2007 Current events

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December 14th Request for Volunteers

Posted at December 14th Request for Volunteers


November 27/2007 Update on IBE/JBE

I suggest that we submit an abstract for the IBE conference, as part of the Biomimicry track chaired by Denise. I have posted some ideas on a strategy and a revised abstract at IBE 2008.

Since the IBE is only publishing abstracts in the proceedings, I also suggest that we submit a formal paper to the Journal of Biological Engineering. Although the current content is not as focused on sustainability as we might like, it is a new journal, which may improve our changes. Perhaps we can also influence the direction of the journal more along the lines of the recent Engineering education in the wake of Hurricane Katrina article. The JBE is an Open Access journal, but requires that authors pay a fee for accepted articles. The fee is waived for BioMed Central members. Unfortunately, it appears that none of us belong to a member institution. If you know someone who is interested in patterns and also a BioMed Central member, I have no problems inviting them to our team.

Please review the abstract and either change it in the Wiki or send me your comments. I need to submit the abstract this Friday (November 29th).

I would also like to schedule a conference call early in December covering:

  • a new name for the paper ('Patterns from Nature' is wearing thin)
  • ideas for additional proto-patterns
  • brainstorming on the practical implications of our proto-patterns for designers
  • an initial attempt at creating a pattern language linking our proto-patterns

If you are interested, let me know what days work best for you, and I will set up an online calendar.

Thanks, Norbert


September 28/2007 Update

The presentation at Biomimetics 12 went reasonably well. The value of Pattern Language needs to be clearer - Julian Vincent pointed out that many of the characteristics that I listed also applied to TRIZ, and he claims TRIZ requires less practitioner expertise in the knowledge domain. Julian talked about how he tries to focus on the essential elements when explaining a technique or methodology. For TRIZ, he focuses on:

  • allows you to access knowledge that you didn't know you knew
  • emphasizes function vs. technological implementations of function

Julian also believes that TRIZ requires an understanding of Hegelian dialectic, which is second-nature to anyone going through the Russian education system.

The most recent version of the paper is 15 pages. As we start to develop the actual patterns, it may be worthwhile slipping the paper into two parts:

  • why pattern language is a useful way of capturing and communicating information about ecological systems
  • the specific patterns we have explored, and how they are useful


August 27/2007 Update

In addition to the material linked from the Concepts page, I have:

I would be very interested in your comments on the material so far. The first priority is to nail down the abstract. The next priority are the two pseudo-patterns. Both try to explain why our designs are not following the ecosystem principles and see if that suggests fruitful avenues for research and practice.

Please mark up and/or add your comments in the Wiki, or if you prefer, use the attached Word documents. I am going to work on the closing for the paper next, so that everyone has a chance to comment on the pseudo-patterns.

In terms of a timeline, I would like to:

  • have a draft of the closing sections ready for review by end-of-day Wednesday (August 29)
  • finalize and send the abstract to Julian Vincent this weekend (September 1)
  • have a draft of the Preliminary Results section (based on Conducive to Life and Multi-Functional Materials) ready for by next Monday (September 3)
  • prepare an initial Word document of the Biomimetics 12 paper by the following Friday (September 7)

put the whole thing to bed by September 14th get on the plane September 15th

Thanks in advance!
Norbert

PS. Has anyone heard from Martha? Her e-mail account is no longer accepting mail, and I do not have any other contact information for her.


August 16/2007 Update

I have finally had a chance to focus on this project again. I have done some cleanup of the Patterns Wiki. The stuff on Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics is now accessible from a Concepts page, which points to Martha's original thoughts, the rest of my notes on Deep Simplicity, and a summary of James Kay's article on SOHO Systems. I have also started a page on the Biomimetics 12 paper.

Simply because of lack of time (the conference is on September 21), my plan is to:

  • write up the Conducive to Life pattern, based on the concepts of self-organizing systems
  • write up a 'Multi-Functionality' pattern, based on a discussion with Eileen many moons ago and ideas around effective use of resources
  • start writing up the changes to the SEM 2007 paper (I have made some notes already at Biomimetics 12 paper)

I found the stuff on SOHO systems fascinating. Kay pulls together a lot of threads that have been popping up about the inherent difficulties of doing 'systems' design. He also supports my crazy notion that our high energy use might have pushed our systems into a turbulent/chaotic region (which may explain why engineers are very focused on control). The implication is that reducing our energy usage might actually make things easier (think about passive heating/cooling systems that work with local resources and avoid complex control systems). I will post e-mail discussions as time permits.

I will send out another e-mail once I have a block of material for the Biomimetics 12 paper ready. I would really like to encourage having the first draft done through the Wiki. I will then integrate the changes into the Word document and send it around for reviews/final editing.

Thanks! Norbert

PS. My keyboard was having fits today - if you see any typos or grammatical problems in the Wiki pages, just go ahead and fix them.


March 18/2007 Update - SEM2007 Paper Submitted!

The project has achieved a significant milestone - as a result of a tremendous collaborative effort, the Patterns from Nature paper was submitted to the Society of Experimental Mechanics yesterday! Although a day late, my excuse is a problem at the SEM mail server end, requiring various unnatural acts to transmit the paper. The abstract and paper are available at SEM2007 Paper (1.3MB).

Team members provided a large amount of input to various Word versions of the paper. There was relatively little overlap, and I accepted almost all of the changes. Using the Wiki as the primary vehicle for developing the papers would have worked quite nicely, with some caveats:

  • Wiki contributors need to be comfortable with changing someone else's words (not just mine, but those of other team members)
  • more time needs to be allocated to developing the paper
  • the logistics need to be defined: who is interested in which sections, what is the timeline for completing a section, how can we reduce churn when multiple people are seeing each other's changes in near real-time

I plan to submit an updated version of the paper to the Biomimetics 12 conference in Bath this fall. I will set aside time well in advance of the paper deadline to see if we can use the Wiki for the required changes.

Thanks again for everyone's help! Without you, the paper would not have happened. As soon as I catch up on some other projects, I will be re-starting the Patterns project.


March 8/2007 Update on SEM2007 Paper

I have posted the first draft of the Approach, Insights and Next Steps sections. The easiest way to find the material is through the SEM2007 Contents page. If you have a chance, please review the sections and either post or send me your comments. I will be taking a break for a few days and catch up on some other projects. I will start converting material into Word format first thing Monday, fixing up the flow and including important points that I missed on the first pass. If I can get the bulk of the Word document done by end-of-day Monday, it gives everyone a chance to review and comment on the final paper while I struggle with references, formatting and other minutiae.

I have created an online calendar for next week for anyone who wants to talk about the paper over the phone. As people indicate their availability, I will check which particular part of the paper they are most interested in and try to schedule calls with team members of common interest.


March 5/2007 Update on SEM2007 Paper

Contrary to popular belief, I have not fallen off the face of the earth. Another project has absorbed far more time than I had budgeted. I have been working on the SEM2007 paper which needs to be submitted by March 16th. Two sections are complete: Challenge and Methodology, linked through the SEM2007 Contents Wiki page. I would really appreciate your help in reviewing those sections for accuracy, clarity and completeness. Go ahead and change/add text, post your comments to the associated discussion pages, or send me an e-mail. Any images you think would help explain concepts would also be great!

I will plug away at the Approach, Insights and Next Steps in the week and send out another e-mail when significant material is complete. Once the first draft of the paper is done, I will update the Wiki with the results of conference calls with Denise, Fil, Eileen, John and Lynne. That should keep me busy until March 10th, when I will start writing the actual paper. Once that is done, I will start up the conference calls again.

PS. Martha posted some interesting ideas in the Discussion about Conducive to Life on how the contradiction in 'Life creates conditions conducive to life' might be resolved.


Feb. 5&6/2007 Calls (Denise/Fil)

We spent majority of the first call discussing a potential Conducive to Life pattern. For notes, see the Discussion page. The second call tapped Fil's expertise in patterns to clear up a number of questions.


Patterns

Contrary to most technical writing, some practitioners suggest patterns should be written in the second person, as a directive to the reader. For example, "You need to ..." (problem statement). "You will encounter this problem ..." (context). "You can solve this problem ... ('Therefore' or solution - what does it look like, how do you create the solution). "You should be careful about ..." ('But' or consequences). A pattern should be are a living document that continually evolves as the pattern is used, further refined, or pruned (a very 'ecosystem' concept). The term 'patlet' is sometimes used for wannabe patterns that have not achieved sufficient recognition and general use.

Fil mentioned a document by Brad Appleton - see the latter part of the Characteristics of Good Patterns section in Patterns


Pattern Language

Good patterns can be quite short and straightforward, yet useful at the same time. Any example is the pattern for Free-Body Diagrams (a great example, courtesy of Fil). However, they become really powerful when seen in the context of related patterns. You see how the specific pattern fits into the larger picture and you also have access to related solutions that may enhance or complete the design you are creating, or may suggest alternative designs. This is where Pattern Language comes in. More systems-oriented solutions occur through exploring cross-linked patterns at multiple levels in the Pattern Language and using multiple patterns in developing the final design.

We talked about using a fractal approach that starts with the ecosystem principles, develops patterns at the next level down, then explores examples and counter-examples at even finer levels of detail. Although this type of functional hierarchy is useful way of organizing information, I believe Pattern Languages gain value by being consistent at all levels. Like fractals, high level and low level patterns share a common structure and language, but may be targeted a different audience. For example, Christopher Alexander's Pattern Language for architecture starts with the macro scale of interest to regional and community planners, moves patterns for buildings and rooms within buildings (of interest to architects), then describes patterns of components within rooms (of interest to interior designers). However, the entire Pattern Language is easily accessible to all practitioners, allowing them to work collaboratively and jointly on the design, rather than a serial process with numerous hand-offs. Not all Pattern Languages have taken this approach - for example, software Pattern Languages tend to be focused at specific specialists, and the individual patterns often have unique structures that does not support inter-disciplinary collaboration.


Pattern Development

The idea of starting with principles and then developing patterns is a top-down approach. Christopher Alexander used a more bottoms-up approach, writing patterns for architectural problems/solutions that he repeatedly encountered. The pattern name was often the last thing to be attached to the pattern. The relationship between patterns emerged as he and other practitioners applied the patterns. My suggestion is to do whatever works, with the understanding that any structure we come up with may change.


Applications

It is not clear whether it makes sense to use a Pattern Language to design or improve on a single product in isolation. A key question is who the design benefits - the corporation, the individual consumer, the public good, or the larger environment. Pattern Language becomes increasingly useful as we progress outward from the single product and see that product embedded in a larger context. It may also encourage us to re-think the problem statement. Does the initial design brief solve the right problem or do we need to think bigger? One of the challenges faced by designers is not being able to change strategic decisions made earlier in the process - again, a Pattern Language that encourages communication across strategy, planning, design and implementation can help influence design briefs.

Part of the 'fuzziness' of this project may be the lack of a well-defined client with clear problems and requirements. One possibility may be elementary school students. Teachers continually struggle between depth and breadth. Students who are able to perceive patterns within the educational material are often much better at retaining and using that information compared to students who only see 'data'. An Ecosystem Pattern Language may prove useful in providing a framework that allows both teachers and students to explore specific paths to whatever depth is appropriate, while at the same time continually returning to the 'whole'. Each student can build upon that Pattern Language, emphasizing specific patterns or connections, adding new patterns, and creating new connections. Such a Pattern Language could not only help students understand how ecosystems work, but also how that knowledge would be of practical value.

Fil and I had the opportunity to talk with someone charged with making their design company sustainable. The discussion suggested that in design context, the problem statements in each pattern need at minimum to be expressed in human (vs. ecosystem) terms, and at best in business terms. This leads to the possibility of a Pattern Language that can be used by Chief Executive Officers on down by talking about business problems and related solutions.


Contradictions in Conducive to Life

See Denise/Fil/Norbert February 6th Discussion in Discussion on Conducive to Life for comments on resolving the contradiction or paradox that Denise raised.


Feb. 3/2007 Team Update on 'Next Steps'

Maibritt has looked at a number of ecosystem principles and created a Draft Principles of Ecosystems (Note: please do not redistribute without Maibritt's express approval). The document is also linked from the List of Patterns. The first page contains a consolidated list of principles taken from a range of sources (referenced on the second page and listed on subsequent pages). I am arranging a conference call with Denise and Fil early next week to see if we can quickly generate a new pattern from one of these principles. If successful, I will work one-on-one with volunteers to develop patterns from the remainder of Maibritt's list. In developing the initial list of patterns, I am sure we will come up with new ones that we can note and complete in a second pass.

I have:

  • attempted to compare Principles vs. Patterns in Patterns
  • posted notes from e-mails with Tom McKeag to various pages in the Wiki (see the Update Log for details)
  • created a new Applications page with information on the Goa 2100 RUrban design project and how it relates to bio-inspired design as well as Pattern Language. If you come across any other examples, please let me know. Maibritt, have a look at Appendix 1 of Alan AtKisson's summary for their set of goals, organizing principles, strategies, tactics and a 'dynamic fractal morphology'.

Some deliverable dates are quickly drawing nigh. The SEM2007 paper needs to be submitted by March 16th (the actual presentation is on June 6th). I am working on an article for the February BioInspired! Newsletter which will be a dry-run for the SEM2007 paper. I will definitely be looking for your feedback and input - stay tuned!

Regards, Norbert


Jan. 24/2007 Conference Call

Attendees

  • Lynne Sopchak: health care background, biologist by training (immunology/microbiology). Her work in cancer research and the impact of environmental factors let to a focus on prevention (instead of just treatment) and how we fit into the larger ecosystem. She has worked with a Palo Alto group involved in sustainability and application of concepts from Cradle to Cradle and The Natural Step. Lynne is interested in bioinformatics and the relationship amongst genes within and organism as well as between organisms. She has taught Biomimicry with Jeremy Eddy to designers at the California College of Art.
  • Denise DeLuca: civil engineer specializing in hydrology and environment consulting, with an growing focus on sustainability. She has been searching for tools to facilitate sustainable design and implementation and found the Biomimicry approach to be the best tool so far (especially if we go beyond form and function). Denise is working with the Biomimicry Institute on a Biomimicry Handbook.
  • Maibritt Pedersen Zari: designer, teaching and co-ordinating a course in sustainable architecture at the School of Architecture, Victoria University (Wellington, New Zealand). In addition to introducing Biomimicry into her course, she is also doing her masters in the possibilty of biomietic solutions to address climate change impacts on the built environment.
  • Eileen Stephens: mechanical engineer, previously involved with product/process development for medical devices, MBA in entrepreneurial management, working at Dept. of Health and Human Services on process/management issues. She has a passion for sustainability and is trying to build a career in the field.
  • Norbert Hoeller: background in design of information technology systems. Working with the Biomimicry Institute on communication, such as the BioInspired! Newsletter. Team-taught Biomimicry at the Ontario College of Art and Design, which led to investigating ways of transferring knowledge about natural systems to practitioners without a background in biology.


Interest in the Pattern Language Project

  • Denise is looking for design tools that help fit solutions to the context and translate between different domains (e.g. from biology to engineering), but are accessible and easy to use (we need to avoid the 'kid at the shop window' problem where expectations are raised that cannot be met). Has heard of Patterns in urban design - is there a natural overlap that would help incorporate Biomimicry principles into urban solutions? Interested in seeing whether looking at technical systems using the Patterns approach can help us better understand natural systems.
  • Maibritt is looking for ways to make biomimicry more accessible to designers / architects in a way that encourages sustainability. Importance of integrating human well-being and understanding the human / natural environment connection.
  • Lynne wants to work with non-biologists to make biological information both interesting and useful. Importance of finding the right things in nature to mimic - need to go beyond efficiency to more systems-based, sustainable solutions.


Relationship with TRIZ

Denise had heard about TRIZ (Theory of Inventive Problem Solving) methodology in her research for the Biomimicry Handbook. Maibritt has heard of TRIZ as well. There are a lot of commonality amongst TRIZ, Biomimicry and Pattern Language:

  • underlying assumption that the solution to human problems already exist
  • structured method for solving problems (in contrast to the trial-and-error approach of traditional creativity approaches)
  • emphasis on problem definition, multi-disciplinary problem solving, context, and taking a systems view

Julian Vincent's Royal Society paper Biomimetics—its practice and theory (also see Appendices) proposes extensions to TRIZ that incorporate biological concepts and examples. (Note: for copyright reasons, please do not redistribute without the author's express approval.)

Although TRIZ has been used by numerous companies and individuals to improve problem solving, it involves a steep learning curve that makes widespread application difficult.


Biomimicry Methodology

Biomimicry Methodology encourages uncovering the root of a problem by repeatedly asking 'why'. Unfortunately, designers are often brought in after the problem statement has been cast in concrete, making it difficult to change the course of the solution. The Methodology also encourages an iterative approach: try something, learn from it, revisit the problem (Denise talked about engineers 'taking another lap'). It is important that the right feedback loops and metrics exist to ensure that each iteration delivers increasingly sustainable solutions.

Following the Life's Principles should make solutions more sustainable. Denise suggested using the Life's Principles as the first set of patterns, and then branch from there to additional or more detailed patterns (following the iterative model). Over time, a 'pattern of patterns' will likely emerge that will help define the Pattern Language (Denise suggested looking at language or music to see if their structure might suggest a suitable grammar).


Role of Intelligence

We briefly discussed how intelligence and intent affects our success and developing sustainable design. Natural systems appear to rely on self-assembly, whereas we can apply our intellect and knowledge to the problem. Eileen mentioned that organizations that try to intentionally inject fun into the workplace are often unsuccessful, while fun that arises spontaneously can be effective. It may be more important to create the right environment where fun can occur - one of the precepts of self-organization.


Actions

  1. Maibritt will send her analysis of various sources of Life's Principles. These will be used as the basis for the initial set of patterns
  2. Norbert will clarify the differences between Principles and Patterns
  3. Norbert to investigate how we can facilitate face-to-face meetings (where team members live, what conferences we are attending)
  4. Norbert to identify the best date/time for the next conference call. We should quickly establish a consistent schedule for these calls so that people can block their calendars
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