The self-healing grid, one that monitors itself, measures itself and even takes corrective action to eliminate reliability problems, may be in the near future.
New intrusion-detection software is being developed that mimics biological immune systems, learning to watch for unusual events. Other software randomly generates "detectors," throws away those that match normal behavior, and retains those that represent abnormal behavior.
For years, artificial-intelligence researchers have gained some of their most useful insights from experts in brain function. And today the biological sciences are making similar contributions to all sorts of technologies useful to business, from software that "grows," "heals" and "reproduces" to tiny carbon tubes that will allow computer transistors to shrink to atomic dimensions even as they grow more powerful.
The author proposes that the best way to ensure internet security is to model it after the evolution of biological systems.
IBM has announced it is building a massive supercomputer that will have the ability to repair itself, and keep itself running without human intervention. The supercomputer, code named 'Blue Sky', is being assembled for The National Center for Atmospheric Research and will be capable of predicting atmospheric climate changes, heating oil prices, and global warming.
IBM has unveiled an ambitious initiative to develop technologies that share the basic biological abilities of living organisms -- the ability to mantain and heal itself.
By mimicking the natural response of living tissue to injury, cross-departmental researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have developed a polymeric material that heals itself when damaged. Cracks can be precursors to structural failure, and the ability to treat weakened regions will result in longer-lasting materials used in a variety of applications from microelectronics to aerospace.