There has been a dramatic recent shift in sentiment in relation to the most appropriate model for developing software systems. The shift has marked a change from the tradition of preparing a detailed requirements specification as the first phase in the development cycle, to a less rigid adaptive evolutionary approach.
The ongoing goal of software engineering is to ensure that a system meets its primary aims in terms of the quality criteria of functionality, performance, reliability and efficiency. Achieving rigorous standards of reliability and efficiency has never been the major problem for developers; rather it has been the potential for basing the system’s requirements specification on obsolete or inadeqaute premises, which on completion delivers sub-optimal outcomes.
This is similar to the mathematical problem of using excellent deductive logic to draw conclusions from a set of axioms, but reaching a wrong conclusion because the axioms themselves are incorrect or incomplete.
Time and again this Archilles heel of software development emerges- particularly when a project is large, complex and operates within a dynamic environment. Systemic failure is more often the norm and the litany of collapsed projects keeps growing; particularly in the government and multinational business domains of procurement, supply, logistics, human resources, health, education, customer services etc.
The research in my laboratory focuses on the molecular mechanisms that bacteria use for intercellular communication. Our goal is to understand how bacteria detect multiple environmental cues, and how the integration and processing of this information results in the precise regulation of gene expression.
The bacterial communication phenomenon that we study is called quorum sensing, which is a process that allows bacteria to communicate using secreted chemical signaling molecules called autoinducers. This process enables a population of bacteria to collectively regulate gene expression and, therefore, behavior. In quorum sensing, bacteria assess their population density by detecting the concentration of a particular autoinducer, which is correlated with cell density. This “census-taking” enables the group to express specific genes only at particular population densities. Quorum sensing is widespread; it occurs in numerous Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. In general, processes controlled by quorum sensing are ones that are unproductive when undertaken by an individual bacterium but become effective when undertaken by the group. For example, quorum sensing controls bioluminescence, secretion of virulence factors, sporulation, and conjugation. Thus, quorum sensing is a mechanism that allows bacteria to function as multi-cellular organisms.
European researchers have created a new software abstraction called Autonomic Communication Elements (ACEs) which will enable ecosystems for service networks, and make the future ‘internet of things’ a reality, now.
The internet is evolving in front of our eyes: Web 2.0 is beginning to reach it is potential as a ‘platform’, a computing and service delivery system in its own right.
At the same time, we are already seeing the emergence of Telco 2.0: telecommunications providers are seeking to create the same sort of open environment for user-generated content and services potential that the web is now renowned for.
Services like mash-ups, combining applications such as Google maps and real estate listings to provide powerful new services from currently available tools and data. For example, Telco 2.0 will allow users to combine mapped property information with voicemail, SMS and other telecommunications enablers.
And this is just a prelude to other, perhaps more sophisticated, technologies like Web 3.0, the so-called ‘semantic web’. Add to this the ‘future internet’ and the proposed ‘internet of things’ linking people, devices, telecoms and data networks into one, vast network of networks.
It is an ambitious vision, but it all invites increasing complexity; complexity that could kill innovation before it gains traction.
Russian state television accused the United States on Sunday of spying on China and Russia after secretly turning its only remaining air base in Central Asia into a state-of-the-art surveillance center.A U.S. defense official dismissed the allegations as ridiculous on Friday, when Rossiya television, widely seen as an official mouthpiece in Russia, released a clip of the documentary it aired on Sunday about the Manas base.Kyrgyz and U.S. officials could not be reached for comment late on Sunday.Kyrgyzstan told Washington in February to close the base near the capital Bishkek, used to send supplies to U.S. troops in Afghanistan, after it secured a $2 billion economic aid package from Russia. The Americans are due to leave in August.
At its beginning stands letter “M”
As in Mohammed’s most blessed name!
In the middle stands letter “N,”
That means Nabi [prophet]—prophetic men.
Then at its end stands the letter “S”
This is the tail of a Lion, no less!
What name do these three consonants make?
From these three letters the sounds we take,
Reading them out we get “MaNaS.”
The closing of the Kyrgz air base should be a warning to the Obama administration that ignoring Central Asia will have a negative impact on the region’s freedom, says Stephen Blank for EurasiaNet.
INTELLIGENCE chiefs have warned that China may have gained the capability to shut down Britain by crippling its telecoms and utilities.
They have told ministers of their fears that equipment installed by Huawei, the Chinese telecoms giant, in BT’s new communications network could be used to halt critical services such as power, food and water supplies.
The warnings coincide with growing cyberwarfare attacks on Britain by foreign governments, particularly Russia and China.
A confidential document circulating in Whitehall says that while BT has taken steps to reduce the risk of attacks by hackers or organised crime, “we believe that the mitigating measures are not effective against deliberate attack by China”.
There has been a dramatic recent shift in sentiment in relation to the most appropriate model for developing software systems. The shift has marked a change from the tradition of preparing a detailed requirements specification as the first phase in the development cycle, to a less rigid adaptive evolutionary approach. 
