Natural Computing: DNA, Quantum Bits, and the Future of Smart Machines [Paperback]

Dennis E. Shasha (Author), Cathy Lazere (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 17, 2010

Reports from the cutting edge, where physics and biology are changing the fundamental assumptions of computing.

Computers built from DNA, bacteria, or foam. Robots that fix themselves on Mars. Bridges that report when they are aging. This is the bizarre and fascinating world of Natural Computing. Computer scientist and Scientific American’s “Puzzling Adventures” columnist Dennis Shasha here teams up with journalist Cathy Lazere to explore the outer reaches of computing. Drawing on interviews with fifteen leading scientists, the authors present an unexpected vision: the future of computing is a synthesis with nature. That vision will change not only computer science but also fields as disparate as finance, engineering, and medicine. Space engineers are at work designing machines that adapt to extreme weather and radiation. “Wetware” processing built on DNA or bacterial cells races closer to reality. One scientist’s “extended analog computer” measures answers instead of calculating them using ones and zeros. In lively, readable prose, Shasha and Lazere take readers on a tour of the future of smart machines. 50 illustrations

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this breezy overview of current trends in computer design and software, computer science professor Shasha and writer-editor Lazere profile 15 computer scientists working on the application of "evolutionary techniques" like natural selection to robots exploring distant planets, next generation pharmaceutical designs, "analog programming," and more. While traditional computing relies on "skills learned in the last few hundred years of human history," pioneer Rodney Brooks looked to solutions developed over millennia of insect evolution, hypothesizing a robot that interacts directly with the world using touch and sonar, rather than a digital representation; today, Brooks designs bomb-disarming robots that crawl on "articulated pogo-stick sensing devices that work independently." In finance, Jake Loveless perfected "micromarket trading," which allows computers to detect patterns and adapt to changes over the very short term (such as minute-by-minute price and volume changes). Other profiles look at "computers" built out of DNA, the use of viruses to design new drugs, and other ways scientists are planning our escape from "the digital electronic prison" that dominates mainstream computing. Amateur tech enthusiasts should be absorbed by this knowledgeable but welcoming look at the bleeding edge of computing.
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Review

The biographies, by Dennis Shasha and Cathy Lazere, are bite-size—no more than six pages or so—and the technical material is segregated in sidebars so that the reader doesn't get bogged down unless he or she wants to. (Washington Post )

In their book Natural Computing, Dennis Shasha and Cathy Lazere describe the calculations necessary for the analysis of protein folding, which is important in biological research and particularly in drug design. Time must be divided into very short intervals of around one femtosecond, which is a million billionth of a second, and for each interval, the interactions of all the atoms involved in the process must be calculated. Then do it again for the next femtosecond, and the next, and the next.… It is sobering to think about what vast computational resources are necessary to even begin to simulate what tiny bits of nature do all the time. (David Foster - Chicago Boyz blog )

[A] breezy overview of current trends in computer design and software.... Amateur tech enthusiasts should be absorbed by this knowledgeable but welcoming look at the bleeding edge of computing. (Publishers Weekly )

In Natural Computing, Dennis Shasha and Cathy Lazere profile Mr. Shaw and 14 other scientists who are pushing computer science beyond traditional boundaries. In particular, the scientists are trespassing into the realms of biology and physics and attempting to create computer designs and functions that will imitate organic reality. (Jamie Hamilton - Wall Street Journal )

There are many possible approaches to natural computing--computing inspired by nature--and Lazere and Shasha's new book gives a good overview of all of them… by telling the stories of some of the main players in the field.… even if you aren't a techie, the personal storytelling, which so nicely combines the technical focus of the book with the personal fascinations of the players, will still impress you with the natural computing field's main themes and challenges.… The authors also make the convincing case for parallel programming languages, such as K and APL, which seem indispensable when it comes to making effective use of the new generation of computer architectures. (Jan Van Den Bussche - ACM Computing Reviews )

Dennis Shasha and Cathy Lazere draw upon interviews with 15 leading scientists working in disparate fields to explore the outer reaches of computing. They expected to write a book about a future world dominated by thinking machines, but instead found that the common vision to have emerged across all of these fields is that "the future of computing is a synthesis with nature.".... Reading the book, I came away with the comforting thought that the mindset of future computers will seem far less alien to my kids than to me. (Thomas P.M. Barnett - World Politics Review )

[D]oes much to demystify what computer scientists do as well as reviewing the current state of research in the field. It’s the sort of book that’s perfect for a college student thinking about a career in computer science, or trying to understand which academic advisors to pick for his or her thesis. (Alexander Haislip, author of Essentials of Venture Capital )

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company (May 17, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393336832
• ISBN-13: 978-0393336832
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 6.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #369,171 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #70 in Books > Computers & Technology > Computer Science > Artificial Intelligence > Theory of Computing

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Thought-provoking, August 16, 2010

By 

J. Scott Shipman (Annandale, VA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Natural Computing: DNA, Quantum Bits, and the Future of Smart Machines (Paperback)

Natural Computing is an interesting and thought-provoking amalgam of mini-essays/bio's of the people engaged in computing other than digital. The format is fast paced and engaging. The authors cover Adaptive Computing, Harnessing Lifestuff, and Physics and Speed. My favorite was the chapter on Nancy Leveson called, "It's the System Stupid." This chapter uses the Bhopal, India incident to illustrate the power of interaction in safety. On the tradition of root-cause analysis, "Leveson argues that the approach is simplistic and harmfull. Often the chain starts at the most convenient root cause, and usually only one root cause is identified. In addition, systemic factors that allowed the even to occur are often ignored." This mini-discourse in system safety is worth the very reasonable price of the book.

The authors frequently reference their subject's work, which allows the reader to dig deeper than the topical treatment presented.

Very well done and recommended for anyone curious about the new frontiers of computing.

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding text for people looking for inspiration, August 15, 2011

By 

Amir (Iran(Qazvin)/Washington DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Natural Computing: DNA, Quantum Bits, and the Future of Smart Machines (Paperback)

I am ordinary graduate student over whelmed by everdy procedure of my research and almost forget the main dreams that brought me this way! I am not in the best school or never been in any best group but I have been always looking to create and make stuff. I am reading alot and many times heard that I am top of many stuff. A friend of mine from newsweek magazine suggested me to read this book and I absolutely enjoyed reading every section of it. for someone in control/automation/safety world with practical experiences in developing AI systems and evolutionary algorithms I am amazed that how this book could still drawn me in its stories. it clearly explain the goal of each project and how it formed in terms of peoples dreams/goal or project/history of the problem. it gives you some real understanding of how things are really are ( like crunching numbers algorithm in Quant companies) and how big they are in a very simple language.
you may enjoy the contemporary history of many companies, project or programing philosophies or the story of people who are not from the best schools or always the best of their decks but still contributed amazingly into this world. It can be a great gift to first year college students who are thinking to choose between CS or engineering or making their own way in this world!!

5.0 out of 5 stars Weird Science, November 23, 2010

By 

John Camera - See all my reviews

This review is from: Natural Computing: DNA, Quantum Bits, and the Future of Smart Machines (Paperback)

"Natural Computing" brings together a collection of personal stories and accounts of some of the most far-reaching scientific research today. They fall under three main themes, united by a broader theme: the synthesis of computation and nature. It's written to be accessible to a general audience, though a scientific leaning is certainly helpful.

Each main theme is given it's own section:
The first part of the book, titled "Adaptive Computing", introduces and explores various applications of genetic algorithms, which essentially use the model of evolution as a problem solving technique. Inspired by nature, a solution to an engineering problem may be "grown" rather than designed.
The second part, "Harnessing Lifestuff", explores ways in which the silicon and transistors of traditional computers can actually be replaced by the stuff of life (cells, DNA, viruses). Since a computer can be made of essentially anything, why not use nature's greatest building blocks?
The third part, "Physics and Speed", discusses the limitations of current mainstream computing architecture, and ways this architecture is being radically redesigned in some cases to be greatly optimized for specific tasks.

There's a lot covered in this unusual book. It's more broad than deep. Different sections will appeal to different people. Much of the content focuses on the personal journeys of the scientists, to complement the details of their research. Sidebars are used frequently for more focused technical discussion. The strength of this book is that it can be read on different levels, and it is sure to inspire further reading.

I recommend this book especially to young people studying computer science. Many abstract concepts are nicely explained along with their applications, and many of the ideas and projects outlined are sure to inspire. Personally, any book that can successfully combine embryogenesis, origami, and Robocop in one chapter ("From Local to Global") is pretty darn cool to me. This is a great book to dip into to get excited about what's possible.