Unit II. SYNERGETICS After completing this unit, you will be able to: Define the terms Synergy and Synergetics Speak on the key notions of Synergetics Use competently Past Participle Compose and read off mathematical notation in English Ex. 1: Check the pronunciation and translate the following international words. Algorithm Control Cybernetics Equilibrium Evolution Generalization Heurica! Heuristic Laser Macro Medium/Media Micro Paradigm/Paradigmatic Tempo Thermodynamics Ex. 2: Look up the possible translations of the following “false friends» in a dictionary: medicine: ...................................... besides:......................................................... design: ........................................... besides: ........................................................ identical: ....................................... besides:......................................................... original: ........................................ besides: ....................................................... abstract: ....................................... besides: ....................................................... radiation: ...................................... besides:......................................................... construction: ................................ besides: ....................................................... formula: ………………………... besides: ....................................................... sympathetic: ................................. besides: ....................................................... Ex.3: Translate the collocations into Russian. Then explain your favorite ones in your own words in English to your groupmates so they can guess which collocation you mean. Enormous variety, new whole, mere sum, anticipatory design, universal applicability, entire system, mutual aid, black box, cooperative behavior, starting point, accelerated development, optimistic attempt, harsh management. Ex.4: Study the words to Text A « Synergy». Translate the examples into Russian in writing. 1. synergy,1 n [ˈsɪnəʤɪ] Синергия, взаимодействие, совместная деятельность Synergy may be defined as “increased effectiveness, achievement, produced as a result of combined action.” 2. literally2 , ad буквально The company has received literally thousands of messages. 3. denote,3 v обозначать Sigma is the Greek symbol used to denote deviations from 1 the mean. 4. joint,4 n сустав It felt as if he'd torn a muscle above the joint. 5. inspire5 , v вдохновлять We are inspired by the creative solutions of many companies protecting their intellectual property. 6. emerge,6 v появляться In the early 60's a new generation emerged who attacked that trend. 7. recognize7 , v распознавать He learned to recognize the panels that controlled lighting. Ex.5: Text A. Before discussing Synergetics - the main topic of the unit - it’s worth learning the term Synergy and its basic characteristics. Read the text and present your own examples of synergy effect in our life, in other words, prove that 1+1=3! Synergy The Greek word "synergy" means, literally, "working together." In medicine, it has long been used to denote the working together of two or more drugs, or of two or more muscles acting as a joint. Applied to the human mind, "synergy" denotes the working together of the enormous variety of functions that comprise the mind, producing a new whole that is greater than the mere sum of its parts. An early pioneer in synergy was Buckminster Fuller, whose concepts of anticipatory design for Spaceship Earth have inspired generations of students. Fuller emphasized the key role of synergy in producing a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. Something new emerges - something that can exist only at the higher level of organization made possible by synergy. Indeed, synergy is of universal applicability. It can be applied not only to the human mind, but also to human groups, to organizations of all kinds, to industrial enterprises, to entire economic systems, to international relations, to any functioning system. Its basic characteristics of improving effectiveness by mutual aid, and of producing emergent wholes, can be recognized in every system to which it is applied. Text A Analysis. Ex.6: Complete the sentences referring to the text. 1. Literally “synergy” means … 2. Buckminster Fuller was … 3. The key role of synergy is… 2 4. Synergy can be applied to… 5. Synergy has two basic characteristics: ……………. and …………….. Ex.7: Write down as many cognate words as possible: to emerge – … to inspire - … to apply - … to produce - … Ex.8: R. Buckminster Fuller has been called as "…one of the greatest minds of our times". Fuller wrote 28 books, coining and popularizing the terms such as "spaceship earth", ephemeralization, and synergetics. He also created a large number of inventions; the best-known is the geodesic dome. It’s great to get acquainted with him, so find out the information interesting to you and make a report about B. Fuller. Ex.9: Study the words to Text B «Synergetics». Translate the sentences comprising them. 1. Synergetics, n [sɪnəˈʤetɪks] синергетика - это междисциплинарное научное направление, изучающее процессы самоорганизации, устойчивости, распада и возрождения разнообразных структур живой и неживой природы 2. self-organization, самоорганиза́ция — процесс упорядочения элементов n одного уровня в системе за счёт внутренних факторов, без внешнего воздействия. 3. complexity, n сложность Each time interval greatly increases the computational complexity of the problem. 4. chaos, n хаос [ˈkeɪɔs] A great example of a nonlinear system exhibiting chaos is all around you: the weather. 5. elaborate, v разрабатывать The key idea of the book is expressed in the title and elaborated in the text. 6. self-control, n самоконтроль By constant self-discipline and self-control you can develop the greatness of character. 7. reveal, v выявлять, обнаруживать Sometimes a second, closer examination can reveal the things you didn't see before. 8. dissipative диссипативная структура structure A dissipative structure is a dissipative system that has a dynamical régime that is in some sense in a reproducible 3 steady state. 9. coherent, a когерентный The light from a laser is said to be coherent, which means the wavelengths of the laser light are in phase in space and time. These three properties of laser light are what make it more of a hazard than ordinary light. 10. worldview, n мировоззрение By advancing geographic knowledge, they broadened people's worldview and enhanced trade. 11. nonlinear, а нелинейный You can use it to solve nonlinear equations. 12. auto-waves, n автоволны, автоволновой процесс The term « auto-waves »is generally used in processes where the waves carry relatively low energy, which is necessary for synchronization or switching the active medium. 13. deterministic, a детерминированный Chaos theory suggests that even in a deterministic system, if the equations describing its behavior are nonlinear, a tiny change in the initial conditions can lead to an unpredictable result. 14. arise, v возникать, появляться Considerable debate has arisen over their origin and many explanations have been given. 15. fluctuation, n флуктуация, колебание Paranormal activity causes fluctuations in the electro- magnetic field. Ex.10: Text B. Read the Text and select the appropriate heading for each part. Synergetics HEADINGS: From strict science to the philosophy of life (IV); New science of complexity (III); Various scientific schools (II); Synergetics as a field of scientific research (I). I. The term «synergetics» was introduced by Hermann Haken, a German scholar. It has existed for over forty years already and it is widely used, but still not generally accepted. Instead, «theory of self-organization» is used as a more traditional term. Recently two other terms «studies in complexity» and «theory of chaos» have become widely used. Synergetics can be considered as a current stage of development within the traditions of cybernetics promoted by N.Wiener & W.R.Ashby. Cybernetics investigates the functioning of complex systems using an abstract model of «black box», synergetics studies some physical mechanisms of the complex structures formation, i.e. it tries to look into the «black box». Cybernetics elaborates 4 algorithms and methods of systems’ control; synergetics investigates the processes of self-control and self-organization of complex systems in the world. II. The focus of synergetic research program is to reveal general laws of self- organization and evolution which are common to processes of quite different nature: physical, chemical, biological, psychological, social. The whole history of development of the theory of self-organization shows that significant theoretical generalizations appeared from rather narrow, but fundamental scientific results. The non-equilibrium thermodynamics and the theory of dissipative structures developed by the Brussels school of the Nobel Prize winner Ilya Prigogine started with the investigation of processes in physical chemistry. The theory of cooperative behavior, developed by H.Haken, originated from the investigations of the coherent radiation of lasers. Lasers became an example of synergetics. Another example of natural science starting point for further generalizations up to a worldview one can mention the investigation of nonlinear auto-waves as early as in the 1930′s by the Russian school of L.I.Mandelshtam and A.Andronov. It’s worth mentioning the Polish-born French-American