Although I consider myself a software geek, I know very little about this field … Genetic Programming. However, before you think I’m talking about genetic engineering of plants and animals, read on. This field studies nature, and tries to learn lessons for solving technical problems … an intriguing idea. You may now download a very detailed manual on the process, A Field Guide to Genetic Programming. Here is how the book’s web site describes the area:

"Genetic Programming is a systematic, domain-independent method for getting computers to solve problems automatically starting from a high-level statement of what needs to be done. Using ideas from natural evolution, GP starts from an ooze of random computer programs, and progressively refines them through processes of mutation and sexual recombination, until solutions emerge. All this without the user having to know or specify the form or structure of solutions in advance. GP has generated a plethora of human-competitive results and applications, including novel scientific discoveries and patentable inventions."

I am definitely adding this manual to the Engineering Learning Wiki’s manual section. If you are interesting in learning more about this discipline, a trip to the University of Illinois Genetic Algorithms Laboratory would be worth your while. Besides, any lab which refers to their blog at IlliGAL must have a sense of humor. I leave you to figure out the play on words!
.

Okay … I’ve been pushing the unconference. You don’t even have to come to Minnesota. However … if you were in the Twin Cities this weekend, you could attend with me. My thanks to Brian Kopp for saying my presentation sounded worth attending.

If you have no idea what an "unconference" is, link to this earlier post … learn … and attend one in your region. They are held all over the world.

Most of us don’t get to hang out in Silicon Valley. I decided to take a few days of vacation and come out to Mountain View and see some friends. Little did I realize that my trip would bring me out to ground zero during the 15th anniversary of the world wide web. Link to the Web Guild to read the announcement and watch the video.

I decided I couldn’t let this historic date pass without some recognition … ponder … ponder … how does one say Happy Birthday WWW ? With web sites! Thus via the Internet Wayback Machine I decided to give you the history of the web … #10 Downing Street style!

The oldest year I could find was 1997. Click upon any thumbnail for an expanded view.

1997 on …

The next time you’re trip is delayed due to the high volumes air traffic, envision this! (beautiful air traffic plot animation set to music … one day in the life of air traffic over the United States):

• Animation
• UCLA Web Site

One complaint I often hear from older engineers is how many of their younger brethren don’t have hands-on experience in the "shop". If that description might apply to you, or you just could use some occasional help with a machining problem, link on over to the Virtual Machine Shop! It has some great drawings, tutorials, animations, etc. I added this content to the mechanical engineering section of the engineering learning wiki.
.