Tk:parts

part definition

• a portion or division of a whole that is separate or distinct; piece, fragment, fraction, or section; constituent: the rear part of the house; to glue the two parts together.
• a constituent piece of a machine or tool either included at the time of manufacture or set in place as a replacement for the original piece.

component definition

• a constituent part; element; ingredient.
• a part of a mechanical or electrical system: hi-fi components.

• Distinguish parts which are significant from a design standpoint to fragments (broken glass example)
• Atomic theory, example of IBM spelled out in Xenon atoms with AFM.

• Examples of parts
  • Chemistry (functional groups) (reactions)
  • Mechanics (screws)
  • Electronics (resistors)
  • Architecture

Abstraction

• decomposition of complex structures into simpler pieces
• different ways to decompose depending on the goal
  • example: mechanical system (support structure) (power transfer)
• Structural composition
• Functional composition

Interfaces and standards

• standard methods of connecting one part to another
  • screws
  • lego blocks
  • electrical wiring
  • plumbing

Hierarchical abstraction

• Black boxes
• interfaces between boxes

Decorative components

Connectors

Flexibility

• modularity in service of facile change

Applying the notion of parts to biology