Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!csd4.milw.wisc.edu!leah!rpi!rpi.edu!hiebeler From: hiebeler@cardinal.lanl.gov (David Hiebeler) Newsgroups: sci.bio Subject: Re: viruses, computer & bio Message-ID: Date: 2 Aug 89 11:20:28 GMT References: <89080107315265@masnet.uucp> Sender: usenet@rpi.edu Organization: Center for Nonlinear Studies, LANL Lines: 27 In-reply-to: david.dmytryshyn@f428.n250.z1.fidonet.org's message of 31 Jul 89 01:09:00 GMT In article <89080107315265@masnet.uucp> david.dmytryshyn@f428.n250.z1.fidonet.org (david dmytryshyn) writes: > I think my computers are parasites, they eat up alot of my time, > but wait, the computer is not deriving any benefit, perhaps it is > myself who is the parasite. I have just recently started looking at Geoff Simon's book, _The Biology of Computer Life_. (He also wrote a similar book, called _Are Computers Alive_, which I haven't looked at yet, but my wife is reading it). In my opinion, he exaggerates an awful lot, and is very much and extremist, but he does have some interesting points about viewing computers as an emerging form of life. (Basically I agree that computers are an emerging form of life, but I don't think they're as far along as Simons does). I'd recommend taking a look at his books, but take them with a very huge grain of salt. He does have some good ideas, he just throws too much fluff and exaggeration on top. (My opinions only, of course. (Well, my wife's too.)) -- Dave Hiebeler hiebeler@cardinal.lanl.gov Center for Nonlinear Studies hiebeler@cs.rpi.edu MS B258 "xue zai shao" ("snow is burning") Los Alamos National Laboratory / Los Alamos, NM 87545