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**__Art/Information Systems__**
 * Executive Summary:** This paper looks at some aspects of the application of art and mathematics to information systems. We first look at art and discuss some of the ways information systems are related to art and graphic art. We then look at math and the field of fractal geometry. Fractal geometry has many potential applications in the fields of science, biology, medicine and business.

Britannica defines art as “a visual object or experience consciously created through an expression of skill or imagination. The term art encompasses diverse media such as painting, sculpture, printmaking, drawing, decorative arts, photography, and installation.” One area one might study in the field of arts is graphic design. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the occupation of graphics design involves planning, analyzing and creating “visual solutions to communication problems”. Graphic designers use photography, illustration, animation and layout techniques to effectively communicate to a broad range of individuals. Graphic designers may be employed in various areas such as advertising, journalism, publishing, web design or computer graphics.

Although most individuals would not see a connection between information systems and art, in some instances the two go hand-in-hand. Since the 60’s there has been an increase in the use of information technology to create art. Many individuals in the field of art now use software to manipulate images/artwork and there has been an increase in computer based art known as digital art. Many artists now use the Internet to publish their work in order to reach as many individuals as possible. In the information technology field, art is involved in many areas such as software design, web design, computer animation, and gaming development.

Most graphic novels and graphic art are done on computers today (Prior). Art done on a computer can be stored more safely than art done on traditional media. More than one copy of a digital-art file can be made. Backup copies can be kept in different locations or on the web. Traditional media can be damaged much more easily. For example, a canvas can be easily damaged by water or by physical trauma. Over time, art on traditional media can fade. However, art on a computer can look just as good in the future as it does today. The canvas will not fade or become damaged. Art can also be transmitted much more easily via computer.

Computer graphics programs can be very complex. Someone interested in producing digital art would benefit from knowledge of computer systems and technology. In an interview with Rob Prior, a very successful graphic artist, he described a new project he is working on. It is a cutting edge combination of movies, games and comics. All of them will be combined into one computer program. For example, during the story, if a character is killed, the reader would actually have to wipe the screen to get the “blood” off the screen. After wiping the screen, the reader would be able to read more of the story (Prior).

**What is the field of mathematics?**

Mathematics was developed as a formal area of teaching and learning was by the Sumerians more than 5,000 years ago, with roots of mathematics being as much as 20,000 years old, it has been used as a tool by man throughout human history. Math is a discipline that is both broad and deep and is continuing to grow in both dimensions. Math is an important tool of learning like reading and writing, so useful that it is considered one of the “basics” in formal education. (Moursund)

Math is one of the oldest liberal arts and has long been used to teach students to think clearly and creatively. Math is a subject which is complex and encompasses many areas from simple addition to calculus as well as enlightens other disciplines as well. (“A Hallmark”) It is a diverse field and its study opens up doors to many careers. Aristotle has defined math as the “science of quantity”. It is a large field of study with many subfields such as functional analysis, algebraic geometry and many others. Each subfield has its own conceptual framework while still being part of mathematics. (“What is the foundation”)

Students and many teachers tend to define math in terms of what they learn in courses. Instructional and assessment focus tends to be on basic skills and solving simple problems using those skills but this is only part of mathematics. The issue of higher-order skills versus basic skills is very important. Questions remain on how much instructional time should be spent on higher-order skills such as problem posing, representation, solving complex problems and transferring math skills and knowledge to non-math disciplines. (Moursund)

**What areas in math might one study?**

Math is such a broad field and some examples of areas of study are shown by examining course offerings at University of California Davis. UC Davis offers three majors where the description helps to define the field. (“Mathematics Undergrad”)

The first Major is Mathematics which is designed for students to learn the abstract way of thinking that mathematics offers. The major has two general paths; the first is for careers in secondary teaching and the other is a path to those leading to a continued study of math in grad school for those who will have careers based in math. (“Mathematics Undergrad”)

The second major is Mathematics and Scientific Computation which also has two paths; one for those who will be concentrating in Computational and Mathematical Emphasis for a focus on mathematics in computer science and the other is Computational and Mathematical Biology for a focus on mathematics in biology. (“Mathematics Undergrad”)

The Applied Mathematics major is for students who are pursuing careers such as engineering or applied sciences. (“Mathematics Undergrad”)

**Why is math Interesting?** One reason that mathematics is interesting is because that in its pure form, it is beautiful. The beauty of mathematics is often talked about by mathematicians in the sense of a particular proof or mathematical result. (Moursund) The patterns of a mathematician must be beautiful, just as the patterns of a poet or painter are beautiful. The ideas developed, like the colors of a painter or the words of a poet must fit together in a harmonious way. (Hardy 12) There is no permanent place for ugly mathematics. (Hardy 14) When contemplating mathematics, the first thoughts of many are on the greatest achievements in the field such as Einstein’s famous formula for the calculation of energy potential in mass, E=MC2 or possibly one of Newton’s foundational formulas of physics, F = MA. These are formulas that have cracked the code of our physical world and will probably never be forgotten in all of human history. Math has intrigued the world’s greatest thinkers and even somebody with basic math skills who are able to do the equivalent of add three digit numbers in your head quickly will impress many, almost as if it were magic. There are few subjects that are more popular than mathematics while most people enjoy some appreciation. (Hardy 15) Mathematical theorems can be thought provoking; even outside of the world of mathematics as theorems of Euclid and Pythagoras have shown to be. (Hardy 22)

Math plays an essential part in modern society as well as in our daily lives. Most of the modern conveniences that we take for granted exist either solely because of or have strong foundations in math. Without mathematics, our structures would not stand our computers would not exist, our planes would not fly and our boats would not float. Math is everywhere. It is universal, thought provoking and permanent, that’s what makes the field of mathematics interesting.

**Careers in math**

The number of careers available for math majors are both numerous and diverse. Because math relates to so many other subjects a major in math leads to many career possibilities. Some examples of mathematics-related professions are actuaries, statisticians, and mathematics teachers. Potential careers in science that are highly influenced by math are research scientists, environmental mathematicians, geophysical mathematicians, and ecologists. Those who would like to pursue a career in education could be a mathematics professor or a mathematics teacher. A major in math can lead to a career in engineering and pursue a being a geomatics, civil or robotics engineer. Also, a math major could pursue a profession in the tech field as a computer scientist, work in design or an inventory strategist. (“Why Choose”)

There are many employers of math professionals. Some examples of specific employers are the Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Census Bureau, Ford Motor Company, IBM Corporation, U.S. Department of Energy, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the National Security Agency. (“Why Choose”)

__MATHEMATICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY__

 * [[image:fractal-fingers.jpg width="238" height="231"]] || == FRACTAL GEOMETRY ==

AND VALUE SKILLS
||

Mathematics and Information Systems share a relationship that goes back to the beginnings of computational theory. From Charles Babbage’s’ calculating Difference Machine and George Boole’s conceptual foundation for machine logic - known today as Boolean algebra - mathematical underpinnings led to the ‘thinking’ circuitry of today’s computers.(Berlinghoff and Gouvêa) By handling the logical ‘1’s’ and ‘0’s’, first through the use of relays and vacuum tubes and then with semiconductor technology, gave rise to computers that could handle the mathematical queries given to it. Berlinghoff, et.al, discuss three ways Information Technology (IT) has changed mathematics. IT gives mathematicians the tools to test theorems and discover new results, freeing the mathematician to discern whether a proof can be determined from the calculations. Secondly, IT has taken away the computational content of solving algebra systems in education and industry, necessitating a refocusing of curriculum and workflow processes. Not unlike Coy’s comment that “routinized”(Coy) jobs are disappearing, computations by hand have been overshadowed by computer algebra systems. As a result curriculums are changing to reflect the shift by reducing the importance of hand calculation and focusing more on the theoretical rigors. Finally, IT provides the numerical computation muscle to deliver approximate results for equations, as in the case of applied mathematics where precise description of situations may be too complex for rigorous solutions. It has also impacted the study of pure mathematics, as in the case of fractal research, and IT has opened a whole new field for mathematicians and will elaborate more on the topic here.

The field of Information Systems has had a direct relationship to the development of the field of fractal mathematics. Once seen as “horrendously complicated and impossible to deal with,”(Berlinghoff and Gouvêa 57) the collaboration of mathematics and IT’s computational power allowed fractal equations to be visualized, spawning the whole field of fractal mathematical research. Vice-President Al Gore stated in 2000 "I find the ideas in the fractals, both as a body of knowledge and as a metaphor, an incredibly important way of looking at the world."(Frame) This is borne out in the outpouring of academic research in fractal studies. According to Oxford mathematician Carlos Escudero, studies of fractals in curved space helps to “understand important phenomena such as crystal and tumor growth.” It is hoped at by developing fractal models of how tumors grow, the researcher can devise a “control strategy (that) could be targeted in trying to slow down and even stop the growth.” (Wilton) The same modeling can even be used to understand how semiconductor material is grown and use the same control strategies to obtain smoother surfaces in the growth process. Here we have the situation of using fractal computer modeling to develop more efficient computer components.

Another natural combination of the fields of art/mathematics and computers is the field of fractals. Classical geometric shapes, such as spheres, cones and cubes rarely occur in nature (Wilson). Fractal geometry is much better suited to describe shapes that occur in nature, such as the branching of a river delta or the shape of a cloud (Wilson). “The word ‘fractal’ comes from the Latin word ‘frangere’ (with past participle ‘fractus’) which means ‘to break’, ‘’to destroy’.” “Fractals arise in many diverse areas, from the complexity of natural phenomenon to the dynamic behavior of mathematical systems (Wilson).” Many artists make fractal art (Wilson). Computers can be used by artists to make fractal art.

Fractals also have application in medicine. For example, patients who are at risk for sudden death, fractal organization breaks down (Goldberg). In the future, this may help doctors predict sudden cardiac death (Goldberger). “Fractal forms are composed of sub-units (and sub-sub-units, etc) that resemble the structure of the overall object (Goldberger).” In a healthy person, under certain conditions, a human heart beat will have “a type of complex variability associated with long-range (fractal) correlations (Goldberg).” This “appears to degrade in characteristic ways with aging and disease (Goldberg).” These changes reduce the ability of an individual to adapt. The changes in fractals and “non-linear breakdown” can be quantified (Goldberg).” In other words, a combination of math (fractals and other mathematical modeling such as time series) and information systems may help doctors diagnose human heart beats.

Fractal-like structures are found in other places in human physiology. They can be found in the tree-like structure in the branching of arteries and veins (Goldberger). They can be found in the bronchial tree in lungs. They can be found in the branching of the nervous system and nutrient absorption systems in the bowel (Goldberger). They can also be found in the His-Purkinje system in the heart. The His-Purkinje system is part of the electrical conduction system in the heart. This system is crucial in maintaining a heartbeat. This just scratches the surface of potential applications of fractals to biology and medicine. This combination of math, biomedical science and information systems will likely grow in the future.

IT-enabled fractal geometry also brings value skills to the business enterprise through fractal-enhanced computer applications. Spivey, et.al, describe a fractal paradigm for improving the new product development (NPD) process for high-technology products. Using the fractal concept of self-similarity, core process factors of management factors and resource factors can be envisioned across all levels of the organization “to ensure successful commercialization of new products.” (Spivey, Munson and Wolcott) Any process that can improve time-to-market strategies will give a business an advantage over competitors and the IT professional that understands the mathematical basis of such changes brings important value skills to their position. The software developers of database software vendor Tokutek designed a storage engine that replaces MySQL's default storage engine and instead “uses fractal tree indexing, a technique optimized for speedy index insertion.”(Jackson) Instead of having to stop a database to change queries, the fractal modeled engine allows “organizations to build targeted queries or revise a data model on the fly.”

As can be seen from the cross-influence of fractal mathematics and IT, the future of the successful IT professional resides with “customer-centric”(Denning and Dunham) skill development. Denning states this “third-wave professional” will combine technical skills and value skills to deliver results based on the interests of the customer, not the producer. As self-evident as this may seem, many projects fail as a result of not addressing this issue.(Hoffman; Napier, Keil and Tan) By embracing this symbiosis of technology and value skills the IT professional becomes a partner in the customer’s success and each party comes away richer for the effort. Fractals, as Gore stated “may be an incredibly important way of looking at the world,” but the cooperative effort may be just the tip of a new work paradigm making IT “the first profession of the third wave.”(Denning and Dunham)

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