Springer Changes and Innovations in Social Systems: 505 (Studies in Systems, Decision and Control, 505)

This book presents challenges and innovations in social problems over the centuries. By their nature, human beings are innovative and continuously adapted to appeared changes over the time. From this point of view, human history can be considered as the story of all changes and innovations which have drastically influenced our way of life. Changes and innovations are normal things in the way of adaptation and are necessary conditions for survival along the time. Changes and innovations are hard and long-term processes. Any progress in history is the result of changes and innovations. To innovate, changes are required: in the culture, in the education, in the way of working, in the way of think, etc. In the same time, innovations imply changes, and changes usually generate reactions. Innovations are always oriented to the future and, in turn, imply changes. From here, the race of evolution was born. Changes require effort, generate resistance but, in the same time, increase performance in almost all domains, and increase vision and leadership; therefore, the progress is obtained. To grew up as a field and provide changes, innovations need to present its theoretical foundations which make sense of the domains on which they are applied. To emphasize the above aspects, the proposed book presents some aspects regarding, but not only limited, to: computer science (new theoretical and practical applications); mathematics (mathematical models, all mathematical results which can improve or are inspired from another known results, some aspects regarding history of mathematics, etc.); education, etc. The chapters of the book present the state of arts of the chosen subjects, from its beginning, its developments, and its applications, by emphasizing the connection with the application or model that the authors have chosen for the presentation.