EXPERIMENTALLY REGULATED EVOLUTION IN COMPUTER-AIDED SOCIETIES.

Abstract

A concept of instrumental automation is offered for a more universal extension of experimental method to help regulate the social evolution of computer-aided systems. The pressing need for an integrative philosophy of instrumental automation is developed from several vantage points. The widespread experimental lag in contemporary computerized systems is pointed out for applied experimental design, simulation, and the collection and analysis of digital data. The largely unrecognized, but pervasive presence of experimental testing at all system levels is highlighted by a taxonomic survey of testing. The advantages of regulated, longrange testing for accelerated evolution throughout successive generations of systems is sketched from manual to advanced computerized versions. It is asserted that growing problems in a computer-aided society should be settled less by authoritative fiat and more by the grass roots of society through self-corrective, in-field evolution from open experiments admitting provisional results subject to continual improvements. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 1965
Accession Number
AD0615719

Entities

People

  • H. Sackman

Organizations

  • System Development Corporation

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Automation
  • Computers
  • Demographic Cohorts
  • Digital Data
  • Digital Information
  • Experimental Design
  • Personal Information Managers
  • Philosophy
  • Simulations
  • Simulators
  • Surveys

Readers

  • Systems Analysis and Design
  • Theoretical Analysis.