Comprehending NATO through biomimicry?

Envisaging NATO Otherwise -- in 3D and 4D? (Part #9)

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The representations above, irrespective of the animations and transformations, rely to a questionable degree on geometrical constraints without considering how they might be fruitfully relaxed -- as a source of greater insight. One approach would be to foreshorten or lengthen the lines in the depictions -- selectively shearing the depiction as a whole.

A distinctive approach, consistent with this possibility, is to build dynamics into the models otherwise. This was remarkably illustrated by the award-winning Soda Constructor a java-based physics engine, central to Soda's collaborative learning environment Sodaplay.com. The facility enables users to create and share "models". These models are made of "masses" and "springs" and follow strict physical laws. By turning springs into "muscles", models can be animated and made very lifelike. Although thousands of models have been created, it is uncertain whether the facility continues to be viable, given the evolution of web technologies and incompatibilities. Many legacy websites and online fora are however partially accessible.

Of relevance to the argument with respect to NATO, the potential of the Soda Constructor approach was reviewed with respect to the institutions of Europe (Animating the Representation of Europe: visualizing the coherence of international institutions using dynamic animal-like structures, 2004).

Examples of multi-legged animated Soda models (clicking on the images originally "brought them to life"; a feature now deactivated)

The argument in terms of biomimicry and naturomimicry has achieved greater relevance given recognition of its acknowledged value in two complementary arenas:

• strategic insights, as variously suggested (Dudley Lynch, Strategy of the Dolphin: scoring a win in a chaotic world, 1990; Systemic Biomimicry of Dinosaurs by Multinational Corporations, 2011)
• design insights, following from the inspiration of bird flight for airplane and helicopter development, as discussed separately (Engendering a Psychopter through Biomimicry and Technomimicry: insights from the process of helicopter development, 2011)

Such arguments help to focus the questions as to whether NATO can learn to "swim" or "fly" in a global psychosocial system (Counteracting Extremes Enabling Normal Flying: insights for global governance from birds on the wing and the dodo, 2015).

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