Artificial Life

On May 21, 2010, Craig Venter announced the creation of the first synthetic cell, whose DNA was designed by a computer. This is a big step in the evolution and understanding of life. We began as cells like this. It's amazing how technology has advanced to be able to get to create life, we are on a scale of evolution as SAC as any other species.

You could say that a cell is the least complex adaptive system, being the smallest unit of life.This shows how man has come to create in the laboratory SACs. Until now, all complex adaptive systems have been created by many men working at once, such as society or the economy. However, this is the first time in a laboratory developing life.

Ideas to Simplify Your Life (Zen-Habits) (part 2-3)

I've seen in many philosophical traditions, the power of simplicity. In this post I want to teach you something I found surfing the web. It is a manifesto of simplicity based on Zen philosophy I recommend you to read and go through that page.

1. Spend time alone. See this list of ways to free up time for yourself — to spend in solitude. Alone time is good for you, although some people aren’t comfortable with it. It could take practice getting used to the quiet, and making room for your inner voice. It sounds new-agey, I know, but it’s extremely calming. And this quiet is necessary for finding out what’s important to you.
2. Eat slowly. If you cram your food down your throat, you are not only missing out on the great taste of the food, you are not eating healthy. Slow down to lose weight, improve digestion, and enjoy life more. Read more.
3. Drive slowly. Most people rush through traffic, honking and getting angry and frustrated and stressed out. And endangering themselves and others in the meantime. Driving slower is not only safer, but it is better on your fuel bill, and can be incredibly peaceful. Give it a try. Read more.
4. Be present. These two words can make a huge difference in simplifying your life. Living here and now, in the moment, keeps you aware of life, of what is going on around you and within you. It does wonders for your sanity. Read tips on how to do it.
5. Streamline your life. Many times we live with unplanned, complex systems in our lives because we haven’t given them much thought. Instead, focus on one system at a time (your laundry system, your errands system, your paperwork system, your email system, etc.) and try to make it simplified, efficient, and written. Then stick to it. Here’s more. Another good article here.
6. Create a simple mail & paperwork system. If you don’t have a system, this stuff will pile up. But a simple system will keep everything in order. Here’s how.
7. Create a simple system for house work. Another example of a simple system is clean-as-you-go with a burst. Read more.
8. Clear your desk. If you have a cluttered desk, it can be distracting and disorganized and stressful. A clear desk, however, is only a couple of simple habits away. Read more.
9. Establish routines. The key to keeping your life simple is to create simple routines. A great article on that here.
10. Keep your email inbox empty. Is your email inbox overflowing with new and read messages? Do the messages just keep piling up? If so, you’re normal — but you could be more efficient and your email life could be simplified with a few simple steps. Read more.
11. Learn to live frugally. Living frugally means buying less, wanting less, and leaving less of a footprint on the earth. It’s directly related to simplicity. Here are 50 tips on how to live frugally.
12. Make your house minimalist. A minimalist house has what is necessary, and not much else. It’s also extremely peaceful (not to mention easy to clean). More here.
13. Find other ways to be minimalist. There are tons. You can find ways to be minimalist in every area of your life. Here are a few I do, to spur your own ideas.
14. Consider a smaller home. If you rid your home of stuff, you might find you don’t need so much space. I’m not saying you should live on a boat (although I know some people who happily do so), but if you can be comfortable in a smaller home, it will not only be less expensive, but easier to maintain, and greatly simplify your life. Read about downsizing your home here.
15. Consider a smaller car. This is a big move, but if you have a large car or SUV, you may not really need something that big. It’s more expensive, uses more gas, harder to maintain, harder to park. Simplify your life with less car. You don’t need to go tiny, especially if you have a family, but try to find as small a car as can fit you or your family comfortably. Maybe not something you’re going to do today, but something to think about over the long term.
16. Learn what “enough” is. Our materialistic society today is about getting more and more, with no end in sight. Sure, you can get the latest gadget, and more clothes and shoes. More stuff. But when will you have enough? Most people don’t know, and thus they keep buying more. It’s a neverending cycle. Get off the cycle by figuring out how much is enough. And then stop when you get there.
17. Create a simple weekly dinner menu. If figuring out what’s for dinner is a nightly stressor for you or your family, consider creating a weekly menu. Decide on a week’s worth of simple dinners, set a specific dinner for each night of the week, go grocery shopping for the ingredients. Now you know what’s for dinner each night, and you have all the ingredients necessary. No need for difficult recipes — find ones that can be done in 10-15 minutes (or less).
18. Eat healthy. It might not be obvious how eating healthy relates to simplicity, but think about the opposite: if you eat fatty, greasy, salty, sugary, fried foods all the time, you are sure to have higher medical needs over the long term. We could be talking years from now, but imagine frequent doctor visits, hospitalization, going to the pharmacist, getting therapy, having surgery, taking insulin shots … you get the idea. Being unhealthy is complicated. Eating healthy simplifies all of that greatly, over the long term. Read abouthow to simplify your eating habits.
19. Exercise. This goes along the same lines as eating healthy, as it simplifies your life in the long run, but it goes even further: exercise helps burn off stress and makes you feel better. It’s great. Here’s how to create the exercise habit.
20. Declutter before organizing. Many people make the mistake of taking a cluttered desk or filing cabinet or closet or drawer, and trying to organize it. Unfortunately, that’s not only hard to do, it keeps things complicated. Simplify the process by getting rid of as much of the junk as possible, and then organizing. If you declutter enough, you won’t need to organize at all.
21. Have a place for everything. Age-old advice, but it’s the best advice on keeping things organized. After you declutter. Read more here.
22. Find inner simplicity. I’m not much of a spiritual person, but I have found that spending a little time with my inner self creates a peaceful simplicity rather than a chaotic confusion. This could be time praying or communing with God, or time spent meditating or journaling or getting to know yourself, or time spent in nature. However you do it, working on your inner self is worth the time.
23. Learn to decompress from stress. Every life is filled with stress — no matter how much you simplify your life, you’ll still have stress (except in the case of the ultimate simplifier, death). So after you go through stress, find ways to decompress. Here are some ideas.
24. Try living without a car. OK, this isn’t something I’ve done, but many others have. It’s something I would do if I didn’t have kids. Walk, bike, or take public transportation. It reduces expenses and gives you time to think. A car is also very complicating, needing not only car payments, but insurance, registration, safety inspections, maintenance, repairs, gas and more.
25. Find a creative outlet for self-expression. Whether that’s writing, poetry, painting, drawing, creating movies, designing websites, dance, skateboarding, whatever. We have a need for self-expression, and finding a way to do that makes your life much more fulfilling. Allow this to replace much of the busy-work you’re eliminating from your life.
26. Simplify your goals. Instead of having half a dozen goals or more, simplify it to one goal. Not only will this make you less stressed, it will make you more successful. You’ll be able to focus on that One Goal, and give it all of your energy. That gives you much better chances for success.
27. Single-task. Multi-tasking is more complicated, more stressful, and generally less productive. Instead, do one task at a time.
28. Simplify your filing system. Stacking a bunch of papers just doesn’t work. But a filing system doesn’t have to be complicated to be useful. Create a simple system.
29. Develop equanimity. If every little thing that happens to you sends you into anger or stress, your life might never be simple. Learn to detach yourself, and be more at peace.Read more.
30. Reduce your consumption of advertising. Advertising makes us want things. That’s what it’s designed to do, and it works. Find ways to reduce your exposure of advertising, whether that’s in print, online, broadcast, or elsewhere. You’ll want much less.
31. Live life more deliberately. Do every task slowly, with ease, paying full attention to what you’re doing. For more, see Peaceful Simplicity: How to Live a Life of Contentment.
32. Make a Most Important Tasks (MITs) list each day. Set just 3 very important things you want to accomplish each day. Don’t start with a long list of things you probably won’t get done by the end of the day. A simple list of 3 things, ones that would make you feel like you accomplished something. See this article for more.
33. Create morning and evening routines. A great way to simplify your life is to create routines at the start and end of your day. Read more on morning routines and evening routines.
34. Create a morning writing ritual. If you enjoy writing, like I do, make it a peaceful, productive ritual. Article here.
35. Learn to do nothing. Doing nothing can be an art form, and it should be a part of every life. Read the Art of Doing Nothing.
36. Read Walden, by Thoreau. The quintessential text on simplifying. Available on Wikisources for free.
37. Go for quality, not quantity. Try not to have a ton of stuff in your life … instead, have just a few possessions, but ones that you really love, and that will last for a long time.
38. Read Simplify Your Life, by Elaine St. James. One of my favorite all-time authors on simplicity. Read my review here.
39. Fill your day with simple pleasures. Make a list of your favorite simple pleasures, and sprinkle them throughout your day. List here.
40. Simplify your RSS feeds. If you’ve got dozens of feeds, or more than a hundred (as I once did), you probably have a lot of stress in trying to keep up with them all. Simplify your feed reading. See How to Drop an RSS Feed Like a Bad Habit.
41. But subscribe to Unclutterer. Probably the best blog on simplifying your stuff and routines (along with Zen Habits, of course!).
42. Create an easy-to-maintain yard. If you spend too much time on your yard, here are some good tips.
43. Carry less stuff. Are your pockets bulging. Consider carrying only the essentials. Some thoughts on that here.
44. Simplify your online life. If you have too much going on online, here are a few ways to simplify it all. Article here.
45. Strive to automate your income. This isn’t the easiest task, but it can (and has) been done. I’ve been working towards it myself. Article here.
46. Simplify your budget. Many people skip budgeting (which is very important) because it’s too hard or too complicated. Read more here.
47. Simplify your financial life. Article from a financial planning expert here.
48. Learn to pack light. Who wants to lug a bunch of luggage around on a trip? Here’s an article on using just one carry-on.
49. Use a minimalist productivity system. The minimal Zen To Done is all you need. Everything else is icing.
50. Leave space around things in your day. Whether they’re appointments, or things you need to do, don’t stack them back-to-back. Leave a little space between things you need to do, so you will have room for contingencies, and you’ll go through your day much more relaxed.
51. Live closer to work. This might mean getting a job closer to your home, or moving to a home closer to your work. Either will do much to simplify your life.
52. Always ask: Will this simplify my life? If the answer is no, reconsider."

I have take this from: http://zenhabits.net/simple-living-manifesto-72-ideas-to-simplify-your-life/

click on link to see the full post.

Application Enablement: Simple Ideas Change Everything

Milltone: Simple Design, complex experience

As we have seen before, in the Hang post. Here is another great musical instrument. The cuts are made in golden ratio.Excellent design simplification.

blog >>

Relationship between physics and NLP

The power of the models

Relationship between physics and NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming)

How things work?

We are surrounded by artifacts full of technology that have evolved into our hands, but we also live with people who share their time with us. It might be natural to ask How a phones work? engineering has the answer; if we ask How the engineering work? physics has the answer. And if you ask how a person works? … NLP has the answer

And now, how physics know the way things work? Or how NLP knows the way people work? The answer is very simple: Models.

The models tell us how things work, both the laws of gravity, such as interpersonal relationships.

What is a model?

It is a representation of reality. In physics we construct free-body diagrams (graphical models) to explain the forces acting on a body, then we write Newton's equations (mathematical model) we still be describing the body, each one is a more abstract model.

In NLP, also represents reality. We talk about holograms, Meta-model, Erickson model, representational systems and we do all this through the language. Language is our most abstract form to represent how a person works.

What is a model for?

A model is used to describe and predict reality. We look for describe what is happening in a simple sketch, and what will happen next. To the extent that these conditions are met, the model is successful. A model will extract the regularities of the world and will condense them into a representation that will contain all the information but also it will be useful too.

For example: In physics we have the equation F = ma, is a model that abstracts all bodies, all masses and all the accelerations of all bodies and tells us that "the force of any body is proportional to its acceleration and this is inversely proportional to its mass”, we can build a more abstract model if we use vectors , This new model is are describing regularities of what happens in three dimensions (three equations are written as one vector equation) and so on is built increasingly abstract until for example the Schrödinger equation. In physics, if we have clearly these models then we will know where will fall a projectile, how to build a building or developing quantum-mechanical models to build nano-robots.

NLP is not far behind, does not use mathematics but use language as the architect of his abstractions. It has the task of studying the subjective experience, and within the subjective experience are representational systems, these systems are created with a model called submodalities, with these we can draw the mental strategies as a set of "steps" to achieve a certain state we want to get (we have a strategy to be happy, other one to fall in love, other one to get depressed and all of them are described by sequences of representational systems) If you could describe these strategies, you can change beliefs (something extremely useful for your personal development)

In both cases, the experience is elevated to an abstract level, more simple than reality. At that level, we create a map, a model. Then, based on that model, we work in reality and we get the desired result.

A model is built on the previous built, and makes possible to build over it

The physical (objective study of the experience) is understood as the observation of the world measured by using a “lens” called mathematics. Mathematics is a tool to abstract reality. They have the power to build abstractions about abstractions. It's like a lens that is capable of creating another lens for the viewer to see better what is happening and can describe and predict the behavior of nature.

Each new model of physics usually uses a mathematical model increasingly abstractions (kinematics mechanics to quantum physics) and uses concepts that build on what is built. The ultimate goal is to have an increasingly simple description (up to the unified theory) more general, so that other models are special cases of this.

NLP (the study of subjective experience) is understood as the observation of the experimental world with the help of a lens called language. The language also abstracted reality. However, the language was not abstracted beyond the proper meaning of words. But not for that, the construction of models of human development stops. Words were helped by Graphics, and despite not having that wonderful power of abstraction on what has been abstracted from mathematics (extreme simplicity), one can always develop new ideas by words.

The ideas and concepts are the values that really bring the new models. Lenses are important, but human as Creative Complex Adaptive Systems are the ones who make possible the development of new models, their implementation and improvement.

Advertising of Play Station 2: CAS applied

A complex adaptive system is characterized by a modeling and act in the real world with models, Sony's creative people, not knowing this concept have been applied the CAS intelligence to design a simple idea that appeals to many people: A wall that attracts advertising push people to wrap balls like PS2 buttons. It is a very powerful metaphor. It implements a very simple idea: using buttons to attract people who love pressing it >>

The simplicity and the creative power of an idea that generated a Complex System in the world sells and makes succesfull advertising. Makes people interact with advertising, captures visual, auditory and sensory of the viewer and this makes it more noticeable as an advertising experience. A success of the CAS applied.