Adaptation in Natural and Artificial Systems: An Introductory Analysis with Applications to Biology, Control, and Artificial Intelligence

Amazon.com

John Holland's Adaptation in Natural and Artificial Systems is one of the classics in the field of complex adaptive systems. Holland is known as the father of genetic algorithms and classifier systems and in this tome he describes the theory behind these algorithms. Drawing on ideas from the fields of biology and economics, he shows how computer programs can evolve. The book contains mathematical proofs that are accessible only to those with strong backgrounds in engineering or science.

Book Description

Genetic algorithms are playing an increasingly important role in studies of complex adaptive systems, ranging from adaptive agents in economic theory to the use of machine learning techniques in the design of complex devices such as aircraft turbines and integrated circuits. Adaptation in Natural and Artificial Systems is the book that initiated this field of study, presenting the theoretical foundations and exploring applications.

In its most familiar form, adaptation is a biological process, whereby organisms evolve by rearranging genetic material to survive in environments confronting them. In this now classic work, Holland presents a mathematical model that allows for the nonlinearity of such complex interactions. He demonstrates the model's universality by applying it to economics, physiological psychology, game theory, and artificial intelligence and then outlines the way in which this approach modifies the traditional views of mathematical genetics.

Initially applying his concepts to simply defined artificial systems with limited numbers of parameters, Holland goes on to explore their use in the study of a wide range of complex, naturally occuring processes, concentrating on systems having multiple factors that interact in nonlinear ways. Along the way he accounts for major effects of coadaptation and coevolution: the emergence of building blocks, or schemata, that are recombined and passed on to succeeding generations to provide, innovations and improvements.

John H. Holland is Professor of Psychology and Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Michigan. He is also Maxwell Professor at the Santa Fe Institute and is Director of the University of Michigan/Santa Fe Institute Advanced Research Program.

Customer Reviews:

The founder's words.......2005-09-10

This is a wonderful time. We can read about information theory in Shannon's own words, fuzzy logic in Zadeh's, relativity in Einstein's, and genetic programming in Holland's. He created evolutionary algorithms, and shares his thoughts in this brief work.

1975, when he first published this work, was a long time ago. Since then, computing has advanced, computing demands have advanced, and biology has advanced. Biology, because it functions at all the levels from atoms to worlds, has bottomless potential for insight. Because the atoms, the worlds, and everything between are all unfriendly, biology has many problems to solve. It doesn't matter whether you are an oak tree, a virus, or a whale, the solution (at the species level) is the same: evolve. Holland was the first to harness that incredible problem-solving power to computational use.

A huge literature has built up from Holland's founding thoughts. Those thoughts are here, in their original and purest form. It is hardly surprising that Holland anticipated so many elaborations of his work. One, in particular, struck me: the idea of 'hot spots' for genetic crossover. Or rather the opposite: 'cold spots' where crossover is inhibited. As a computer scientist, Holland's first thoughts were written in binary. When you allow points where crossover can not occur, you allow coherent multibit values - maybe even floating point. It's easy to laugh at Holland's initial naivete now, but he was talking about the foundations, not the structure built up from it.

If you have ever programmed genetic algorithms, you have been stunned by their effectiveness in creating good solutions. 'Good' doesn't mean precisely optimal, but pretty damm good anyway.

If you were a hard core creationist to start with, you still are. But now you know that evolutionary problem solving is powerful, broad, subtle, and effective - so much, that it's hard to believe it could ever have arisen by chance.

//wiredweird

Not an Introductory book.......2005-04-13

I am learning by myself the topic of Genetic Algorithms (GA) for my PhD dissertation. Even though this book is written for John H. Holland considered the father of Genetics Algorithms, this is not a basic or easy reading book. The book does not contain any source code and even though it contains some kind of pseudocode, it will not give you a clear idea about how to implement a GA. If you want an introduction book maybe you should look for the Mitchell Melanie's book "An Introduction to Genetic Algorithms" , Fogel's book "Evolutionary Computation vol. 1" or Chamber's book "The Practical Handbook of Genetic Algorithms".
The way the author approaches the development of the framework is sometimes overwhelming because the author does not concentrate in one specific case or concept but he mentions all the different possibilities almost at the same time. I think it is worthwhile to buy the book to have it for advanced understanding of the concepts involved in the study of Complex Adaptive System. My approach to learn GA will be reading the above mentioned books and then study this book in a very detailed and slowly way to digest the huge amount of concepts and information provided by it.

Genetic Algorithms Classic for Engineering.......2000-03-31

This book presents an inspirational synthesis from mathematics, computer science and systems theory addressing genetic algorithms and their role in intelligent engineering/business systems.

Topics include: background, a formal framework, illustrations (genetics, economics, game playing, searches, pattern recognition and statistical inference, control and function optimization, and central-nervous system), schemata, the optimal allocation of trials, reproductive plans and genetic operators, the robustness of genetic plans, adaptation of coding and representations, and overview, interim and prospectus.

Inclusion of a disk of spreadsheet-based examples would have increased user-friendliness to the sometimes moderately-complex mathematics. Otherwise, this book is a well presented, and useful classic for researchers and software vendors seeking to develop more innovative intelligent products.

Average customer rating:

Great book - Must have for a new owner

Perfect for a beginner

It is a cool book for an idiot sailor like me

Good basic intro to boating

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Boating and Sailing, Third Edition
Frank Sargeant
Manufacturer: Alpha
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Boating | Water Sports | Sports | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1592573231

Book Description

Revised and updatedÂ—donÂ't leave the dock without it!

Here is an excellent overview of both power boating and sailing that focuses on the techniques shared by both. Solid material any boater will need to know on buying a boat and the cost of ownership, marine power and motors, technology and weather, safety, navigation, and boat handlingÂ—as well as expanded coverage on sailing and a brand new chapter on personal watercraftÂ—this is the only boating book to own.

Download Description

You're no idiot, of course. You can recite dialogue from every episode of Gilligan's Island, cook a delicious gourmet fish dinner, and even bait your own hook without feeling squeamish. But when it comes to boating, you don't know the bow from the stern. Don't abandon ship yet! The Complete Idiot's Guide to Boating and Sailing teaches you everything you need to know to get your feet wet in this exciting recreational sport.

Customer Reviews:

Great book - Must have for a new owner.......2007-08-18

We are fist time boat owners and this book is a godsend. When you are out on the water, and have a question, you can just look it up in this easy to use book!

Perfect for a beginner.......1999-10-06

I knew nothing!!! This book was perfect, I learned everything about boats, boating, the rules of the sea, little tidbits that will save you or your boat. Perfect for a beginner

It is a cool book for an idiot sailor like me.......1999-06-22

I really liked the book. It explains stuff so people who misunderstand the fundamentals of sailing and boating can learn easy!

Good basic intro to boating.......1998-09-02

The book covers many subjects but none in any great detail. A good book for beginners like me but it also left me with more questions.

Book Description

If you thought Rubik's cube was difficult, imagine travelling in Hungary without this phrasebook! Take the confusion out of your travels and invent your own Hungarian experience.

Our phrasebooks give you a comprehensive mix of practical and social words and phrases in more than 120 languages. Chat with the locals and discover their culture - a guaranteed way to enrich your travel experience.

Customer Reviews:

A good way to brush up on Hungarian.......2005-07-05

I took one term of Hungarian in college, and I've been to Hungary a few times (but only for a few days each time). So I tried getting this book to relearn some of the language before going back to Hungary this year. It helped me do just that, and I was able to converse with plenty of non-English speaking Hungarians. This is a well-written book.

But how much will this book help you if you don't know Hungarian at all? I'm not so sure. To communicate in a language, I think you really need to hear it spoken and painstakingly learn a bunch of vocabulary words (I like using flashcards to do this). I think it will be more of a help to those who already know something about the language, or at least have access to someone who can help them practice it.

I'm glad I got this book. I recommend it.

Excellent New Hungarian Phrasebook!.......2005-04-03

Well, I am a native speaker of Hungarian myself, so I was quite curious to see this book.
For the most part, I found it very good.
The main part of the book, the phrases are quite good and natural - it really shows that they had native speakers check it.
The phrases cover all sorts of issues from shopping to visiting a doctor or even dating and having sex!
The boxed texts on culture are also quite good and often amusing.
It has only 12 pages on grammar, but that's quite spot on.
It does include a box on present tense verb conjugation (taking vowel harmony into account!), and has even devoted a whole page to conjugating four common, but irregular verbs (come, go, eat, drink). Another box conjugates "to be" and yet another shows the suffixes for possessions. I guess it's quite OK for the space.
The 2000 word dictionary at the back is quite comprehensive.
A weaker point is the "phonetical transliteration" system used - Hungarian is written fully phonetically in its original form (thankfully also presented here), but the phonetical transliteration provided here for English-speakers may result in blank looks in many cases - you could always choose to ignore it.
The intro contains useful facts about the history and roots of the language, though the map showing where Hungarian is supposedly spoken might raise some eyebrows in neighbouring countries! ;-)
The layout is attractive, with color illustrations.
I even like the cover (different from what is shown on Amazon)- certainly better than a kitshy horseman or traditionally clad dancer could have been! ;-)
Overall: RECOMMENDED.
If you are planning to spend any time away from the major cities and tourist areas, you will find it VERY useful!

Average customer rating:

Helpful and not too weighty
Don't bother
In Hungary and Romania this Book was Completely Useless
The book is very useful and it has six Languages in one book

Lonely Planet Eastern Europe Phrasebook
Angel Pachev , Pavlinka Georgiev , and Katarina Steiner
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1864502274

Amazon.com

That high school French or Spanish isn't going to do you an iota of good in most of Eastern Europe. Bulgarian, Czech, Polish, and Slovak are all members of the Slavonic language family, while Hungarian is a unique European language with Finno-Ugric roots (which don't grow out). English is a good bet in many cities, and knowing some German helps in the Czech Republic, but nothing wins goodwill like an attempt in the native tongue, no matter how mangled your grammar and pronunciation. In Eastern Europe Phrasebook, Lonely Planet provides easy phrases for Eastern European travel necessities, such as "cabbage and potatoes," "excuse me" and "please," "I'd like a double room," and "How much does it cost?" With a healthy smattering of vocabulary and phrases, the book fits neatly in a back pocket to accompany you everywhere you go.

Book Description

Watch a divadlo among the theatre literati of the Czech Republic, wander through an Albanian shesh, or splash out on a plaza at the seaside resorts of Croatia! Whether you're dipping into history, exploring the arts scene, or simply enjoying the set, the 11 languages in this phrasebook will help you tune into the local lore...and more...

includes Albanian, Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Hungarian, Macedonian, Polish, Romanian, Serbian, Slovak and Slovene
details of national festivals, including the arts
clear pronunciation guides for each language

Customer Reviews:

Helpful and not too weighty.......2006-07-10

We purchased the phrasebook for a trip to Translyvania, an area where both Romanian and Hungarian are spoken. While not perfect, it was a great help in deciphering menus. Just be ready to take your time to find what you need. You will find a few English speakers in small towns, but don't count on finding them in every situation.

Don't bother.......2003-07-13

If you're going to a major city in Eastern Europe, say Prague or Budapest, don't bother with this book. Almost everyone there speaks English anyway so to the extent that you need to learn phrases like "thank you", "please", etc. just to be polite, you can use the language index from a regular old guidebook like Fodors. Even if you do go out into the country, you won't be able to use much more that what's in the guidebooks anyway. After all, a few key phrases and lots of pointing and smiling will get you farther than being able to say "You should visit us in Scotland sometime when you're in the area". And you'll never ever ever understand anything that's said back to you based on a book like this. The motto "Don't just sit there, say something" is meaningless. Sure I can phonetically babble all the mumbo jumbo I want, but that doesn't mean that I can actually communicate something with someone in Eastern Europe in their language. And we couldn't find how to ask for the check in a restaurant anywhere in this book, which is one of those useful phrases when you head to places like this.

In Hungary and Romania this Book was Completely Useless.......2000-09-20

This is NOT the phrase book that you want to buy for your trip. The best thing that can be said about it is that it is compact and fits into a pocket or small bag easily. The layout of the book is its biggest problem. The people at Lonely Planet need to go back and try to use it themselves. The sections on food are incredibly limited and gives only a few of the dishes that appears on most menus. Take my advice -- save your money and carry a book that has a little more substance even if it doesn't fit in your front pocket.

The book is very useful and it has six Languages in one book.......1999-03-07

The Phrasebook is very comprehensive and easy to use. For anyone traveling to Eastern Europe it is a must. It includes common phrases and small talk with pronunciations and how it is written. I would recommend this book and other books from Lonely Planet Languge kits.

Average customer rating:

Good little book

Lonely Planet Central Europe Phrasebook
Gunter Muhl , Katarina Steiner , and Katalin Koronczi
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1864502266

Book Description

Enjoy a posavje in Slovenia, answer Prost! in a German bar or Okrzyki! in Poland, and remark milyen gyönyörû as you pass by the Danube in Hungary. You will be greeted with a warm Jak se mate? when you make an effort to speak Czech, and understand the cries of Pockaj! as you hike through Slovakia. This indispensable phrasebook will help you find your way through the heart of Europe.

Czech, German, Hungarian, Polish, Slovak & Slovene
contains essential greetings, questions and replies in all languages
easy-to-follow transliterations throughout ensure clear pronunciation

Customer Reviews:

Good little book.......2004-12-11

This book is small and compact and had plenty of travel type words and phrases in it. Though some of the words and phrases are ones I would never use, I know that would be true of any phrase book. The good is it is small and easy to use. The bad is I didn't feel some of the phrases and words for traveling were that useful. For example "what's the next station?" if you can't figure that one out then you shouldn't be traveling. A better phrase would be "what's the next stop" then it would apply to all forms of travel, bus, train and metro and would be more helpful.

Lonely Planet Central Europe Phrasebook (Lonely Planet Language Survival Kit)

Average customer rating:

Mostly Useful

Lonely Planet Central Europe Phrasebook (Lonely Planet Language Survival Kit)
Chris Andrews , and James Jenkin
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Foreign Languages | Reference | Subjects | Books

Reference | Words & Language | Reference | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0864422598

Customer Reviews:

Mostly Useful.......2000-12-02

I found the phrase book to be very handy in some languages, but in other languages, it didn't seem to be so thorough. I was in Central and Eastern Europe for four months and mostly used the book when I was eating out. It's a good source for vegetarians. I used t occasionally when asking directions as well and found my way around fairly well using the book. In less "touristy" areas the book didn't include as much information and I was left to my own devices.

Book Description

This is a story about a girl and her dog. And her invisible gremlin friend. And her electricity! Virginia, the electric girl, can release electricity from her body at will. That's the good news. The bad news is that her friend is Oogleeoog, an invisible gremlin who's always making trouble! This book contains the stories from the first four issues of the "Electric Girl" comic book. Plus, a special bonus story!

Customer Reviews:

Electrfying (Ha ha ha!).......2004-06-14

This book is not as funny as I expected it to be, althought the story lines aren't that bad. The drawings are pretty spiffy but overall I must say I'm enjoying the second editon (volumes 5-8) a lot more and just over half way through it. Overall and okay read, especially worth persisting through for the second book but fairly far fetched.

Less Electric Girl, More Blammo!.......2004-02-26

This collection of the first four issues of the indie comic, Electric Girl, didn't do a whole lot for me. The premise is that there's a human girl born with a serious amount of electricity in her body, thanks to the wacky hi-jinks of a band of invisible gremlins. The first story shows her origins, and the rest show her as a teenager finishing high school and entering college. As she grows older, she seems to acquire a measure of control over her "ability" to zap things, but she still discharges spontaneously whenever she gets agitated. In any event, not a whole lot happens. She gets into random adventures and scrapes, and uses her power to try and fix things here and there. Her guardian gremlin Oogleeoog sometimes plays little pranks on her, and her dog Blammo is another catalyst for stories. Actually Blamo is the most engaging aspect of the whole series-while Brennan's rough drawing style crudely captures the humans and gremlins, when applied to Blammo's blocky canine form, the result is oddly compelling and engaging. Personally, I'd like to see Blammo ditch the twitchy girl and get his own book of adventures!

A delightful book to read!.......2001-01-20

I was really surprised. Just an all out delightful book to read. Mike's art, writing and characters really draw you in. You like the characters and you get involved with the story. Despite the title and description this is not a superhero book. There are no costumes or crime fighting (well, one short story but it's not what you think), it's just about a normal girl named Virginia with an ability to discharge electric zaps.

Thanks to her ability, her dog Blammo and a life long grimlin friend named Oogleeoog who's job to cause mischief, Virginia's life is a fun chaos to watch. Mike gives us a wide range of stories all of them really good.

Buy this book, you won't be disapointed, even if you never read a comic book before.

Average customer rating:
electric girl, Vol 1 (electric girl, Volume 1)
Michael Brennan
Manufacturer: AiT/PLANETLAR
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 1404608877

Product Description

This is an animated story about a girl and her dog, and her invisible gremlin friend. And she has the ability to conduct electricity with her bare hands.

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