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Naturoids: On the Nature of the Artificial

by Massimo Negrotti.
World Scientific Publishing, River Edge, NJ, U.S.A., 2002.
150 pp., ISBN: 981-02-4932-2.

Reviewed by Rob Harle

recluse@lis.net.au

Much has been written about the "artificial". Books and journal articles on artificial intelligence, Alife and artificial body parts are numerous and quite often extensively detailed. What many of them lack however, is a coherent, well articulated theory of just what it is that constitutes "artificiality". This slim volume, Naturoids: On the Nature of the Artificial goes a long way towards correcting this rather odd situation.

Negrotti has succeeded in outlining a basic theory of artificiality which he methodically and systematically expands throughout the book. Researchers, especially in the field of artificial intelligence, often bemoan the intractability of the practical problems associated with this work. Generally, artificial intelligence progress has been disappointing in relation to its original expectations. This book shows why this has occurred. The main reason has been an unrealistic, confused and naive understanding of the fundamental attributes of what constitutes artificiality, together with a serious underestimation of the complexity of natural systems.

This book is arranged in two sections. Part One introduces and develops the basic theory and Part Two, "The Reality of the Artificial" discusses practical applications with numerous examples of the artificial. Part Two serves as a good introduction for the student or lay reader on a whole range of artificiality from medical prostheses to artificial zoos. As such this section does not really cut any new ground, other than applying Negrotti’s theory to the various practical applications of the artificial.

Before outlining Negrotti’s theory I must say this book is graphically uninspiring, has no index and has more than an acceptable level of typographical and grammatical errors, I am not sure if this is due to translation – Negrotti is affiliated with the University of Urbino, Italy – or poor proof reading. However, this in no way detracts from the importance this theory will play in the future of the artificial, especially artificial intelligence.

Negrotti starts by clearly describing the difference between the technology of the artificial and conventional technology. The "artificial", aims to reproduce something existing in nature whereas conventional technology creates something new, for example we talk of ‘artificial flowers’ but not an ‘artificial telephone’ (p. 6). He then outlines, "...the three main concepts of the theory of the artificial – the observation level, the exemplar and the essential performance..." (p. 33). To this can be added the "principle of inheritance", that is, qualities and quantities that cannot be predicted a priori. For example the side effects of drugs.

Of these principles the concept of "the observation level" is extremely important to understand in the process of any artificial object or system design. Whilst this observation level concept is similar to the quantum mechanics notion of the observer changing that which is observed, it goes further in suggesting that only one level of observation can be realised at a time. "The choice of an observation level allows us to capture a true reality, but only the one which is compatible with that level (p. 21). For example, if we wish to create an artificial flower, at which level of the numerous possible levels of observation do we want it to be like the natural flower? If we choose appearance, rather than say fragrance, then it does not matter what is hidden behind its form and colour, it could be hollow. Negrotti argues that we cannot satisfy all possible levels of observation, in fact, cannot know all levels and it is this problem which makes designing complex artificial systems, such as a bionic person extremely difficult, perhaps impossible.

The book is sprinkled with interesting and relevant historical accounts of how humans have attempted to create the artificial, from poor old Icarus’ wax wings to Kurzweilian style super robots – ones that make humans obsolete (p. 71). There are also quite a few references to different art forms over the centuries which fall into Negrotti’s fourfold classification system of the artificial.

I think this book is an important read for all professionals who are involved in designing and creating artificial objects and systems, at the very least it will save much wasted effort in attempting the impossible.

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Updated 1st October 2003


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