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Peter Cochrane's Hard Drive 1998 Nature's nodes and networks PICTURE an infinity of computers, with cables connecting each to every other. Impossible, of course: apart from anything else, the cables would quickly overflow the available space. Now imagine a realisable possibility with a huge number of PCs in a large building, with relatively small groups connected by a limited number of cables so that all physical space is not occupied. Each grouping could then be connected by a limited number of cables to allow the total population of PCs to communicate. In many respects this is a very crude approximation to a carbon-based biological brain of synapses and axons. Generally, in such an entity the failure of individual nodes and links can largely be negated by alternative routing. To a lesser extent the same is true of computer networks. There are many subtle differences between biological and electronic computers and their networks. Biology achieves incredibly high packing densities, has little or no hierarchy, and thereby great potential for information rerouting within very small volumes. It is also very resilient, able to self-repair, and generally able to survive considerable damage without a full functional failure. If only it were so for computer nets. All too often our electronic world will see the singular damage of a cable, PC, or a small element of software, result in havoc. It is all a matter of scale and complexity. Massive numbers of simple nodes with a very high connectivity have a far higher resilience, and intelligence, than small numbers of very complex nodes with limited connectivity. This is a fundamental and important facet of networks that has yet to be defined, quantified and fully understood So what of human networks? In this case we are the nodes, and we are incredibly complex. We also tend to work best in small groups. As a result a single human or communication channel failure can have a devastating effect. It only takes one person, or a very few, to wreck a team, project, company, or even a nation, by action or inaction. Mother nature cares nothing for our science, mathematics and engineering. She has no compassion, nor any sense of fairness, and survival is the closest she gets to the notion of optimisation. An increasing body of evidence is now showing the value and advantage of these natural low flat networks and organisations. They turn out to be far more adaptive and resilient than those to which we are more naturally inclined. But central to their success is the freedom of access to information, freedom to communicate, freedom of action, and the freedom of the individual, freedom of competition and evolution. This is nature's constitution that has been tried and tested over millions of years. It has taken the invention of electronics and computers to make this blindingly obvious and a practicable option for us. If we fly in the face of this natural mode we will suffer considerable disadvantage in industry and society. In a bit-dominated world individuals, companies, countries and civilisation cannot survive a heavy hand of control and steep hierarchies with dead nodes. Peter Cochrane holds the Collier Chair for the Public Understanding of Science & Technology at the University of Bristol. His home page is: |
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