Imitation of life: How biology is inspiring computing [Book Review]

Abstract

Generations of engineers have recognized that, in many respects, biology does it better. Imitation of Life is a whirlwind history, richer even than its subtitle suggests, through various computational disciplines inspired by biology. This is an ambitious undertaking for such a short book but, although it ignores some important unifying principles, its brevity is also a virtue. The inspirations from biology are scattered throughout the book, and their collective impact is felt best when the book is digested whole, at one sitting. The early chapters on biology as a metaphor are the least satisfying, and any reader who stops there may never return for the genuine delights that follow.