Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
in the true slime mould
Physarum polycephalum
.
It comprises an amorphous yellowish mass with
networks of protoplasmic veins, programmed by
spatial configurations of attracting and repelling
gradients that computes by propagating dif-
fusive or excitation wave fronts. The Physarum
machine is a green, environmentally friendly
unconventional computer that is cheap and easy
to maintain, functions on many substrates and in
many environmental conditions.
Scientists studying human genome architecture
look for the logic of genes or proteins interactions.
As stated by Ricard Solé (2008, p. 253) “Scientists
find a familiar pattern: the way molecules interact
within cells is not very different from the way the
Internet is organized.” In cells, scientists are able
to achieve single molecule detection by apply-
ing electrophoretical molecule driving. Single-
stranded DNA (ssDNA) and RNA molecules
can be driven through a pore-forming protein
and detected by their effect on the ionic current
through this nanopore (Branton et al., 2008).
Historically, visual design and information
systems have been philosophically and function-
ally independent from each other. However, people
exhibit a fundamental preference for all things
beautiful. As Liu put it (2003a, p. 1274), “The
forgoing insights call for a guiding framework to
help visual designers create systems that better serve
user requirements.” But aesthetics is not a hard
science discipline because it lacks scientific and
theoretical foundation or framework to organize,
communicate, and explain related ideas and con-
cepts” (Liu, 2003a, p. 1274). At the 2012 Decision
Science Institute, Southwest Region Conference,
Liu (2012) and also Peak, Prybutok, Gibson, &
Xu (2012a,b) proposed that information systems
(IS) can serve as a reference discipline for visual
design, and vice versa, visual design can reciprocate
as a reference discipline for IS. With the increasing
number of visually sophisticated, design-savvy us-
ers it seems imprudent to overlook users' informed
preferences. The time has come for Information
Systems to become a reference discipline offering
mature IS research and systems methodologies.
Design science involves a growing amount of
computation and is becoming part of the infor-
mation systems discipline. The design science
research is getting increasing attention (March &
Storey, 2008). According to the authors, a design
science research contribution requires:
INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND
THE DESIGN SCIENCE
People used to organize their operations and man-
agement to interact and supervise processes, data,
activities, and technology. Information system
(IS) is according to O'Brien & Marakas (2009)
an organized combination of people (especially
information technology specialists), physical de-
vices (hardware such as computer peripherals and
servers), information processing instructions and
procedures (software, such as system software, ap-
plication software, and procedures), communica-
tion channels (networks made of communication
media and network support), and stored data (data
resources providing knowledge and databases). An
information systems framework includes business
applications, management challenges, information
technologies, foundation concepts, and develop-
ment processes (O'Brien & Marakas, 2010).
1. Identification and clear description of a
relevant organizational IT problem;
2. Demonstration that no adequate solutions
exist in the extant IT knowledge-base;
3. Development and presentation of a novel
IT artifact (constructs, models, methods or
instantiations) that addresses the problem;
4. Rigorous evaluation of the IT artifact en-
abling the assessment of its utility;
5. Articulation of the value added to the IT
knowledge-base and to practice; and
6. Explanation of the implications for IT man-
agement and practice (March & Storey, 2008,
p. 726).
