Guided self-organization: information dynamics of complex computation

The study of how order is created out of interactions, despite a relentless flow of increasing entropy, is one of the most rewarding scientific experiences. Furthermore, finding ways to guide the processes, which seemingly spontaneously self-organise, towards desirable outcomes is among the most complex engineering tasks. Identifying fundamental principles for Guided Self-Organisation (GSO) would make a profound theoretical and practical contribution with far-reaching implications for both science and engineering. Is it possible to guide the process of self-organisation towards specific patterns and outcomes? Wouldn?t this be self-contradictory? After all, a self-organising process assumes a transition into a more organised form, or towards a more structured functionality, in the absence of centralised control. This talk presents different approaches to resolving this paradox. In doing so, the case studies presented cover a broad range, from celular automata to information cascades in swarms to phase transitions in dynamical systems.