Introduction

Abstract

The chapter provides introduction to the book which describes a novel ideology and supporting information technology for integral management of large distributed dynamic systems of both civil and defence orientation. The presented approach is based on a high-level Spatial Grasp Language, SGL, expressing solutions in physical, virtual, executive, and combined environments in the form of active self-evolving and self-propagating patterns spatially matching the systems to be created, investigated, modified, and controlled. The communicating interpreters of SGL can be installed in key system points which may be in large numbers (up to millions and billions) and represent humans, robots, laptops, smart phones, smart sensors, etc. Operating under gestalt-inspired scenarios in SGL initially injected from any points, these systems can be effectively converted into universal goal-driven spatial machines (rather than computers as dealing with physical matter too) capable of responding to numerous challenges caused by the growing world dynamics in the 21st century. The chapter traces long history and technological background of the approach, where the author was engaged in creation of citywide distributed computer networks from the end of sixties, well before the internet. The support of this work by different organizations and in different countries is also briefed.