From the monthly archives:

October 2009

Feedback and levels of description, or: What MPEG2 compression can teach you about cybernetics and epistemology

by Seth on October 30, 2009

A fellow student pointed out recently to me that compression algorithms are an excellent way to see feedback at work, and used the example of mpeg2 video compression.  Here we have a system that utilizes multiple levels of abstraction and feedback in order to efficiently compress video data.
I will give you a picture or two [...]

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Looking into an X-Ray mirror

by Seth on October 27, 2009

If I had X-Ray vision I might see this were I to look into a mirror…
You can make out quite a few interesting features. Apparently my first cervical vertebrae never fully closed… so part of my spine is ‘open’ (okay you can’t tell that from this image, but you CAN from my CT [...]

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Cybernetics of problems and solutions – an exercise in thinking complexly

by Seth on October 26, 2009

First-order Solution:

The problem and the solution share an epistemological context, each helping drive the other.
Second ‘phase’ (to the right): In this context ‘more of the solution’ creates ‘more of the problem’ through a symmetrical relationship. The SAME problem is produced by the SAME solution. No real transformation is forthcoming from within the system, because it [...]

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Inside My Head 3 – Sagittal CT Scan

by Seth on October 25, 2009

Here is the final view inside my head, showing a number of suspiciously empty spaces… hmmmmm.

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Inside My Head 2 – Axial CT Scan

by Seth on October 24, 2009

Well, things wouldn’t be complete unless I included the other two missing dimensions. Unfortunately, these three dimensions will only reveal an extremely minimal amount of information about the marbles rattling around in my noggin. To get a sense for the many more dimensions that I inhabit, you’d have to read through this blog [...]

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