Dinesh Chandra Verma – författare

As computer systems and networks have evolved and grown more complex, the role of the IT department in most companies has transformed primarily to ensuring that they continue to operate without disruption. IT spending, as reported by a variety of studies, shows the trend that most of the expenses associated with IT are related to the task of operating and managing installed computer systems and applications. Furthermore, the growth in that expense category is outstripping the expense associated with developing new appli- tions. As a consequence, there is a pressing need in the companies and organi- tions to find qualified people who can manage the installed base of computer systems and networks. This marks a significant shift from the previous trend in companies where the bulk of the IT department expenses were targeted on development of new computer applications. The shift from developing new applications to managing existing systems is a natural consequence of the maturity of IT industry. Computers are now u- quitous in every walk of life, and the number of installed successful applications grows steadily over the time. Each installed successful application in a company lasts for a long duration. Consequently, the number of installed applications is much larger than the number of projects focused on developing new appli- tions. While there always will be new applications and systems being developed within companies, the predominance of managing and operating existing app- cations is likely to continue.

As computer systems and networks have evolved and grown more complex, the role of the IT department in most companies has transformed primarily to ensuring that they continue to operate without disruption. IT spending, as reported by a variety of studies, shows the trend that most of the expenses associated with IT are related to the task of operating and managing installed computer systems and applications. Furthermore, the growth in that expense category is outstripping the expense associated with developing new appli- tions. As a consequence, there is a pressing need in the companies and organi- tions to find qualified people who can manage the installed base of computer systems and networks. This marks a significant shift from the previous trend in companies where the bulk of the IT department expenses were targeted on development of new computer applications. The shift from developing new applications to managing existing systems is a natural consequence of the maturity of IT industry. Computers are now u- quitous in every walk of life, and the number of installed successful applications grows steadily over the time. Each installed successful application in a company lasts for a long duration. Consequently, the number of installed applications is much larger than the number of projects focused on developing new appli- tions. While there always will be new applications and systems being developed within companies, the predominance of managing and operating existing app- cations is likely to continue.

As computer systems and networks have evolved and grown more complex, the role of the IT department in most companies has transformed primarily to ensuring that they continue to operate without disruption. IT spending, as reported by a variety of studies, shows the trend that most of the expenses associated with IT are related to the task of operating and managing installed computer systems and applications. Furthermore, the growth in that expense category is outstripping the expense associated with developing new appli- tions. As a consequence, there is a pressing need in the companies and organi- tions to find qualified people who can manage the installed base of computer systems and networks. This marks a significant shift from the previous trend in companies where the bulk of the IT department expenses were targeted on development of new computer applications. The shift from developing new applications to managing existing systems is a natural consequence of the maturity of IT industry. Computers are now u- quitous in every walk of life, and the number of installed successful applications grows steadily over the time. Each installed successful application in a company lasts for a long duration. Consequently, the number of installed applications is much larger than the number of projects focused on developing new appli- tions. While there always will be new applications and systems being developed within companies, the predominance of managing and operating existing app- cations is likely to continue.

This volume contains the papers from BIOWIRE 2007, the first in a series of wo- shops on the bio-inspired design of networks, and additional papers contributed from the research area of bio-inspired computing and communication. The workshop took place at the University of Cambridge during April 2–5, 2007 with sponsorship from the US/UK International Technology Alliance in Network and Information Sciences. Its objective was to present, discuss and explore the recent developments in the field of bio-inspired design of networks, with particular regard to wireless networks and the self-organizing properties of biological networks. The workshop was organized by Jon Crowcroft (University of Cambridge), Don Towsley (University of Massachusetts), Dinesh Verma (IBM T. J. Watson Research Center), Vasilis Pappas (IBM T. J. Watson Research Center), Ananthram Swami (ARL), Tom McCutcheon (DSTL) and Pietro Liò (University of Cambridge). The program for BIOWIRE 2007 included 54 speakers covering a diverse range of topics, categorized as follows: 1. Self-organized communication networks in insects 2. Neuronal communications 3. Bio-computing 4. Epidemiology 5. Network theory 6. Wireless and sensorial networks 7. Brain: models of sensorial integration The BIOWIRE workshop focuses on achieving a common ground for knowledge sharing among scientists with expertise in investigating the application domain (e. g. , biological, wireless, data communication and transportation networks) and scientists with relevant expertise in the methodology domain (e. g. , mathematics and statistical physics of networks).