Conference Proceedings of the 11th International Congress of Cybernetics and Systems

Citation

Hutton, D.M. (2000), "Conference Proceedings of the 11th International Congress of Cybernetics and Systems", Kybernetes, Vol. 29 No. 1, pp. 144-155. https://doi.org/10.1108/k.2000.29.1.144.1

The Proceedings of the 11th International Congress of Cybernetics and Systems, which was held at Brunel University, Uxbridge, UK 23‐27 August, 1999, was published prior to the conference. In their foreword the editors tell us that some 30 years have elapsed since this successful series of congresses was founded. The meetings are organised by the World Organisation of Systems and Cybernetics (WOSC). They are held triannually and previously have been in Europe, Asia and the Americas. One of the main reasons for the return to the UK was that it was held in memory of the late Professor Frank George, who was the first holder of the Chair of Cybernetics at Brunel University.

The current practice of publishing abridged papers before the conference so that they are available to delegates is now a necessary exercise. In many ways it is counter productive since often the full papers never see the light of day, and certainly any changes that should have been made as a result of the discussions held after or during the presentation are never incorporated. Now, it seems, the cost of producing such a volume of proceedings precludes further updated versions being issued after the event. At this meeting, however, certain presented papers are to be selected for publication in a more comprehensive form in the official journal of WOSC, Kybernetes.

These proceedings do cover a wide spectrum of topics and remain the only full record of all contributions, which range from automation to systems and cybernetics methodologies.

There are 123 papers chosen because they describe recent developments in various areas and point in new directions in research and interest. They form a fascinating collection of contributions which, the editors say, should lead to fruitful and constructive discussion and criticisms. Most readers will undoubtedly agree with that, but of course, abridged papers do only whet the appetite. Fortunately, each paper published does contain not only the contributor’s name but also the corresponding address for further contact.

There are 16 sections presented, each covering an important facet of the field; they include:

Philosophical cybernetics and consciousness; Perception and cognition; Biocybernetics; Bio‐medical cybernetics; Economic cybernetics; Systems; Self‐organisation, Informatics, Social systems; Environmental cybernetics and ecosystems; Systems and cybernetics methodologies; Acalugaritei networks; Automation and robots; Artificial intelligence; Intelligent and adaptive systems; General homeostatics; Applied problems of homeostasis; Bio‐medical cybernetics.

We are told that all the papers submitted were carefully refereed and the 123 that were selected for inclusion were taken from over 150 that had been submitted. There should, therefore, be no doubt about the quality of the work presented at the congress and published in these proceedings. The publication also has the backing of a distinguished group of academics who formed the congress Patrons Committee and also of the International Scientific Committee of scientists from some 20 countries.

All the selected papers were grouped into the 16 sections for ease of reference. Obviously, since cybernetics is an interdisciplinary field and study there is bound to be cross‐referencing and readers should expect to move between them to pursue their own lines of interest.

This is particularly true, for example, of researchers in robotics and automation who, although tempted to study only the section titled “Automation and robotics”, should also read almost all of the other sections which have become so important in current researches in these fields of endeavour. The section on “Artificial intelligence” and the two‐part section on “Intelligent and Adaptive Systems” are but some of the examples of subjects that are of direct relevance. Many of these chosen topics can then be further researched from the references provided and also with the contributors themselves.

With such a wealth of material in the one volume and packed into over 400 pages it would have been helpful to provide both an author index and a general subject index. Unfortunately, the constraints imposed on the organisers of such congresses in the current climate preclude such luxuries!They are to be congratulated on cajoling their intending authors to submit their manuscripts on time for publication before the first day of congress registrations – a feat not always achieved even in the age of electronic publishing. The editors also managed, by careful pruning of material, to condense the submissions into readable abstracts that fit comfortably into one volume. Previous congresses have run to two or more volumes and while they are useful records of what was then presented they were subsequently very cumbersome to use for reference purposes by busy academics and research teams.

The volume is recommended to all those involved in the new age of the information society and in particular to working scientists who need to know about the direction of the new interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches now being undertaken worldwide. It is an obviously essential text for any self‐respecting library that intends to serve its scientists with links to current research and in the provision of references to the literature. Individuals working in the sciences will perhaps want their own copies for their reference shelves, and despite the minor criticisms of this review will find it good value.

Cyberneticians and systemists who are the readers of Kybernetes will find that the presented papers will form a prologue to the fuller versions that will be published in the millennium volume of this journal. The volume, it is understood from its editors, will either contain up‐dated versions of the papers presented at the congress, whose abridged papers are published as the Proceedings, or entirely new contributions which will form a continuation of the original submissions.

Note: Copies may be obtained from the WOSC (UK) Secretariat (att. Professor J. Rose – Conference Proceedings), 5 Margate Road, St Annes‐on‐Sea, Lancashire FY8 3EG, UK, Price £50

Readers of this journal with main interests in robotics and automation are well catered for in this interdisciplinary text. Cybernetics does, of course, cover most scientific disciplines with its multidisciplinary approach.

The World Organisation of Systems and Cybernetics is one of the earliest of the many cybernetics groups that currently provide the cybernetics community with a forum. Its reputation is as high as ever and the proceedings of its latest congress most certainly confirms it.