Understanding evolution in Internetware using a double pyramids model

One of the prominent properties of the Internetware Software Paradigm is its evolutionary characteristic. It is recognised that the evolution of software systems are driven by the needs of final users, and influenced by changes in the operational environments and technology advancement. The evolution of biological and social systems often forms a spiral incremental tendency where the changes are continuous, and stepwise. Inspired by the classical pyramid model of Maslow on Human needs, we propose to understand the evolution of software in the Internetware era with a double pyramid model. In other words, user's needs are gradually changing and their expectations to the system functionalities and qualities are getting higher; at the same time, more and more sophisticated software services become available, they provide richer functionalities, better qualities, more diversified choices, and more appealing user experiences. We first structure the development of user expectation and the capability of services as two separate pyramids, and then we define how the two pyramids interacts and influence each other within a co-evolution model. An example of Internetware system development is presented to illustrate how the co-evolution model helps shorten life cycle of system development and achieve high quality and efficiency at the same time.