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CyberneticWienerBy Waleed AbrarTodays AgendaBirth of CyberneticsWhat is CyberneticsCybernetics ConceptsCybernetics in PrincipalCybernetics focus on beings.Some ProblemsDevelopment in Field of cybernetics

2/13/20142History of CyberneticsMany years ago . . .

3Many years ago

The things a person had to understand to get through life were relatively uncomplicated.Relative Complication4The things a person had to understand to get through life were relatively uncomplicated

Every object or process, which we shall refer to as a system, was relatively simple. Objects & Processes5Every object or process, which we will refer to as a system, was relatively simple.In fact, up until the last few hundred years, it was possible for some people to master a significant portion of man's existing knowledge. Pg 118-119Knowledge Mastery

Leonardo DaVinci6In fact, up until the last few hundred years, it was possible for some people to master a significant portion of man's existing body of knowledge.Da Vinci Painting

Leonardo Da Vinci was a leader in the fields of painting . . .7Leonardo Da Vinci was a leader in the fields of painting . . .

. . . sculpture . . .Da Vinci, cont. Sculpture 8. . . sculpture . . .

. . . anatomy . . .Da Vinci, cont. Anatomy9. . . anatomy . . .

. . . architecture . . . Da Vinci, cont. Architecture10. . . architecture . . .

. . . weapons engineering, and . . .Da Vinci, cont. Weapons Engineering11. . . weapons engineering, and . . .

. . . aeronautical engineering. This is his sketch for a 16th century flying machine . . . Da Vinci, cont. Aeronautical Engineering12. . . aeronautical engineering. This is his sketch for a 16th century flying machine . . .

. . . and for a parachute in case the machine broke down.Da Vinci, cont. Aeronautical Engineering, cont.13. . . and for a parachute in case the machine broke down.

Pg-131&157 .As time passed, the systems that humans were concerned with became . . . ComplexitySystems Complexity14As time passed, the systems that humans were concerned with became . . .

. . . more and more complicated.Systems Complexity, cont.15. . . more and more complicated.

Transportation systems alone have become more complex . . . Systems Complexity, cont.16Transportation systems alone have become more complex . . .

. . . and more complex . . . Systems Complexity, cont.17. . . and more complex . . .. . . and more complex . . . Systems Complexity, cont.

18. . . and more complex . . .

. . . and more complex . . . Systems Complexity, cont.19. . . and more complex . . .

. . . as have energy systems.Systems Complexity, cont.20 . . . as have energy systems.

Some people have suggested that technology . . .Technology Advances21Some people have suggested that technology . . .

. . . is advancing so rapidly it . . . Technology Advances, cont.22. . . is advancing so rapidly it . . .

. . . is outpacing our ability to control it. Technology Advances, cont.Three Mile Island23. . . is outpacing our ability to control it.

Keeping up with Developments

Clearly, it is no longer possible for one person to keep up with developments in all fields, let alone be a leader in many of them, as Leonardo Da Vinci was.24Clearly, it is no longer possible for one person to keep up with developments in all fields, let alone be a leader in many of them, as Leonardo Da Vinci was.

Specialization has become a necessity. How then, do we live and work effectively in a technically advanced society? Pg-51How to Live and Work in a Technically Advanced Society?25Specialization has become a necessity. How then, do we live and work effectively in a technically advanced society?

Underlying Principles

Is there a way that you, the modern man or woman, can sort through the complexity, formulate a set of principles underlying all systems and thereby enhance your ability to regulate the world in which you live? Pg 3326Is there a way that you, the modern man or woman, can sort through the complexity, formulate a set of principles underlying all systems and thereby enhance your ability to regulate the world in which you live?

Cybernetics = Regulation of Systems Pg-61This question was of interest to a handful of people in the 1940s who were the pioneers in a field that has become known as Cybernetics, the science of the regulation of systems.Cybernetics = Regulation of Systems27This question was of interest to a handful of people in the 1940s who were the pioneers in a field that has become known as Cybernetics, the science of the regulation of systems.

Cybernetics is derived from the Greek word for steersman or helmsman, who provides the control system for a boat or ship.Pg 15Derivation of Cybernetics28Cybernetics is derived from the Greek word for steersman or helmsman, who provides the control system for a boat or ship.

This word was coined in 1948 and defined as a science by Norbert Wiener, who was born in 1894 and died in 1964. He became known as the Father of Cybernetics.Norbet Weiner

29This word was coined in 1948 and defined as a science by Norbert Wiener, who was born in 1894 and died in 1964. He became known as the Father of Cybernetics.

Wiener was an applied mathematician, biologist, and electrical engineer. He worked during World War II on the radar-guided anti-aircraft gun.[pg 148]Wiener Radar30Wiener was an applied mathematician, biologist, and electrical engineer. He worked during World War II on the radar-guided anti-aircraft gun.

He connected a special radar to the gun so that it was aimed automatically at the enemy aircraft. After the gun was fired, the radar quickly determined the changing location of the plane and re-aimed the gun until the plane was shot down.Weiner Radar, cont.31He designed the connection of a special radar to the gun so that it was aimed automatically at the enemy aircraft. After the gun was fired, the radar quickly determined the changing location of the plane and re-aimed the gun until the plane was shot down.

The system imitated human functions and performed them more effectively. Wiener Radar and Human Factor Imitation32The system imitated human functions and performed them more effectively.FeedbackThe anti-aircraft gun demonstrates the cybernetic principle of feedback. Feedback is information about the results of a process which is used to change the process. The radar provided information about the changes in location of the enemy airplane and this information was used to correct the aiming of the gun. Pg 15233The anti-aircraft gun demonstrates the cybernetic principle of feedback. Feedback is information about the results of a process which is used to change the process. The radar provided information about the changes in location of the enemy airplane and this information was used to correct the aiming of the gun.

A more familiar example of the use of feedback to regulate a system is the common thermostat for heating a room.Feedback Thermostat

34A more familiar example of the use of feedback to regulate a system is the common thermostat for heating a room.

Other Concepts in CyberneticsNow that we have touched on some of the key people, their interests, and their contributions, we shall look at a few additional concepts in cybernetics. 35Now that we have touched on some of the key people, their interests, and their contributions, we shall look at a few additional cybernetic concepts.

Law of Requisite VarietyOne important concept is the law of requisite variety. This law states that as a system becomes more complex, the controller of that system must also become more complex, because there are more functions to regulate. In other words, the more complex the system that is being regulated, the more complex the regulator of the system must be.Law of Requisite Variety

36One important concept is the law of requisite variety. This law states that as a system becomes more complex, the controller of that system must also become more complex, because there are more functions to regulate. In other words, the more complex the system that is being regulated, the more complex the regulator of the system must be.

Let's return to our example of a thermostat.Thermostat Example, Revisited

37Let's return to our example of a thermostat.

If a house has only a furnace, the thermostat can be quite simple since it controls only the furnace.Furnace = Simplicity38If a house has only a furnace, the thermostat can be quite simple since it controls only the furnace.

However, if the house has both a furnace and an air conditioner, the thermostat must be more complex it will have more switches, knobs, or buttons since it must control two processes both heating and cooling.Furnace + Air Conditioner = Complexity

39However, if the house has both a furnace and an air conditioner, the thermostat must be more complex it will have more switches and knobs since it must control two processes both heating and cooling.

The same principle applies to living organisms. Human beings have the most complex nervous system and brain of any of the animals. This allows them to engage in many different activities and to have complex bodies.Humans Most Complex Nervous System40The same principle applies to living organisms. Human beings have the most complex nervous system and brain of any of the animals. This allows them to engage in many different activities and to have complex bodies.

In contrast, some animals such as the starfish, . . . Starfish System41In contrast, some animals such as the starfish, . . .

. . . sea cucumber, . . . Sea Cucumber System42. . . sea cucumber, . . .

. . . and sea anemone have no centralized brain, but only a simple nerve network, which is all that is required to regulate the simpler bodies and functions of these sea animals. In summary, the more complex the animal, the more complex the brain needs to be. More Complex the Animal, the More complex the Brain43 . . . and sea anemone have no centralized brain, but only a simple nerve network, which is all that is required to regulate the simpler bodies and functions of these sea animals. In summary, the more complex the animal, the more complex the brain needs to be.

Second Order Cybernetics. . . began extending the application of cybernetics principles to understanding the role of the observer. This emphasis was called 'second-order cybernetics.'Second Order Cybernetics44. . . began extending the application of cybernetic principles to understanding the role of the observer. This emphasis was called 'second-order cybernetics.'

Whereas, first-order cybernetics dealt with controlled systems, second-order cybernetics deals with autonomous systems.Dealing with Autonomous Systems45Whereas, first-order cybernetics dealt with controlled systems, second-order cybernetics deals with autonomous systems.

Whereas, in the early days, cybernetics was generally applied to systems seeking goals defined for them, 'second-order' cybernetics refers to systems that define their own goals.Early Days Cybernetics = Systems Seeking Pre-Defined Goals46Whereas, in the early days, cybernetics was generally applied to systems seeking goals already defined for them, 'second-order' cybernetics refers to systems that define their own goals.

Messages As Measure Of Entropy2/13/201447Messages themselves a form of pattern and ororganization. Indeed,- it is possible to treat sets of messages as having an entropy like sets of states of the external world. pg2148Moral Boundaries-

Utilitarianism, Phenomenology, Virtue Ethics.Problem2/13/201449When I give an order to a machine, the situation is not essentially different from that which arises when I give an order to a person pg-16.Just as entropy tends to increase spontaneously in a closed system, so information tends to decrease; just as entropy is a measure of disorder, so information is a measure of order. Information and entropy are not conserved, and are equally unsuited to being commodities.pg 116References2/13/201450-The History and Development of Cybernetics .Washington University in Cooperation with The American Society for Cybernetics.- W. Ross Ashby (1956):An Introduction to Cybernetics, (Chapman & Hall, London): available electronically, Principia Cybernetica Web, 1999

Danke2/13/201451