Re: OOPSLA 95 Workshops and Complex Systems Engineering

Joe Bedocs (jbedocs@pt0102.pms.ford.com)
13 Feb 1995 19:05:28 GMT

In article <D3t71A.IJx@bcsaic.boeing.com>, rmarcus@bcsaic.boeing.com (Bob Marcus) writes:
|> OOPSLA 95 WORKSHOPS AND COMPLEX SYSTEMS ENGINEERING
|>
|> OOPSLA is the Object-Oriented Programming Systems, Languages, and
|> Applications Conference. It will meet in Austin, Texas from Oct 15-21.
|> As the OOPSLA 95 Workshop Chair, I am strongly encouraging the submission
|> of workshop proposals related to the theme of complex adaptable systems
|> engineering. See below for one list of possible topics and information
|> about a new mailing list. If you are interested in organizing a
|> workshop on ANY object-oriented topic please send in your proposals
|> before March 1. Thanks. I can help organizers with logistics and
|> recruiting.
|>
|> Bob Marcus (rmarcus@atc.boeing.com)
|> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
|> Proposals should be up to two pages in length and include a description
|> of the themes, problems to be addressed, proposed agenda and references to
|> other papers, workshops and forums if appropriate. The proposal should
|> include names, affiliations, addresses, phone, fax, and e-mail addresses
|> of all prospectives co-organizers, indicating a primary contact. I can
|> send you more information if you need it, but an old OOPSLA program can
|> also provide good proposal models. Your workshop proposal should be
|> SUBMITTED BEFORE MARCH 1 to rmarcus@atc.boeing.com.
|> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
|> COMPLEX ADAPTABLE SYSTEMS ENGINEERING
|>
|> There has been a lot of exciting research during the last few years in
|> the area of complex systems. This work has focused mainly on modeling
|> and simulating systems in areas like biology and cellular automata. There
|> have also been similar discussions in fields like economy, ecology,
|> management science, sociology etc. I believe that it possible to extend
|> some of these approaches to the area of software engineering.
|>
|> For example, object technology can be used to manage some of the
|> complexity and adaptability that is required for large corporate computing
|> systems. However experience has shown that extensions of this technology
|> to provide greater flexibility, scalability and reliability will be
|> necessary.
|>
|> Some of the areas where extensions would make interesting topics for
|> OOPSLA workshops include:
|>
|> Scripting Languages
|> Agent-oriented Systems
|> Large-scale Simulations
|> Reliable Distributed Computing
|> Workflow Frameworks
|> World Wide Web Tools
|> Semantic Integration
|> Large-scale Concurrent Computing
|> Legacy Systems Interfaces
|> Adaptable Software Systems
|> Patterns for Complex Systems Design
|> New Database Applications (Object-relational,OLAP,OODBs)
|>
|> Bob Marcus
|> rmarcus@atc.boeing.com
|> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
|> P.S. I have started a new mailing list to discuss the theory and
|> applications of complex systems engineering. If you would like to
|> subscribe send me mail at rmarcus@atc.boeing.com.
|>
|> Here are some questions to simulate an initial discussion:
|>
|> KEY QUESTION: Is it possible to build customizable generic tools for the
|> modeling, simulation, and analysis of complex systems?
|>
|> Is there a scientific discipline of complex systems?
|> What are the basic laws?
|> Are there generic principles for complex systems engineering?
|> What are these principles?
|> How can adaptability be designed into software and systems?
|> How can non-adaptable components and systems be reengineered?
|> How can we maintain systems with constantly changing requirements?
|> How can we manage systems that are too complex for individual understanding?
|> How should object technology respond to the proposed extensions above?
|> -------------------------------------------------------------------------

Currently an organization already exists named the National Council on Systems Engineering. This organization is already in motion to answer many of these questions. It seems a good idea to keep related activities together; too many organizations with very similar interests acts only to dilute the energies from the already scarce volunteer resources. IEEE, EIA, SAE, and probably others already have Systems Engineering-related committees.

NCOSE has an annual international conference, this year the conference is in St Louis, Missouri from July 23 - 26 (e-mail Bill Schoening at (schoening@mdafltsim.mdc.com for info). While the call for papers is closed for this year's conference, the 96 conference will be in Boston, Massachusetts. Please consider presenting papers on these subjects in this forum also.

Additionally, NCOSE has begun publishing a journal. Contact Jeff Grady, Editor-in-Chief, at jgrady@ucsd.edu for more info.

Furthermore, NCOSE is about to open an account on World Wide Web, with Gopher and anonymous FTP services to be provided.

These are excellent topics for further discussion. However, with the tightening of corporate finances, it is difficult to get to multiples of conferences scattered throughout the years. Lets try to keep it together.

Your comments are welcome.