Yuval Port ugali Books

Exploring the relationship between Shannon and semantic information, this monograph reveals how both types of information influence cognition. It introduces the concept of information adaptation, where the mind/brain adjusts to environmental information through its quantitative variations and meanings. The authors illustrate their theories mathematically and conceptually, focusing on three cognitive processes: pattern recognition, face learning, and moving object recognition, demonstrating the dynamic interplay between information types in cognitive development.

The book presents a revolutionary perspective on urban planning, arguing that cities function as self-organizing systems. Juval Portugali draws on synergetics and detailed model calculations to explore the complexities of city dynamics. He highlights the historical evolution of urban planning and the challenges posed by modern megacities, emphasizing that traditional planning methods may no longer suffice. Through interdisciplinary connections, Portugali offers fresh insights into how we understand and engage with urban environments, making a compelling case for rethinking our approach to city development.

Today, our cities are an embodiment of the complex, historical evolution of knowledge, desires and technology. Our planned and designed activities co-evolve with our aspirations, mediated by the existing technologies and social structures. The city represents the accretion and accumulation of successive layers of collective activity, structuring and being structured by other, increasingly distant cities, reaching now right around the globe. This historical and structural development cannot therefore be understood or captured by any set of fixed quantitative relations. Structural changes imply that the patterns of growth, and their underlying reasons change over time, and therefore that any attempt to control the morphology of cities and their patterns of flow by means of planning and design, must be dynamical, based on the mechanisms that drive the changes occurring at a given moment. This carefully edited post-proceedings volume gathers a snapshot view by leading researchers in field, of current complexity theories of cities. In it, the achievements, criticisms and potentials yet to be realized are reviewed and the implications to planning and urban design are assessed.

Focusing on urban dynamics, this book presents a unique framework incorporating Synergetics, which examines cooperation and self-organization in cities. It intertwines information theory's semantic and pragmatic elements with optimization principles, while also addressing steady state maintenance and phase transitions to explore qualitative changes in urban structures and behaviors. This interdisciplinary approach provides fresh insights into the complexities of city life and development.

Exploring the intricate relationship between two mirrored cities, the narrative delves into the consciousness of their inhabitants who are acutely aware of their actions and reflections. This theme resonates with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, where both identities are intertwined in personal and collective experiences. The author shares a personal perspective as an Israeli, emphasizing that the conflict transcends politics and is deeply rooted in identity, memory, and awareness, reflecting the complexities of both Israeli and Palestinian narratives.