Arne Kjellman

– at work

Earlier as a researcher at the Department of Information Technology and Media at Mid-Sweden University, and present as a freelance researcher, I has devoted my professional life to the study of modeling and simulation in a wide area of application – ranging from “hard” sciences like mathematics, physics and computer science via cybernetics to the “softer” social sciences.

In 1965, I was head of the Quality Control Department at the former Granges Aluminum (present RUSAL)– an aluminum smelter in Sundsvall where I developed the methods of metal analysis using semi-automatic spectrometers – so called quantometers. In particular I developed and installed the first computer assisted quantometer for the analysis of aluminum alloys in Europe.

In 1967, I organized an industrial and theoretical research program for direct computer control of aluminum smelters – there my work had a special emphasis on measurement, signal transmission, and control theory and process simulation. This project was a joint government founded research effort involving Dept. of Control Theory at Chalmers Institute of Technology, Gothenburg and Dept. of Development at Granges Aluminum in Sundsvall. This research project also had some obvious connections to the new cybernetic movement that was rather strong at that time. A full-scale application of a computer control system for aluminum smelter production was implemented following the year 1972.

In 1973 I developed and organized the first courses in Computer Process Control and Computer Hardware at Umea University that were launched in Sundsvall, which also marks the starting point of the activities of the becoming Mid-Sweden University. At that time I was also involved in industrial computer simulation for the forestry industry – in particular SCA.

During 1973 – 1984, I was lecturer and head of the Dept. of Computer Science and Process Control – also doing research on modeling and computer simulation. During 1980 -1984 I developed a system for automatic data collection and transmission via the public electric supply networks – which is still in use by Sydkraft today.

In 1988, I joined the Dept. of System Sciences at the College University of Sundsvall as a lecturer and head of the multimedia labs. This was an opportunity to broaden my scientific experience approaching the social sciences and devote his interest to the use of mathematical modeling and computer simulation also in these areas of application. My connection to and interest in the cognitive sciences and consciousness studies emerged during this period… Over the years, I has devoted my interest to physics – and in particular measurement applications using digital computers. My research in modelling, human conceptualization and computer simulation came as a natural extension of my interests in measurements, industrial process control and programming touching diverse areas that can be rougly divided in physics, measurement theory, control theory and application, as well as cybernetics, signal transmission and communication assisted by mathematical and conceptual modelling, computer simulation process control and programming.

In 1991, I was given the opportunity to spend most of my time doing research on modeling and simulation on Mid-Sweden University, a research approach that during the years via chaos theory and the cognitive sciences seriously has begun to question the Newtonian paradigm and the prevailing realist’s doctrine – including its somewhat uncritical claims to scientific objectivity.

In 1995 I took interest in and started to develop the Subject-Oriented Approach to Knowledge as a reaction to the prevailing and rather one-sided object-oriented (or realistic) approach. The last years I have has been working hard busy consolidating and documenting the ideas – also trying to display out the obvious connections between hermeneutics, phenomenology, mathematical modeling and quantum physics.

I claim these ideas entail an overthrowing shift of paradigm in human thinking – totally agreement with quantum theory – but developed in quite a different way. These ideas are not new, but are to my mind for the first time worked out carefully and couched in a language acceptable to both the hard and soft sciences.

In conclusion my research has via chaos theory and computer simulation the last years turned more towards the cognitive sciences and consciousness studies including a keen interest in the philosophy of science and the nature of mind. For some years in the 1990-ties I was also busy elaborating the theoretical foundations of modern learning theory, pedagogics and distance education.

Belonging to ISA’s research group RC 51 on Socio-cybernetic I still continue my research after retirement. First associated to the Department of Systems and Computer Science at Stockholm University, however in 2018 the time was ripe to start the non-profit organization Bogg-Hans’ Kingdom based in Njurunda, Sundsvall, Sweden, where I am currently President.