COMS 340 Study Guide - Claude Shannon, Cybernetics, Bell System Technical Journal

• School: McGill University
• Department: Communication Studies
• Course: COMS 340
• Professor: Caroline Bem

Document Summary

Instead of wondering wether we"re the place where consciousness is. we"re wondering if there really is a seperation. some thinkers think they are correlated and some not. Etymology : kubernetes (greek) : helmsman/steerman kubernan (greek) / gubernare (latin) : to rule, govern. def: the study of communication and control in animals and machines biology + technology. Positive feedback is when the reaction exacerbates or enhances the change. all change can be seen as a product of positive feedback. => yelling fire in a movie theatre = people leave. Negative feedback designates the kinds of signals that keep a system working between fixed parameteres. Negative feedback counters change to maintain/ restore equilibrium. all change can be seen as a product of positive feedback. => self reinforcing feedback. negative feedback works against change, to keep things stable. => equilibrium as soon as the thermostat notices change within the environment it reacts accordingly.