Information Driven Continuums - An Introduction

When searching for solutions, modern robotics give amanifest developmental information driven continuums.
perfect example on how algorithmic information drivenWhy? When this system is considered as an entity
continuums are formed. In the Forbes Weekly Insider:that is undergoing relatively constant process of
Jul 17 (Nod to Hod for Robotics) 2009 roboticscombination and recombination in representational level,
researcher Hod Lipson from Cornell University wrote:and perceive the branches such as laptops, multimedia
"In taking inspiration from nature and Darwinianphones, and desktop computers from different
evolution and applying those lessons to robotics, whatdeveloper/manufacturer, we can perceive how
has really surprised you?computer as an entity has undergone developmental
I'm always fascinated by the kind of solutions that youstate space phases, producing history and an
get when you allow something as open-ended asinformation driven continuum.
evolution to tackle a problem. What we have beenWhen we for example perceive the increasing
doing extensively in robotics and other areas ofcomplexity individual's brains undergo throughout his/her
engineering is using algorithms inspired from biologicallife, we are actually perceiving the information driven
evolution to try to solve a challenging design synthesiscontinuum of the brains. Even such modest event as
problem. In other words, we have set of building blockdeveloping an idea presents an information driven
and we put them in a "primordial soup," so-to-speak.continuum. Hence information driven continuums require
We then allow evolutionary processes ofconstant cycles of combination and recombination in
recombination and mutation to connect these piecesorder to exist. In perhaps most simple case, cycles of
together, subject to some selection criteria, and let thisstimulus and response.
evolutionary process brew for hundreds andThe future questions of the phenomenon of
thousands of generations until we get solutions thatinformation driven continuums are: How do political
match our criteria of selection. We have been applyingsystems affect to the formation of the future in terms
this to anything from designing robot bodies and brainsof centuries? What designable cognitive tasks can be
to designing analog circuits and mechanical devices,used to accelerate the development of a nation?
and what's been really interesting to see are the kindsWhat knowledge is beneficial in an education system in
of results that come out of this process."relativity with the memic butterfly effect? How the
When this is applied to memetics, we can perceivecontent of the mass media influences the mass mind,
how the past generations of for example computerand thus to the information driven continuum of
science have developed information systems, and asmankind? Do the modern realisms give and produce
computer technology can be counted as a continuumenough enriching environment for personal
phenomenon, the research concerning these systemsdevelopment?