All the actual content seems to be on this site
Complexity Explained
91–100 of 128 posts
Re: Complexity Explained
#92This website was a neat resource. The whole point of complexity science is that there are domains with computational irreducibility where in order to estimate system behaviors we can not rely on formulaic models, in complexity science we instead make use of computer models via simulation to try and approach dynamics. As potential further reading, one of the cited authors gave a lecture on intersections of AI and comp…
AI originally grew out of complexity science, in the form of cybernetics - hence cybernetics' popular association with AI.
The booklet quotes Herbert Simon, AI pioneer:
"It may not be entirely vain, however, to search for common properties among diverse kinds of complex systems... The ideas of feedback and information provide a frame of reference for viewing a wide range of situations."
Re: Complexity Explained
#93It covers how little it contains with how flashy it is.
Certain topics like "complexity theory" or even "artificial intelligence" attract this sort of thing. It's easy to appear that you're saying insightful things without actually saying anything at all.
I have an entire undergrad degree in complex systems theory, found it great and useful, yet in the instance of discussing this website I agree with you.
Re: Complexity Explained
#94I don’t understand the negativity here. I think this is a pretty cool site (when browsing on my iPhone at least).
Re: Complexity Explained
#95Needs better contrast. The difference between text and background color is just too low, even for people with normal vision it is hard to read.
Re: Complexity Explained
#96The Chinese translation of the title is a bit puzzling to me, as a Chinese mainlander lived in US:
Complexity Explained is translated to "沒說你不知道", literally means "you wont know if I don't tell you". Generally "Explained" usually corresponds to "详解"
But anyway, very good content. I am surprised that double-pendulum is a chaotic system. I thought it's possible to precisely predict its motion, because its apparent simplicity.
Re: Complexity Explained
#97How does complexity theory benefit real people? Unlike theories of physics or economics, it doesn't appear to describe how anything actually works , rather that things are just more complex than they seem. For instance, complexity theory just points out that the double pendulum is hard to predict without adding value, while controls theory was more useful by stabilizing the double pendulum. So what are some real-worl…
Complexity theory provides metaphors for nonlinear change, for one thing.
And most things in business are neither truly linear nor simple exponential. Yet most people in business revert to these two mathematical concepts.
For example, it might convince a CEO to keep working on a project because this 'emergence' thing may be happening -- where a non-complexity-empowered CEO might kill the project because there is no linear return, and no apparent potential for exponential return.
Re: Complexity Explained
#98many of the examples are based from this site https://www.complexity-explorables.org/ if you're looking for additional examples.
Thank you! This is why I read the comments on HN. I was thinking while reading that I'd like to find some good resources to explore complexity theory in more depth, this looks great. Side note: 14 people created something of value and distribute it for free, and still many of the comments here are just complaints about auto-scroll, websites, and JS. Pretty sad to see.
Couldn’t agree more. I often read some top comments even before checking an article just to get a quick read on whether something is likely e.g. clickbaity. Reading the comments it seemed like there was some consensus that this was a page with mostly information that would be better presented in a flat form like a pdf rather than an interactive website... but it’s actually a super fun collection of interactive visualizations for some of the classic complexity examples, and it worked perfectly for me except for a kind of ostentatious fade-from-white effect on page load.
Re: Complexity Explained
#99Ok look, another website that doesn't work on desktop. It's so frustrating that we seem to have lost any understanding of how to to put information on a screen.
For me, it works on both desktop and mobile, chrome & firefox. I don't get the left/right swooshing on mobile, but do on desktop. Mac/iPhone
Re: Complexity Explained
#100Earlier quoted context omitted.
Thank you! This is why I read the comments on HN. I was thinking while reading that I'd like to find some good resources to explore complexity theory in more depth, this looks great. Side note: 14 people created something of value and distribute it for free, and still many of the comments here are just complaints about auto-scroll, websites, and JS. Pretty sad to see.
Couldn’t agree more. I often read some top comments even before checking an article just to get a quick read on whether something is likely e.g. clickbaity. Reading the comments it seemed like there was some consensus that this was a page with mostly information that would be better presented in a flat form like a pdf rather than an interactive website... but it’s actually a super fun collection of interactive visual…
Ah I see. I was on mobile and didn't get the left/right swooshing, but do on desktop. I also find the left/right swooshing from the outside pretty clunky and unnecessary. But the content is really nice, and I personally appreciate a bit of fun in experimenting with content presentation. Esp. given the topic.