Newsgroups: bit.listserv.geodesic
Subject: Computational Cosmography (Long)
Date: 14 Nov 1994 14:15:31 -0500

                     Computational Cosmography

  Introduction   .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .     2

  Computational Complexity .    .    .    .    .    .     3
       Why Change the Basis of Computation

  Quantum Physical Interactions .    .    .    .    .     6

  Using Synergetic-Energetic Geometry     .    .    .     7
       Entropic / Syntropic
       Computing with Modules

  Research Initiative .    .    .    .    .    .    .    10
       Practical Applications
       Why I feel Qualified for this Project
       Business Strategy Formulation

  References     .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .    17

                                                         13 April 1992

                                                    J.F. (Jim) Nystrom

(Note: Jim Has now moved to Idaho to pursue a masters in computer science.
       his E-mail address is Nystrom@ted.cs.uidaho.edu --- RJB)

FIRST DRAFT

Also a request for contributions, editorial, error detection, new ideas,
and assistance in developing these concepts. READ COSMOGRAPHY[3]


 Introduction

This paper discusses computer computation, quantum physics, and
synergetic
 geometry and attempts to apply a common pattern from quantum
physics and
 synergetics to a new computation paradigm. As
 part of the
introduction these topics are explained below.

A) Computation is the act of following a step-by-step procedure
(algorithm) which eventually leads to some sought after result. During
a
 computation, variables are used to store intermediate results and
conditional execution of "segments" allow for more than one result for
dealing with varied inputs. Computational complexity provides a measure
of
 the amount of time required for given computation sequences.

B) Quantum physics deals with the sub-atomic interactions that operate
in
 the scenario universe. The theories of quantum physics are applied
to
 produce materials of the utmost complexity.

C) Synergetics can be explained as follows: "Synergetics shows how we
may
 measure our experiences geometrically and topologically and how we
may
 employ geometry and topology to coordinate all
 information
regarding our experiences, both metaphysical and physical"[1].


I have three different possible 'purpose' statements, and upon deciding
how to convey the information best, it will become one.
---
The claim that I will make is that synergetics can be applied to
quantum
 physics and used as a bases for computer calculations to
produce a new
 computational paradigm, and some useful tools.
----
----
The purpose then, of this report is to introduce the idea of synergetic
geometry to the science of computation. Another purpose is to promote
research into the aforementioned area. Especially
 funded research for
myself, possibly within a company, or as a partner in
 a business, and /
or at a research institute.
----
----
The intent is to show a sound connection between a different view of
computation, the quantum mechanisms operative in universe and the
synergetic geometry discovered by R. Buckminster Fuller. By
understanding
 and computing with those same 'interactions' that
manifest themselves in
 the quantum physics, we will get the payback of
being able to more
 accurately control the physical phenomena that make
up our products and
 services.
----

I am committed to using the nomenclature that Fuller developed in
synergetics, so any improper use in this report is an error and
hopefully
 can be remedied through successive drafts.


Computational Complexity

Computational complexity has to do with reasoning about how long a
computation will take, or how much space will be used. To do this type
of
 analysis we need an algorithm to analyze. This algorithm
 will in
most cases operate on some input to produce some type of output.
 We can
then make statements about the length of the computation based on
 the
size of the input; for example, if the input is size n, we might say
the algorithm takes time n**3 (n cubed), roughly meaning that n**3
operations are required on average to get a favorable result. If any
process can be described by an algorithm, the time and space complexity
of
 the algorithm can be calculated. Some process models may have a
complexity
 that say's it
 will take years or decades (or more) to
calculate a result, given an input
 of reasonable size. Obviously, we
currently do not want to actually run a
 program like this (or if we run
it, we do not want to wait for it to
 finish).

Computational complexity is due to having to 'calculate' everything.
Calculations use input(s) to get a result. When we model something, if
we
 want to know the location of an item at t2, we start with
information at
 t1 and calculate t2 information based on what we have.
This calculation
 takes more than one step, which when added together
with other
 calculations, keeps us from modelling certain type of
phenomena, for
 instance the grand challenge problems[14] such as
"climate modeling, fluid
 turbulence, pollution dispersion, human
genome, ocean circulation, quantum
 chromodynamics, semiconductor
modeling, superconductor modeling,
 combustion systems, vision and
cognition"[15].

Instead (of calculating), if we used the computation system to
transform
 the 'information' from one 'state' to the next, this can be
accomplished
 in unit time; where unit time says that the computation
consumes few clock
 ticks, like an addition. Now we just need to map the
'state space' to the
 problem at hand. If the problem at hand is that of
modelling a section of
 an ocean, each successive state of the
computation system maps to a state
 that the section of the ocean is
in.

The problem now becomes one of the mapping between the problem and the
computation space. Really, all we need are the mapping and
transformational rules, and we must keep in mind that transformations
in
 both the problem space and computation system need to occur in unit
time.

Let's setup an example, and call it a computational synergetic geometry
(csg). It could also be more appropriately described as a Synergetic
Energy Transformational System. In this example, as with
 other
informational transformational systems which process 'energy' in
 unit
time, the initialization is the biggest step, and this operation will
require more than unit time. During the example I will refer to the
input
 as 'energy', and processing units as 'structures'.

The setup will consist of constructing a geometrical frame within which
all transformations take place. This geometrical frame can also
transform
 during the processing. The frame will be composed of
structures, which are
 composed of quanta. As energy enters the system,
the structures absorb and
 release energy according to our
transformational rules. These rules should
 be setup to neither destroy
energy nor create energy, only allow it to
 flow. This system can now
process energy in unit time.

Applying some computational direction into the csg will allow for the
development of patterns. All computation within the csg will be integer
arithmetic. Nature does not use irrational numbers, only
 integers[6],
so our csg shall do same.

This csg is not like a neural network configuration, but not totally
unlike it, because it is definitely not a model based on only planer
interconnections. This csg is not like a cellular automata, because
 it
is not simply due to relationships with neighbors of a planer surface,
but has energy interactions at multiple angles; exhibiting 12 degrees
of
 freedom (6+ positive and 6- negative). Fuller's description of an
energy
 event: "There are six positive and six negative degrees of
functional
 transformational freedoms, which
 provide 12 alternative
ways in which nature can behave most economically
 upon each and every
energy-event occurrence. You have six vectors or none
 for every energy
event"[1].


Why Change the Basis of Computation

There are two distinct reasons that I see for changing the way we do
computations. First of all there is an opportunity to configure our
computing space in such a way that the structure of the "information"
(or
 objects as explained in the research initiative section) provides
more
 information than can be gathered by adding all the parts together.
In this
 way the 'whole' is greater than the sum of the parts and we
have produced
 some synergy in our system (synergy means that the whole
is greater than
 the sum of the parts,
 and is the only word that
describes this[6]). Using standard mathematical
 techniques that simply
sum up the parts to describe the system will never
 achieve any amount
of synergy.

The second reason for changing our computation methods is to get
synergetics into the mainstream scientific and cultural systems. If
synergetics can be shown to be an effective tool for computing (and
obviously I think it can), then this demonstration will have more
effect
 on the way other disciplines reason about the phenomena they
study, than
 synergetics would if it was adopted by some other
discipline first. For
 example, if atomic physicists began using
synergetics with great success,
 other people would say that "we can
not possibly understand what they do, after all they are physicists",
and
 as such other disciplines would not rush to use these new
techniques as
 quickly.


Quantum Physical Interactions

The universe operates at the frequency of light. Quantum mechanic
interactions operate at the speed of light.

The study of quantum mechanics (QM) is concerned with the fundamental
makeup of matter. QM studies the sub-atomic realm of the atomic nuclei
and
 particle interactions. QM theories say that the parts of atoms
referred to
 as electrons, neutrons and protons are actually made up of
other particles
 called quarks, the building blocks of matter.

All QM studies presuppose that there are transformational rules
operative
 in universe, and the purpose of studying QM is to find those
rules. These
 transformational rules dictate the way the sub-atomic
realm can behave; in
 this way physics suggests a somewhat deterministic
type behavior of
 universe at the microscopic level.

Newer theories in quantum physics say that space is not at all
continuous,
 but rather like a lattice of points. This is quite a
statement, it implies
 that all energy flow in any system can only
travel along this lattice, the
 structure dictates the possible flows.
Along with 'lattice-space',
 physicist are saying that space
 also
contains strings at the lowest level, which are the transportation
media for all energy interactions.

The synergetic geometry takes all these theories into account. The
lattice-type structure that is postulated by physicists after many
experiments in which they smash particles together at high speed using
very advanced equipment, is exactly that geometry allowed within
synergetics. The strings of string theory are exactly the
 connections
within that geometry representing the tensegrity, and the
transformational rules that are all elusive, are exactly those
interactions of modules within structures as presented in Synergetics
and
 Synergetics 2.

Strings represent the tensegrity of universe. "Fuller coined the term
tensegrity from a contraction of two words: tension and integrity.
Tension
 occurs when something is stretched or pulled. Integrity is a
state of
 wholeness or completeness. Tensegrity describes structures
whose shape is
 maintained by a continuous
 tensional network. Fuller
envisioned tensegrity structures as a
 revolutionary new building
technique and as a model for all natural
 structures"[16].

"In a tensegrity structure, radiation/matter is modelled by the
discontinuous struts, and gravitation is modelled by the continuous
network of wires underlying the structure. This model reconciles
 these
two disparate elements into a single unified field. No other known
model does so"[3].


Using Synergetic-Energetic Geometry

Synergy: behavior of whole systems unpredicted by behavior of the
parts.

The best example[6] of synergy is that of mass attraction. Nothing about
a
 single object predicts that when there are two objects, there is a
gravitational attraction between those objects inversely proportional
to
 the square of the distance between them.


Entropic / Syntropic

The basic assumption in most scientific disciplines is that physical
systems tend to become disorderly. Entropy is a measure of how much a
system tends to disorder, or chaos. Much time is spent by physicists in
trying to explain how things (or systems) stay together, when it seems
obvious that everything continues to try to pull apart (e.g. become
disorderly, without pattern).


Radiation is an entropic force.

Syntropy is the complement of entropy, in that it is a measure of how
much
 a system tends to stay together. The syntropy of the universe is
just as
 strong, if not stronger than the entropy of the universe.


Gravity is a syntropic force.

The underlying geometry of the universe encourages syntropic forces by
restricting the allowable movements and thus tending systems to
interact
 and maintain their pattern; rather than falling apart.


Computing with Modules

- Jitterbug

The jitterbug model shows how an icosahedron (icosa) collapses into an
octahedron (octa) and can collapse further into a tetrahedron (tetra).
From the icosa stage the jitterbug can also expand to (and always
through)
 the vector equilibrium and then collapse the other direction
into a octa.
 This will be a possible basis for how our csg
(computational synergetic
 geometry) will process energy, so we can lay
out some possible
 transformation rules:
        icosa - energy => octa
        octa + energy => icosa
        icosa + energy => (through vector equilibrium) => icosa +energy

These transformational rules will be observed behavior only. The real
computation / interaction has to happen at a lower level.

- Modules & Structure
The geometry of synergetics has many levels of detail. The outer
structures are composed of constituent parts. This description goes
down
 to the level of modules; where modules are combined to produce
mites and eventually produce structures. The only structures in
universe
 are tetrahedron, octahedron and icosahedron; all others are
combinations
 of these.

- T-modules as discussed with David Koski[9]
Another synergetics researcher explained how he has found a way to use
the
 T-modules of synergetics to explain how some of the transformations
of the
 jitterbug can occur. The technique uses the "golden ratio" to
maintain
 proportioning during the transformation from four-fold
symmetry to
 five-fold symmetry. These ideas could be a good starting
point for
 creating algorithms for synergetic interactions (to test the
ideas of this
 report).

- Theory of Functions: always and only coexisting : co-vary  - tension /
compression  - concave / convex

- proton / neutron The theory of functions states that there are
certain
 relationships that must hold. For example, when there is
tension on a
 string, there is also a compression force acting at 90
degrees to the
 string. In this sense, "tension and compression always
and only
 coexist"[6], and if one aspect changes (say tension), the
other aspect
 must also change (in this case compression).

A csg must take the theory of functions into account when describing
possible interaction rules. In this same sense, the system must also
allow
 for the expression of entropic and syntropic behavior.

This completes my current description of how we might use synergetic
geometry to create a kind of computational cosmography. I have detailed
the importance of this geometry and demonstrated that we
 can apply a
common pattern (the synergetic paradigm) of thought across
 computation,
quantum physics and synergetics. Now, what is  remaining, is
 to show
the need and feasibility of coordinated (and highly funded)
 research in
these areas.


Research Initiative

Any comprehension research initiative starts with analysis of the
basics.
 The basics for this project include a complete study of
synergetics (as
 presented in [1], [2] and most recently [5]). During
the project, other
 research using synergetics should also be
documented, lest we spend time
 re-discovering the same as others.

The next step is to begin creating algorithms that describe the
interactions / allowable state changes of the modules within the
geometry.
 During this process, the research will concentrate on
describing the
 modules interaction in the jitterbug process. The
jitterbug will be the
 basis for processing "energy" through the
system: e.g. upon receiving a "photon" the geometry pulses out from an
icosahedron through the vector equilibrium stage and then releases that
energy as it folds back into an icosahedron; or releases a second
energy
 packet as it folds further into an octahedron.

The simulations and modeling of the synergetics should be done on
parallel
 processing hardware using a parallel programming language
which supports
 an object-oriented approach. The initial program code
will be objects which simulate a module (probably a T-module). The
objects
 will communicate via message-passing, in order to coordinate
with
 neighbors and adhere to the allowable transformation allowed
within the synergetic geometry. It is a given that computation based on
synergetic modules will require a large computing resource, with a
tremendous amount of communication channel bandwidth. Due to these
requirements, the processor of choice will be the INMOS Transputer and
the
 configured system could be from Parasys[8]; which provides a
standard
 system with 16 processors for $ 40,000 (pounds), $ 150,000
(pounds) for a 64 transputer machine.


Practical Applications

For a project to be attractive to industry, it is customary to
calculate
 the Net Present Value (NPV). These calculations are based on
the initial
 investment, and future time-based revenues. The
calculations also use a
 given internal rate of return factor which is
the minimum percent that a
 company is willing to accept for their
investment. For a basic research initiative, these ratings are not
strictly adhered to, but they definitely influence decisions. For these
reasons, a project must address the issue of return on investment by
indicating what type of products or processes would result from the
research investment.

I am proposing that either a consortium, or a R&D Limited Partnership
be
 setup, or some visionary company adopt the project. The project
would
 encompass the research into and the develop of
 synergetic
computation primitives. The application of synergetics will
 benefit
organizations involved
 with the use of micro-structured surfaces, the
formation of what are
 called fullerenes (carbon molecules arranged
within a synergetic geometric
 arrangement), or other material
processing. Synergetics
 approaches to design a language for spacial
information have been
 proposed[11]. The study of synergetics will
produce improved understanding
 of the geometries that underlie ALL
chemical and atomic arrangements. The
 application of this type of
reasoning to chemical bonding analysis should
 produce improved
understanding and improved predictability of experimental
 results.
Another area that is becoming very important is geometrical
visualization[10], and synergetics would seem an appropriate tool in
this
 area. An area that receives a lot of current government funding is
the
 human genome project. Since synergetics can describe all patterns
in
 nature, it would be the science of choice when attacking sequencing
and pattern questions, that are key to the genome project.

Other possible revenue streams come from the possibility that
synergetics
 will soon become accepted as a new legitimate discipline
and prospective
 users will require training. The market for training
services will be
 tremendous (especially if our major universities
resist adoption of this
 science in their classrooms). Consider the
possibility of our government
 funding the re-training of the
Military-Industrial-Complex technicians and
 engineers in the science of
synergetics, to concentrate on producing
 livingry (Fullers term to
differentiate it from weaponry[3]) instead of
 weaponry; the trainees
involved and the projected revenue could be a
 marketing exercise.


Why I feel Qualified for this Project

This section should not be included in a regular proposal, but is
included
 to help explain my rational for not only wanting to pursue the
topics
 discussed, but the rational for why I feel I am qualified to
assist in
 "starting this business".

I have been interested in synergetics since I discovered / uncovered
Buckminster Fuller's Critical Path[4] in 1983 along with fellow
researcher
 Rick Bono. During Critical Path, I (as most due)
contemplated what part I,
 as an individual of limited means, could have
in assisting humanity prove
 itself a success in universe. My
 part had
to have something to do with computers, either the use of them or
 the
construction of them. Not long after this I predicted that any smart
computer (if one was to be built) would have to use synergetic geometry
as
 it's computation primitive, and as such, the Fifth-Generation
Project[12]
 that the Japanese began was destined to fail (at producing
a reasoning
 machine). Since that time I have reviewed synergetics
frequently and have
 had numerous informal discussions on the topics,
but have been earning a
 living doing
 other interesting things besides
synergetics. Thus, my detailed knowledge
 is still very limited.

From an entrepreneurial standpoint, whether by accident or on purpose,
my
 present employer has been training me to become an entrepreneur, by
allowing me to continue theoretical studies (in a masters program) and
by
 providing training in business management (both on the job and in
the
 classroom). The culture of 3M is such that entrepreneurial
visioning is
 encouraged, and allowed to occur through sponsored
programs. I believe the
 need to begin using natures coordinate system
(synergetics is the geometry
 of nature) in our product and process
designs is paramount if we are to
 continue to be a world leader in the
science of materials. A corporation
 should also include the public
relations benefits to be gained from this
 type of venture; if
successful, the corporations involved would earn
 reasonable profits
while being viewed as a benefactor to all of humanity
 (once synergetics
is adopted world-wide).

Business Strategy Formulation

The outline for the questions answered in this section come from a
seminar
 given at the University of Texas Management Institute[13]. This
exercise
 is meant to further review the feasibility of beginning a
major effort
 into synergetics research.

Outline of this section:

  Step 1: Strategic Profile
  Step 2: Environmental Analysis
  Step 3: Internal Analysis
  Step 4: Strategic Choice
  Step 5: Evaluating Strategy


1) Strategic Profile

A) Definition of the Business

Planned products would include synergetics training (consulting),
visualization and programming. The vertical integration would be
minimal
 by contracting for most of the visualization programming and
other technical areas.


B) Competitive Posture

Most likely the first company in this field, and thus could establish
the
 market and as such be guaranteed the greatest market share during
the
 growth years.


C) Self-Concept

An open, if not renegade atmosphere where we could not assume anything
for
 which there is not experimental evidence. Performance objectives
include
 simulations of actual physical phenomena using
 synergetic
building blocks.


2) Environmental Analysis

A) Political, Social and Economic Dimensions

There exists a national need
 to reestablish our competitiveness;
especially in technology areas. Our
 current economic situation will
cause government to make huge investment
 in re-training of both blue
and white collar workers; where synergetics
 could be the technique of
choice for this re-training.


B) Market Dimension

Current demand for the planned products might exist for visualization
tools[10]; and this customer base consists of university, government
and
 industry research labs. The Synergetics Institute in Japan produces
a
 software for 3D animations of the process of making hierarchies of
the
 icosahedron and the rhombic
 triacontahedron[3]. Training is a top
issue in industry due to technology
 turnover and recent Malcolm
Baldridge National Quality Award guidelines
 and the ISO9000
regulations. A consumer market for
 visualization and synergetic
training should also be developed.

C) Product and Technological Dimension

Product innovation will determine success or failure. Raw materials of
the
 process include computing machinery and talented researchers. There
does
 exist a pool of synergetic design scientists, but they
 could be
hard to locate, harder still to recruit and probably impossible
 to
manage (but easy to lead).


D) Competitive Dimension

The impact of competition would be positive for all concerned groups.
The
 more activity in these areas, the greater the exposure and the
better
 chance of success. This would also spread out the work and allow
for
 further innovation to occur.


3) Internal Analysis

A) Operational Dimension

All operational elements will center around a thorough understanding of
synergetic principles.

B) Financial Dimension

By far the weakest part of this venture. To fund 5-10 researchers and
provide space and equipment over five years would require a total of $ 3
-
 6,000,000. The overall amount would be also be influenced by what
type,
 and the amount of outside contractors that would be available.

C) Management Dimension


The recruitment of a synergetic specialist to fill an executive role
would
 be a key to success.


4) Strategic Choice

A) Defining the Business (again)


This would require an international effort with a set of core sponsors.
The venture would be flexible enough to accommodate entry by other
corporations, individuals and governments (the more, the better).
Specializing in 3 areas should not prevent the venture from providing
consulting support for spin-offs in other areas: World Gaming /
Resource
 Planning, Special interest groups (quantum physics, chemical
interactions,
 crystallography, university relations, etc.).


5) Evaluating Strategy

A) Is it consistent with the environment?


Since synergetics is not currently a mainstream scientific paradigm,
most
 would say it is not consistent with our current environment, BUT
since
 synergetics describes nature's coordinate system and the current
explosion
 in technology has it approaching the limit's of application
in their
 respective areas (e.g. VLSI is about as small as it can get;
logic
 inference engines in computer science can only do so much; what
is the
 atom smasher in Waxahatchie really going to do for us?), the
scientific
 community should be ripe for a new way to look at old
phenomena; and
 synergetics is the best new way.

B) Is it consistent with our capabilities / resources?


Only by making the investment in research, training and recruitment
will
 the possibility of success pass 50%.

C) Can it be implemented?

There are many open questions concerning the
 future needs for products
and services from this venture. Because
 synergetics was discovered by
R. Buckminster Fuller, the descriptions of
 the details of the geometry
are in his terms, and lack of mathematical
 rigor. We should expect to
expand and continue to create from his base,
 while combining synergetic
thinking with other ideas from similar areas.
 Once synergetics is
validated, Bucky will be assured a spot as one of the
 greatest thinkers
of the 20th century.

If the arguments for research into synergetics are reviewed thoroughly,
and some of the claims sincerely contemplated (e.g. can synergetics
really
 be the geometry of nature?), then there is a good chance that
commitment
 could be gained from top management of international
corporations and from
 responsible government figures.


References

[1] R. Buckminster Fuller. Synergetics: The Geometry of Thinking,
Macmillan, 1975.

[2] R. Buckminster Fuller. Synergetics 2: Further Explorations in
the Geometry of Thinking, Macmillan, 1979.

[3] R. Buckminster Fuller. Cosmography: A Posthumous Scenario for
the Future of Humanity, Macmillan, 1992.

[4] R. Buckminster Fuller. Critical Path, St. Martin's Press, 1981.

[5] Amy C. Edmondson. A Fuller Explanation: The Synergetic geometry
of R. Buckminster Fuller, Birkhauser Boston, 1987.

[6] Robert Synder. The World of Buckminster Fuller (video)

[7] Peter H. Huyck, Nellie W. Kremenak. Design & Memory: Computer
Programming in the 20th Century, McGraw-Hill, 1980.

[8] Arthur Trew, Greg Wilson (Eds.). Past, Present, Parallel: A
survey of Available Parallel Computing Systems, Springer-Verlag,
1991.

[9] Conversation with David Koski. 21 March 1992.

[10] Conversation with Jack Conrad Gray. 2 April 1992.

[11] Conversation with Arthur L. Loeb. 30 March 1992.

[12] Edward A. Feigenbaum, Pamela McCorduck. The Fifth Generation:
Artificial Intelligence and Japan's Computer Challenge to the World,
Addison-Wesley, 1983.

[13] James W. Fredrickson. Strategy Formulation for Your Firm, from
Module 1: Managing the Technical Organization, University of Texas
Management Institute, 1991-1992.

[14] Grand Challenges: High Performance Computing and
Communications, report by the Committee on Physical, Mathematical,
and Engineering Sciences, Office of Technology Policy, 1991.

[15] Alok Choudhary, Sanjay Ranka. Parallel Processing for Computer
Vision and Image Understanding, IEEE Computer Vol. 25, 2, February
1992.

[16] Cary Kittner, Stuart Quimbry. Tensegritoy, Tensegrity Systems
Corporation, 1988.

[17] Kevin Hannabuss. Quantum Geometry, New Scientist, 11 August
1988.