Computer Software is always a solution to a problem
Mathematics is not always a solution to a problem, nor is speech. Therefore, the type of computer software is logically of the same class as a pump or bridge. It is not strictly speaking a tool like a screwdriver because one of those needs a human to define its usefulness, whereas a pump pumps water without needing to define a human - similarly a bridge provides passage. A pump, bridge and computer software can all be fully defined without defining a human - though the tasks they carry out may involve defining a human.
Therefore, computer software is a self-standing solution to a specific problem.
The primary function of all life is to solve problems
Plenty more about this in The Web Of Life by Fritjof Capra, but from the bacterium to a human, all life spends almost all of its time solving problems. The difference between a pump and a bacterium is that the latter is (like all life) capable of an inventive step ie; finding a new improved solution to a problem. A pump cannot exceed the boundaries of its design.
Therefore, life can be defined as anything capable of finding a new improved solution to a problem. This implies that there is cognition in all life (c.f. Margulis, Maturana)
Evolution is aggregating self-standing solutions to a specific problem
A multi-celled bacterium is a conglomeration of bacteria performing less complex solutions to problems. Even within each bacterium, the symbiotic providers of power are actually even simpler (and much more ancient) bacteria with their own separate genetic code - the mitochondria. Looking at humans, from the invention of fire to the bow & arrow, something non-genetic has enabled the genetically identical homo sapien of 50,000 years ago to do things well beyond previous generations. There are many non-genetic forms of evolution eg; cultural, lingual but one of the most important is improved tools and how to use them.
Therefore, technology (tool usage) is one of the kinds of non-genetic evolution (see Gregory Bateson's Mind and Nature for a description of the multiple forms of evolution).
The success of an organism is measured by its capacity to evolve/adapt
On this scale, bacteria are by far the most successful organism. We humans come down the line quite some way. Again, see The Web Of Life for proof of this.
Therefore, to be most successful, we should maximize our evolution in all non-genetic areas available, a major one of which being technology.
Computer software is an ecosystem
This may raise some eyebrows - however an ecosystem is any complex chaotic system with a great deal of inter-dependence both within itself and upon external entities - thus the Canadian economy is an ecosystem as itself plus within the US economy which is another ecosystem. Obviously, the planet is also an ecosystem - so is the universe.
Therefore, many of the properties of ecosystems also apply to computer software.
Evolution within an ecosystem is best served by frequent step-change innovation
We call step-change innovation difference between species and as is obvious, it doesn't happen too often. However incremental innovation happens much more frequently - thus a man living on top of a mountain has improved lung capacity - see Bateson's Mind and Nature.
Computer software is an ecosystem which also has step-change and incremental innovation. Therefore to maximize the potential of software (and via this, the human species) we should strongly encourage step-change innovation.
Find IT Jobs here:
http://www.net-temps.com/job/37zk/USA_2746/sr_j2ee_developer_need.
http://www.upp.com
http://seeker.dice.com/jobsearch/servlet/JobSearch?op=302&dockey=xml/a/e/aea46cee11af1cffdfbba9ed968c99fc@endecaindex&source=19&FREE_TEXT=&rating=99
http://www.talktotalent.com
http://seeker.dice.com/jobsearch/servlet/JobSearch?op=302&dockey=xml/2/2/22cf53b4f1ae37868a5ce326b5fd8c26@endecaindex&source=19&FREE_TEXT=&rating=99
http://atlanta.kijiji.com/it-software-development/atlanta/net-developer/?ad=686819
http://www.americasjobexchange.com/seeker/
https://chw.recruitmax.com/ENG/candidates/default.cfm?szCategory=jobprofile&szOrderID=86440&szCandidateID=0&szSearchWords=&szReturnToSearch=1
http://www.cwjobs.co.uk/
http://www.totaljobs.com/Content/Jobseeking_plus/Overseasjobseekers.html
http://jobcircle.com/public/classified_notfound.mpl?
https://exelonjobs.ceco.com/psc/HRPC_TAM/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_CE.GBL?Page=HRS_CE_JOB_DTL&Action=A&SiteId=1&PostingSeq=1&JobOpeningId=8059&
https://exelonjobs.ceco.com/psc/HRPC_TAM/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_CE.GBL
http://www.linkedin.com/jobs?viewJob=&jobId=822920&srchIndex=720&trk=njsrch_hits&goback=%2Efjs_*1_*1_*1_Y_us_*1_50_73_R_true_*1_*2_*2_*2_bd_*2_*2
http://www.churchstaffing.com/job/26370/
http://www.nextstepsystems.com
http://oddskills.com/job/software-lead-c-net-options-trading-industry-il/6576
http://www5.jobirn.com/?q=Computer%20software%20jobs+jobs
http://www.amightyriver.com/job/employer/
http://www.getrenewableenergyjobs.com/
http://dc-jobs.jobfox.com/technology/software-design-development/
http://www.nukejobs.com/nucdetailjobs/id/2002.html
https://tbe.taleo.net/NA11/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=SIEMENSITSOLUTIONS&cws=1&rid=13549
www.modicom.com
http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/job-J5HCTPBA05P;_ylc=X3oDMTEwazI4dHM3BF9TAzM5NjUxMDMzNQRjYXQDTUlTBHBjb2RlAzU0OTI2?source=partner&scode=54926
http://www.americasjobexchange.com/seeker/
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)