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Pulse: The Coming Age of Systems and Machines Inspired by Living Things
Pulse is not about dance music, not about heart rates—and not about electromagnetic fields. What it does describe is a sea change in human affairs, a vast and fundamental shift that is about to transform every aspect of our lives. Written in lively prose for lay readers, Pulse shows how ideas that have shaped Western science, industry, and culture for centuries are being displaced by the rapid and dramatic rise of a “new biology”—by human systems and machines that work like living things.
In Pulse , Robert Frenay details the coming world of
� emotional computers
� ships that swim like fish
� hard, soft, and wet artificial life
� money that mimics the energy flows in nature
� evolution at warp speed
And these are not blue-sky dreams. By using hundreds of vivid and concrete examples of cutting-edge work, Frenay showcases the brilliant innovations and often colorful personalities now giving birth to a radical new future. Along the way, he also offers thoughtful conclusions on the promises—and dangers—of our transformation to the next great phase of “human cultural evolution.�
In Pulse , Robert Frenay details the coming world of
� emotional computers
� ships that swim like fish
� hard, soft, and wet artificial life
� money that mimics the energy flows in nature
� evolution at warp speed
And these are not blue-sky dreams. By using hundreds of vivid and concrete examples of cutting-edge work, Frenay showcases the brilliant innovations and often colorful personalities now giving birth to a radical new future. Along the way, he also offers thoughtful conclusions on the promises—and dangers—of our transformation to the next great phase of “human cultural evolution.�
- GenresScience
576 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
6 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 3, 2019
Ω - wish I read this when it first came out.
September 17, 2011
Pulse really got me thinking about a lot of different things. This book has a really wide scope and just enough depth to sufficiently cover each topic, but you can tell that there is so much more to discover. That was something that I liked about Pulse, the feeling of being on the brink.
Not to mention the importance of everything the author wrote about. Everything from agriculture, governance, economics, robotics, artificial intelligence, city planning... Given the instability of late, the solution and ideas Frenay writes about seem more important than ever. It will get you thinking.
Not to mention the importance of everything the author wrote about. Everything from agriculture, governance, economics, robotics, artificial intelligence, city planning... Given the instability of late, the solution and ideas Frenay writes about seem more important than ever. It will get you thinking.
June 23, 2012
Very technical at times, but very interesting to follow subjects I know a bit about (I will have to reread the section on computer technology and economics to get the most out of it, but really enjoyed the environmental and agricultural sections.) Both a praise and critique on systems in play- pushes for bioengineering. Published in 2006.
Shelved as 'business'
July 15, 2013Read about half of it. What I read was good but I finally just skimmed through and finished it. Looooong.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
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