The Scope of Intelligent Systems

In this discussion of the size and life-time of intelligent-systems we have been alluding to what is called the scope or configuration of the intelligent-system. Knowledge in the context of the configuration director defines the scope of an intelligent-system. The scope of the configuration should be defined in four dimensions of MEST.

So to review the scope of intelligent-systems: Their space extends from below the size of a bacterium all the way to beyond the size of our solar system. Their mass extends from bacteria (billionths of a gram) to the weight of something like the Intelligent-system of China. Their Energy extends from a billionth of a calorie used by a single cell's sub-system to the intelligent-system of America that uses billions of kilowatt-hours of energy every day. Their life Time goes from the milliseconds of swatting a fly to the thousands of years of the existence of intelligent-systems like Christianity. This is the truth of the extent of the scope of the configuration of intelligent-systems in the four dimensions of MEST.

Now you own knowledge of the term intelligent-system, that can be used in describing all life-forms including sub-systems of life-forms, and even describing systems that are a combination of both humans and computers. This knowledge is a key to moving beyond the information age to an age where the definition of what life is becomes broader. In the new age, intelligent-systems will be given the same respect we now give to plants and animals. As people learn to recognize and respect intelligent-systems as important structures to nurture and maintain, the world will evolve a much more advanced civilization. In this new age civilization, serious issues will be resolved in minutes by millions of caring people working together over the Internet. Wasteful habits of driving to work and congregating in cities will become unnecessary and the human race will be better off for it.

Let's review what we just learned about intelligent-systems. Intelligent-systems are systems of both knowledge and understanding. Issues are usually short-lived intelligent-systems. Intelligent-systems have a much broader scope than what is commonly referred to as a life-form but they do have a life of their own. Intelligent-systems no matter what their scope should be given the same respect as any living thing. Understanding intelligent-systems gives you a much broader vision of what Life on Earth really means.