User:JeffLong

Hi... I'm a systems analyst who has had a life-long interest in complex systems. I use the term complex systems to refer to systems such as biological, economic, climatological, and (simplest of these) organizational systems such as businesses. These systems all exhibit complex behaviors that have been the subject of study for centuries. I realized in college that the cognitive tools we currently have to help us understand these systems are as inadequate as if we were to try using Roman Numerals and an abacus to plan a trip to Mars. Indeed many issues facing humanity seem to be essentially representational in nature.

For example, with traditional representations of complex system the number of rules (equations, assertions, productions) is unmanageably large. Since 1985 I've been working to develop and test a new theory of optimal rule representation called Ultra-Structure. It provides a way to view rules at a higher level of abstraction called a ruleform, which is similar to logical form except that it is used to represent only conditional (if-then) statements. This is thus a classic representation problem.

To my great surprise, I found that there's no academic subject that focuses on the study of notational systems. Since starting the Notational Engineering Laboratory at George Washington University (1994-1998), I've advocated a proposed new discipline I call notational engineering, based on the need for researchers to study the comparative origins and evolution of past notational systems with a focus on the characteristics of notational revolutions. We should also compare and contrast the capabilities and limitations of current notational systems (in math, music, dance, chemistry, etc.) and see what cross-fertilization might be useful; develop general criteria for successful new notations; and try to provide impartial tests for proposed new notational systems in various fields. If (as I have come to believe) notational systems (including language) are mediators between minds and realities, then we can not ignore them any longer given the challenges we collectively face.