity of the environment in which

we find ourselves.” _Herbert Simon

2009

Complexity is not confined to the human race, but is shown in all of nature. The smallest single cell organisms and the largest giant red wood trees share similarities in the complexity of their existence. Complexity could be defined as the predecessor to life. The two seem to rely on the other. As living things spread throughout their environment their complexity also expands.
Human interaction at a small level is simplistic. Once expanded, the interactions become more and more difficult. Life’s complexity comes from the desire for the human race to explore and spread to the far reaches of their environment. This desire to expand can be related to the human aspiration to learn the unknown and to add complexity to their life. Complexity, like the world around it, is always changing and adding new issues to the overall problem.
_ARO, NSB





References:

Simon, Herbert, (1983) Reason in Human Affairs (Harry camp Lecture). California: Stanford University Press.

Image: ”Stratford Ariel” (Image adapted)
http://www.propertyinvesting.net/cgi-script/csNews/image_upload/specialreports_2edb.Stratford%20ariel2.jpg

Complexity_gap_drc

Hybrid thinking in a perpetual state of learning


“It thus can be said to be situated in between order and disorder, or, using a recently fashionable expression, "on the edge of chaos".”_ F. Heylighen



1996

Complexity is a term that gives identity to a system of parts or the function of assemblage. It creates a mode in which a method of absorbing or acquiring knowledge is possible. Through this new path of thinking your mind can collaborate previous ideas and current ideas into a useable unit. Simultaneously it is the juxtaposition of one part or idea to another that creates an interdependent existence. From this interdependence there emerges a new idea or a hybrid system that is more versatile and more apt to handle its purpose. Complexity can be further seen as an evolutionary process that reacts to its surroundings. As one element is added to the sequence of previous elements, it creates a system that is needed to adapt to. As this occurs, complex solutions are formed to provide for the people or the structure it entails.
_gap _drc



References:

F. Heylighen, What is Complexity?
http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/COMPLEXI.html

Image:”Research & Sustainability”
http://www.edc.ncl.ac.uk/assets/hilite_graphics/rhnov06g01.png

Complexity

Complexity
As a level of chaos

“A complex system that works is invariably found to have evolved from a simple system that worked. A complex system designed from scratch never works and cannot be patched up to make it work. You have to start over, beginning with a working simple system.” John Gall

2008

Complexity is the level of chaos brought together to create a uniform design working as one. When complexity is created throughout a design, it conveys a simplistic meaning of efficiency and order. A system of interacting elements can have a deeper meaning as the structure/system moves together within itself. Though the interactions of the parts in a “disorganized complexity” situation can be seen as largely random, the properties of the system as a whole can be understood by using probability and statistical methods. In the sense of how complicated a problem is from the perspective of the person trying to solve it, limits of complexity are measured using a term from cognitive psychology, namely the hrair limit. “The concept of the hrair limit is illustrated by imagining the six faces of a die used tp play dice. It is easy for many people to visualise each of the six faces. Now imagine seven dots, eight dots, nine dots, ten dots, and so on. At some point it becomes impossible to visualise the dots as a single pattern, and one thinks of, say, eight as two groups of four. The upper limit of your visualisation of a number represented as dots is your hrair limit for that exercise.”( neohumanism.org ) Complexity coexists with the chaos theory, which is the study of a system that appears to be random but in theory could be a system of complex networks.

References:

John Gall, What is Culture?
http://www.37signals.com/svn/posts/1414-a-complex-system-that-works-is-invariably

Image:”Live Modern” (Image adapted)
http://livemodern.com/everglades_house1_small.jpg

Hrair limit
http://neohumanism.org/h/hr/hrair_limit.html

complexity

Complexity
The human body the most complex thing

"Truth is ever to be found in the simplicity, and not in the multiplicity and confusion of things."_ Sir Isaac Newton

10/14/2008

Newton was quoted sayings this when talking about complexity in biology. Complexity is defined by Webster as a noun founded in 1661is something complex or the quality or state of being complex. In the present day world there are a number of complex things. These include computers, networking, and robotics. These things can become very complex but they are not the more complex then biological organisms. In other word humans and other organism at this time are more complex than anything else on the plant. An example of this is adaptive systems. Presently developers are trying to make computers and network system that use adaptive system, or are ability to learn, but they cannot. Humans on the other hand can. A good example of this is a baby learning the environment around it. Another example of this is just by looking at are bodies. Are bodies consist of a structural system made from bones, a transportation system including repertory and cardiovascular system, and the greatest computer and networking systems which includes are nerves and brain. It is just some of the things in are body which means we must be complex. These systems are so complex that we do not know are potential. Sciences are still puzzled at how are mind works and do not fully understand it. Also, because of are complexities sciences are having hard time find cure for cancer and other diseases. Considering all of this there is no computer system that can match humans at this. This remains me of a quote from Jan de Bont, “We're all complex human beings, and if some of that complexity shows through, I think it's advantageous for the movie.” _DCL & KW
References:

Picture
http://www.geekologie.com/2008/01/post_4.php

Complexity in biology. Exceeding the limits of reductionism and determinism using complexity theory http://www.nature.com/embor/journal/v9/n1/full/7401147.html

Webster dictionary
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/complexity

brainyquote
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/j/jandebont372921.html
Adaptive Systems
http://srinivasreddy.wordpress.com/2007/06/16/adaptive-systems/

Complexity-Complexus
"Entwined" or "Twisted Together"

“Complexity necessarily depends on the

language that is used to model the system”

_Edmonds B.


1996

Complexity tends to characterize the level of difficulty one has to endure to complete a task. An intricate amount of variances in an assignment emcompassed in non-simple idea. Complexity deals with amounts, levels; like noted before, the more levels, variances and elements added into a pattern or idea the more complex the ides starts to evolve from. Edmond states that, “In order to have a complex you need two or more components, which are joined in such a way that it is difficult to separate them.” As a many of fact, he also states that in the event you try to separate them the idea is destroys because the meaning only exist between them and without one the meaning is lost. It starts with simplicity and ends with difficulty or complexity. Exploration is another important variant in complexity. What is the thought process behind the objective? What do I want to show or control, what information is significant, and how do I clearly convey all this information so one might understand the overall proposal. An artist by the name of Lee Jang Sub wanted to explore major cities around the world focusing on how urban cities transportation have spread out and evolved over time. He used patterns formed by roads in each city, combining the idea of natural and manmade systems. The image above is an abstract map of Moscow’s transportation systems. Korean born designer Lee Jang Sub is known for his complex graphic configurations. So in turn, the idea behind complexity in some artist’s works deals solely with illustration. Visual Complexity in a many of speaking, focusing on the artists work which refer to one variant, and a point of information which is another variant and when you put the two together they a form a cohesion idea that may be difficult to comprehend at first site. After the viewer investigated the work and the artist give an explanation of the piece, the viewer will see the image in a more comprehensive way. But there are other components to complexity such as understanding because it is one issue to solve; it is another factor to interpret. Interpretation can be a task that not many can achieve.
_rcd

References:

Edmonds B, What is Complexity?
http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/COMPLEXI.html

Image:”Complexity” (Image adapted)
http://www.visualcomplexity.com/vc/project_details.cfm?id=630&index=630&domain=