Research Catalog

Title

The serendipity machine : a voyage of discovery through the unexpected world of computers / David Green.

Author

Green, David G. (David Geoffrey), 1949-

Publication

Crows Nest, NSW. : Allen & Unwin, c2004.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Holdings

Details

Description

ix, 206 p. : ill.; 21 cm.

Summary

"The Serendipity Machine helps us make sense of recent developments in information technolgy. It explains how innovations such as data mining and evolutionary computing deal with complexity by exploiting serendipity. It looks at possibilities raised by new technologies of personal agents and virtual communities. And it examines the growing influence of computers in new fields including biotechnology, environmental management and electronic commerce." "It also reveals surprising connections between computing and everyday life. What do handbags, platypuses and traffic congestion have to do with computing? Why is computing becoming more and more like electricity supply? And why do computer scientists increasingly look to nature for inspiration?" "The Serendipity Machine is a trek through the new worlds of information technology with plenty of chance discovery on the way."--Jacket.

Subject

• Computers > Technological innovations
• Information technology
• Technological complexity

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references (p. 189-198) and index.

Processing Action (note)

• committed to retain

Contents

The information explosion -- The serendipity effect -- Divide and rule -- The platypus effect -- From the Net to the Grid -- Nuggets of knowledge -- Talk to my agent -- Computing and nature -- Pandora's box -- The Internet turns green -- Virtual worlds -- The global village.

ISBN

186508655X (pbk.)

LCCN

^^2005391940

OCLC

56653004

Owning Institutions

Harvard Library