On environments as systemic exoskeletons: crosscutting optimizers and antifragility enablers

Abstract

Classic approaches to general systems theory often adopt an individual perspective and a limited number of systemic classes. As a result, those classes include a wide number and variety of systems that result equivalent to each other. This paper presents a different approach: first, systems belonging to a same class are further differentiated according to five major general characteristics. This introduces a “horizontal dimension” to system classification. A second component of our approach considers systems as nested compositional hierarchies of other sub-systems. The resulting “vertical dimension” further specializes the systemic classes and makes it easier to assess similarities and differences regarding properties such as resilience, performance, and quality of experience. Our approach is exemplified by considering a telemonitoring system designed in the framework of Flemish project “Little Sister”. We show how our approach makes it possible to design intelligent environments able to closely follow a system’s horizontal and vertical organization and to artificially augment its features by serving as crosscutting optimizers and as enablers of antifragile behaviors.