From metaphor towards paradigm — A computing roadmap of digital ecosystems

Metaphors from biological ecosystems emerge in a wide range of leading computing areas and applications of digital ecosystems. The diversified use of these metaphors in different application domains of digital ecosystems varies between computing areas and shapes their interventions. This paper reviews these application interventions of various computing areas as a qualitative approach to outline a roadmap of digital ecosystems from a metaphor towards a mature scientific paradigm. This roadmap is illustrated through five propositions to current practice. The proposed roadmap envisions digital ecosystems as a collaborative coordination environment and platform for computing interventions.