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Swarm Intelligence

elamdaly writes "Eric Bonabeau, Ph.D, a keynote speaker at the upcoming Emerging Technology conference, is a leader in the field of swarm intelligence and has focused on applying these concepts to real world problems such as factory scheduling and telecommunications routing. The concept itself is borrowed from nature; in this interview, that's where the conversation begins, with ants and other social insects. Dr. Bonabeau takes us from his childhood nightmares of carnivorous wasps to applying the theories of swarm intelligence to solving real problems in the business world."

17 of 219 comments (clear)

  1. We by QEDog · · Score: 5, Funny

    We posted first!

    --
    "There is no teacher but the enemy."-Mazer Rackham
  2. We do this all the time by LiftOp · · Score: 4, Funny
    "....applying the theories of swarm intelligence to solving real problems in the business world."

    We've found it works best when we all rush the intern at the same time. Down 'e goes! Ha! Whose nephew are you NOW?

    1. Re:We do this all the time by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Swarm intelligence: it's for the boids.

  3. in related news... by matt4077 · · Score: 2, Funny

    all sugar-processing plants saw a huge increase in network traffic

  4. The man's a genius... by The+Beezer · · Score: 5, Funny
    EB: My experience trying to "sell" the concepts of swarm intelligence to the commercial world is that managers would rather live with a problem they can't solve than with a solution they don't fully understand or control.

    Guess he won't be giving the RIAA a call anytime soon, eh?

  5. Insect Routing by tedDancin · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'm sorry, there are too many flaws in this system for it to be practical. DOS attacks could be carried out in numerous ways. One way to grind all traffic to a halt would be to throw in a stray peanut butter sandwich packet.

    I can see it now: a potential attacker who only needs a can of insect repellent..

    --

    Ladies, form queue here -->
  6. business problems? by Joe+the+Lesser · · Score: 3, Funny

    Hey Boss, we're not gonna make the deadline.

    Boss: How about if I give you five thousand deadlines! ...I guess it would be a good motivational tool...

    --
    "I only speak the truth"
    Karma: null(Mostly affected by an unassigned variable)
  7. Resistance is futile by ekarjala · · Score: 2, Funny

    If this guy were a trekkie, he'd know the endpoint of his research leads to the Borg...

  8. The Island Of Dr. Bonabeau by HarveyBirdman · · Score: 3, Funny
    Dr. Bonabeau takes us from his childhood nightmares of carnivorous wasps to applying the theories of swarm intelligence to solving real problems in the business world."

    For example, unleashing your army of carnivorous wasps to eat key performers at the competition.

    Manager 1: "Where's Engineer Bob? He's supposed to finish project X-12 this week."

    Manager 2: "He got eaten by carnivorous wasps."

    Manager 1: "Wow. Sucks to have been him. Hey, that leaves us free for golf after lunch."

    Manager 2: "Oh, right on, old boy!"

    --
    --- Ban humanity.
  9. Sounds like I know what Michael Crichton reads... by dgrgich · · Score: 2, Funny

    Now I know where Michael Crichton got the idea for 'Prey'. In that book, Crichton writes about a scientist that applied swarm intelligence in his work. Unfortunately, the bad guys applied his theories to nanites that like to feast on human flesh.

    Having written the above, I still can't believe I read the whole book.

  10. Dr. Evil by airrage · · Score: 3, Funny

    I remember with retrospective anguish my holidays in the south of France, when picnics turned into nightmarish fights against carnivorous wasps...

    Ah, yes, those horrible days and nights writing poetry as child in the South of France. Sometimes Reginald wouldn't bring my water chilled, so I had to berate him. In the summer we made meat helmets! ~Peace out, Airrage.

    --
    "This isn't a study in computer science, its a study in human behavior"
  11. Dirk Gently Navigation by Black+Copter+Control · · Score: 4, Funny
    This reminds me of the Dirk Gently Navigational techniques.

    Follow someone who looks like he knows where he's going.. You may not end up where you want to be, but chances are you'll find your way somewhere interesting.

    Me and my friend actually did that, arriving in Vancouver at 4:00AM. We followed a few random people to strange places (We stopped following the armed car when we figured that they might be getting a bit nervous). Befere long, we ended up in front of a Dennys. We stopped for breakfast/supper and then called Peter for directions to his place.

    Tried it a few times since then -- as long as you've got a little time to spare, you can find some very interesting things about the place you're in.

    --
    OS Software is like love: The best way to make it grow is to give it away.
  12. Re:I've heard about swarm intelligence.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Hey, if there's swarm intelligence, there's bound to be swarm stupidity.

    (With apologies to Sidney Harris)

  13. Interesting subject but... by Mika_Lindman · · Score: 2, Funny

    " applying the theories of swarm intelligence to solving real problems in the business world."

    Is it just me, or did the whole subject get incredibly borint in that last sentence? There was things like "swarm intelligence" and "carnivorous wasps", which sound all cool, but then you start talking about businessa.. zZz..

    Include something like "using this for world domination" or "free pr0n", and I would absolutely read the article!

  14. Prior Art by Jerf · · Score: 3, Funny

    Hopefully this 3000+ year old prior art will prevent somebody from taking out a stupid patent!

  15. Ah, yes... but... by Dog+and+Pony · · Score: 3, Funny

    ... the mythical man moth can handle working in swarms and get more work out.

  16. Re:Hmm, insects.. a blueprint for a deadly worm? by cpt+kangarooski · · Score: 2, Funny

    Because wasps evolved wings, while ant's evolved apostrophes. It's a miracle of nature.

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    -- This and all my posts are in the public domain. I am a lawyer. I am not your lawyer, and this is not legal advice.