Utility of Data Stream's Subjective Dimensions (Time & Space)
Info Space & Time Internal & Flexible: Physical Space & Time External & Fixed
In a prior paper we introduced the notions of Info Space & Info Time in the Living Algorithm System. The limits (parameters) of both of these foundational constructs are based upon the data stream they belong to. There are an infinite number of data streams, each with their own dimensions. The dimensions of these data streams might even evolve. Accordingly Info Space and Time are internal and subjective constructs. This is in direct contrast with physical Space and Time. These fundamental notions are external and objective.
All Biological Systems regularly employ subjective Info Space & Time
You might wonder what utility these internal and flexible constructs could possibly have? Yet, each of us employs these subjective constructs to help us make decisions countless times every day of our lives. In fact, it is only with death that we quit performing this ceaseless activity. Let’s ground this abstract discussion with a concrete everyday example.
Senses organize Raw Data into Digested Streams
As soon as we wake up in the morning, our senses immediately begin digesting a multitude of data streams. For instance the eyes, ears, and skin digest a multitude of visual, auditory and tactile data streams. Roughly speaking, each organ processes the ongoing raw data stream to create an ongoing digested data stream. The function of this digestion process is to glean information from the raw data. Accordingly, the digested data stream is the organized or refined version of the raw data stream. A simple example is that our eyes digest the electromagnetic spectrum to give us the impression of the color blue, or on more complex levels, recognition of your mother’s face.
Dimensions of Info Space & Time based upon Organism's Processing Ability
Each of the myriad data streams has its own spatial and temporal dimensions, which are entirely based upon the ability of the organ to process information. The speed with which information is processed is connected with info time. The range the information encompasses corresponds with info space. When we are groggy or drugged, the speed with which we process information slows down, and when we are excited, adrenaline quickens our processing time. Hence info time is flexible and subjective, as it is based upon the data stream that the organism digests. The same holds true for info space. When we pay attention to a sense, any sense, the dimensions of the data stream increase. As such, we hear more, see more, or smell more. Info space is just as subjective and flexible as info time.
Brain creates 'Objective External Reality' from 'Subjective Internal Reality'
Despite the subjective, internal, and flexible notions of info space and time associated with each of myriad data streams, our central processing system turns these organized data streams into composite data streams. These composite data streams convey the notion of an objective external material reality that we heed in order to survive. The organism’s senses combine with the brain to provide us with the mental image of a 3 dimensional space where objects move over time. This internal image is so consistent that we call it reality. Yet this composite is constructed from myriad personal data streams, whose internal dimensions are subjective, elastic and variable.
Biological Redundancy Logic
Redundancy Loops to establish accuracy
How does the central processor create an external, objective reality of space and time from these digested, organized data streams with their variable, subjective sense of info space and time?
Simple. Redundancy loops. All the organized information from the myriad data streams is checked against each other for accuracy. In a similar way, we will verify a questionable story we’ve heard by examining a variety of versions from multiple sources. Further we weight the veracity of each source to make our eventual determination as to whether we believe the story or not. Generally, scientists have a high veracity quotient, while drunken people are not considered as trustworthy. In a similar fashion our brain takes all the organized information from all the individually digested data streams and makes an educated guess about the nature of reality.
Educated guesses employed to make decisions about Physical & Psychological Reality
In general, the brain’s guesses about physical reality are so good that we call them objective. In general, the brain’s educated guesses about psychological reality aren’t so good, so we call them subjective. However, these educated guesses, whether about the external objective material reality or the internal subjective psychological reality, are very useful. We regularly employ these educated guesses to make behavioral decisions – for instance whether to fight, flight, eat or make love. Most importantly, these educated guesses are all we have. No matter how shaky and subjective our sources are, this limited information is better than nothing.
Despite differences, Space & Time useful Constructs for Physical & Info System
The point of this long-winded introduction is simple. Despite their internal, flexible, and subjective nature, info space and time are very useful constructs that biological systems employ to create notions of an objective external reality and a subjective psychological reality. The underlying constructs, space and time, in the two systems have entirely different features. This is because we are dealing with entirely different, yet complementary, universes, which are appropriate to their respective systems. Having reviewed the importance of info space and time, let’s see how they link up with info velocity and acceleration.
Understanding Info Space & Time crucial to understanding of Info Velocity & Acceleration
The foregoing analysis of data stream (info) space and time is independent of the Living Algorithm. We could almost say that our claims are unassailable, as they are self-evident features of living systems. In fact, they are such obvious claims that one might wonder why we even wasted the verbiage. One reason only: these basic notions supply the foundations for data stream velocity and acceleration, which are important features of the Living Algorithm System of Information Digestion. An understanding of velocity and acceleration is crucial if we are to grasp dynamics, whether matter or information based. And an understanding of dynamics is equally essential, if we are to understand the behavior of the external world of matter or the internal world of information, as defined by the Living Algorithm.
Stunning Architecture of Dynamics
Beauty of Newtonian Dynamics: Architecture applies to Matter & Information
Newton’s System of Dynamics is beautiful in many ways. The architectural nature is stunning. The basic elements of space, time and matter are combined in relatively straightforward ways to create some incredibly powerful constructs. Another beauty of the Newtonian System is that it applies to both material systems and the Living Algorithm’s Info System. Accordingly these powerful constructs, which are built from the ground up, so to speak, inform us about the behavior of both the external physical world and the internal world of information. Quite amazing, if I do say so myself. The essence of elegant simplicity.
Architecture of Dynamics built on Space, Time, & Matter
We intend to share this mathematical architecture with you. This discussion is not aimed at math and science majors, but is instead meant for the intelligent public. Our basic aim is to examine how the fundamental elements of space, time, and matter are organized to create the system of dynamics that underlies both the material world and the Living Algorithm.
Velocity: First Floor
Our architecture starts with Velocity, the ground floor of our building. Velocity is defined as the change in location in space relative to the change in time. Velocity is represented algebraically as a ‘v’. The change in location is represented as ∆d and the change in time as ∆t. Note the triangle ∆ is the Greek letter ‘delta’ and represents ‘rate of change’. The relationship between these three elements is shown below.
v = ∆d/∆t
The notions of distance (d) and time (t) in the above equation are rates of change, as indicated by the ∆. We have included the ∆ in this equation to emphasize this particular characteristic. Typically, mathematicians leave the ∆ out of the equation altogether, as they already know that distance and time are inherently rates of change. This simplified version is shown below.
v = d/t.
Speed limits are velocities. In general, the fastest speed or velocity (v) that we can legally drive our cars is 65 miles (∆d) per hour (∆t). Velocity (v), whether information-based or material, is a function (ƒ) of distance traveled (d) and time (t).
v = ƒ (d, t)
Let's see what the first story of our Dynamics Building looks like. Velocity is the first story with Time & Distance, the foundations.
Acceleration: 2nd Floor
The 2nd story in our building is Acceleration. Acceleration (a) is the rate of change in Velocity (v) over Time (t):
a = v/t
Remember velocity is also a rate of change (distance traveled over time: v = d/t). We can therefore say that acceleration is rate of change of a rate of change. This mathematical equivalency is expressed as follows.
a = (d/t)/t
a =d/t2
Velocity (v) and Acceleration (a) are both composite measures based upon distance traveled & time. In mathematical terminology, acceleration, like velocity, is a function (ƒ) of distance and time.
a = ƒ (d, t)
Let's check out our second floor:
The relationship between the fundamental constructs of velocity and acceleration is identical in the Dynamics of both the Living Algorithm System of Information and Newton’s System of Matter.
A Car accelerates onto freeway until achieving cruising velocity
Acceleration is commonly experienced when we drive our car onto the freeway from a stoplight. We must change our velocity from 0 MPH to 65 MPH in about 10 seconds. To perform this feat we put our foot on the accelerator. The car with its inhabitants accelerates until it reaches cruising speed. At this point the car is not accelerating any more because the velocity is not changing anymore.
Physical Difference between Acceleration & Velocity
Note the physical difference. When we accelerate we are pushed back in our seats, no matter how fast we are going. When the velocity of the car is constant (no acceleration) there is no pressure whatsoever, no matter how fast we are going. Even though jets fly at hundreds of miles per hour, we feel no pressure after the jet reaches cruising speed because the velocity is not changing. Hence there is no acceleration. The physical sensations of velocity and acceleration are entirely different. This difference in kind rather than degree is significant for our continuing discussion of data stream dynamics.
Mass crucial foundation to reach higher floors
It is now that our architecture gets interesting. So far the foundation of our building only consists of two elements – distance (d) and time (t). The relationship between these two changing elements creates the notions of both velocity (v) and acceleration (a). These are the simplest composite elements because they are based upon just two components. The rest of the composite constructs are 3 dimensional in the sense that they are based upon all three foundational constructs. The missing ingredient is simple. For something to change location it must have substance, a resistance to change (inertia), a weight or mass (m). Neither space nor time moves. In our everyday world they are fixed elements. We can talk about velocity and acceleration in abstract terms, but for them to occur, they need physical mass.
We have dealt with Info Space & Time and their relationship with Info Velocity & Acceleration. In order to deal with the remaining ‘floors’ in our Dynamics Building, we must first tackle the notion of Info Mass.
Info Mass = Attention
Without Mass, Velocity & Acceleration are mere abstractions.
Physical velocity and acceleration do not exist unless there is a mass that moves. We can graph and plot imaginary velocities and accelerations, but until an object is actually propelled forward, they are just abstractions with no basis in our reality. Similarly, we can plot imaginary graphs of data stream velocity and acceleration, but they too are abstractions unless there is a perceiver. The Creative and Triple Pulse are graphs of data stream acceleration. However, they have no connection to our reality without a participant who observes the data stream.
Organism’s perception of Data Stream conveys meaning.
An organism must perceive a data stream before it acquires pragmatic meaning. Otherwise, the data stream remains a sequence of meaningless instants. This perception doesn’t have to be conscious. In fact, most data streams are perceived on sub or pre-conscious levels. Of course, when they reach consciousness they become special, as we shall see. We will define the simple perception of a data stream, whether on conscious, subconscious, or preconscious levels, as attention.
Mass of Attention powers Data Stream Dynamics
Attention, as the mere perception of a data stream, is the Data Stream Mass that is required to power the Living Algorithm’s Info System. Without attention, the auditory data streams fall on deaf ears, the visual data streams fall on blind eyes, and the tactile data streams fall on numb skin. Nothing happens. Attention’s perception differentiates physical systems from biological systems. Physical systems do not perceive data streams. In contrast, biological systems must by necessity constantly pay attention to environmental data streams in order to survive.
External Mass Fixed & Objective, Internal Mass Variable & Subjective
We mentioned that Physical Space & Time are objective and fixed, while the dimensions of Info Space & Time are subjective and elastic. Similarly, Physical Mass is fixed and objective, while the Info Mass of Attention is variable and subjective. The degree of Attention is influenced by many factors, including the time of day, the level of intoxication, and the 10-minute rule, to name a few.
Contrasting Features complement respective Systems
These contrasting features (subjective/elastic vs. objective/fixed) of space, mass and time are appropriate to their respective systems. In closed physical systems, indestructible matter moves automatically through continuous space and time without any choices to make. In contrast, variable Attention shifts from one data stream’s environment to another, seeking out what is most pertinent at any given moment.
Mass provide Pragmatic Substance to respective Systems
Mass provides pragmatic substance to physical velocity and acceleration. In similar fashion, attention provides pragmatic substance to info velocity and acceleration. Without mass or attention, velocity and acceleration are empty abstractions devoid of meaning. We speak of the velocity and acceleration of some type of object, which has mass. Similarly we speak of the velocity and acceleration of attention.
Force is the result of the interaction between Mass & Acceleration
Force = Mass times Acceleration
This leads us to our next Newtonian construct, Force. This amazing idea is one of Newton's crown jewels. Force is an emergent property of the interaction between Mass and Acceleration. In essence, Mass transforms Acceleration into Force. This is the classic equation of Newtonian mechanics. It applies equally to both material systems and the biological info system based upon the Living Algorithm.
F = m * a
Physical Mass: How many protons and neutrons an object consists of
Of course when a Physicist talks about Mass, he is primarily talking about how many elementary particles (protons and neutrons) an object has. The interaction of gravity with this primal substance, of which all matter consists, gives us the weight of an object - that number we see when we step with trepidation onto the bathroom scale. In this sense our common notion of weight is similar to mass.
Mass of Attention transforms Data Stream Acceleration into Force of Attention
In contrast, Attention cannot be weighed, as it is not subject to physical forces, such as gravity. However, just as Physical Mass transforms Acceleration into a Physical Force, so does the Mass of Attention transform the Acceleration of a Data Stream into the Force of Attention. Without the Mass of Attention, Data Stream Acceleration is a meaningless construct, a useless abstraction, without any pragmatic utility. Without Physical Mass, Acceleration is equally useless – an idea without purpose. However, the result of the interaction of the two constructs of Mass and Acceleration is Force. Just as understanding Physical Force allows us to understand the interactions of the material world, so does understanding the Force of Attention allow us to understand the interactions of the information world.
Force introduced as adjunct to Mass
We will explore the topic of Force in more depth in the next article. The concept of Force is introduced here as it is intimately connected with mass, the topic of the current article. Without either mass or acceleration there is no force. This is true of both Newton's material system and the Living Algorithm's Info System.
Mathematics of Dynamics specializes in Rates of Change (Derivatives)
Mass, as an inert entity without direction or motion, provides the third foundation to the architecture of dynamics. However a system of dynamics requires change. This change occurs when Mass moves through Space over Time (Distance traveled). Distance and Time are the other foundations of our architecture. The architecture of dynamics is shown in the following diagram.
Force (the 3rd Floor) applies equally to Dynamics of Information and Matter
Changes in location over time provide us with the first floor of our structure - Velocity. Changes in velocity over time provide us with our 2nd floor – Acceleration. The acceleration of mass provides us with our 3rd floor – Force. Amazingly enough, these relationships between Newton's constructs apply equally to the dynamics of matter and the dynamics of information.
Observer/Attention & Participant/Mass have Different Roles
Observer required for material systems to have relevance to Living systems.
Just as velocity is merely an abstraction without mass, physical dynamics is just an abstraction without Life. If a dynamical system is to have any relevance to living systems, there must be both something that changes and also something that perceives that change. In other words, a system of dynamics for living systems requires both a Participant in the changes and an Observer of the changes.
Matter, the Participant, & Attention, the Observer, obey the same Laws of Dynamics
Physical Matter is the Participant. This includes the Body of the Observer as well as the Substance of the Environment. Physical dynamics does a great job of characterizing the behavior of Matter. Attention is the Observer. This treatise is aimed at demonstrating that the dynamics of Information does a great job of characterizing the behavior of Attention. Amazingly, the dynamics of matter and information are founded on identical interactions between Newton's core constructs. The same mathematics of dynamics illustrates the innate nature of the rates of changes in both systems.
Same relationships, but Features of Foundations entirely different
As mentioned, Matter and Information share an identical dynamic structure in common, as shown above. However, the 3 foundations of time, space, and mass, in each system belong to orthogonal (perpendicular) universes (shown at right). Accordingly, they have very different features. The intersection of these unique universes is our common field of action – the play of matter and life. The dynamical transformations that we are discussing determine the rules of this interaction.
Attention's Function to alert Organism of Changes in the Automatic Behavior of Matter.
The fundamental nature of the differences between the two orthogonal universes is easy to articulate. Attention, the Observer, perceives the process; Mass, the Participant, engages in it. When the two planes intersect the Observer & Participant are in the same Game – Living Reality. Even though they intersect, they maintain unique functions and features, as we would expect from the difference in their roles. The function of Attention (the Observer) is to provide the Organism with information regarding significant environmental changes – that is the behavior of Matter (the Participant).
Matter/Participant passively automatic; Attention/Observer active in decisions.
Luckily for Attention, Matter plays by very strict rules, so strict that they are frequently called laws. In fact, Matter’s behavior is so regular that it appears to be automatic. Attention provides the Organism with information about Matter’s behavior. With this information the Organism makes choices that will maximize the chances of survival. The Participant is passive in the sense that his behavior is automatic, while the Observer is active in the decision-making capacity – a reversal of the usual relationship.
Yin-Yang graph of Attention/Observer and Matter/Participant
The relationship between these two essences of Living Reality is shown in the graph at the right. The traditional yin/yang symbol is a good representation of the relationship between the two essences. The black fish with the white eye represents Attention, while the interlocking white fish with the black eye represents Matter. Attention and Matter interact, but don't mix. However, the black dot in the white fish indicates that Attention subtly influences the behavior of Matter; while the white dot in the black fish indicates that Attention responds to the behavior of Matter. In essence the living relationship between Attention and Matter is based upon two interacting dynamical systems, not just one as is traditionally assumed. Both systems of dynamics have the same architecture.
Traditional Dynamics focuses on Participant: Info Dynamics upon Observer
So far those who study Dynamics have focused exclusively upon the automatic rules that govern Matter, the Participant. This mathematical study looks at the rules that govern Attention, the Observer.
Conclusions concerning Data Stream Mass
This article introduced us to the 3rd foundational component of data stream dynamics – data stream mass. A prior article introduced us to data stream space and time, the other foundations. Due to the major differences in their respective roles in the dynamics of matter and information, each system has notions of mass, time, and space that are unique to their respective universes.
Subjective constructs of Information Universe determine Objective constructs of Physical Universe
In the physical universe the 3 fundamental constructs are extremely objective. In the information universe, as defined by the Living Algorithm, these same 3 fundamental constructs are relatively subjective. This subjectivity is not a problem. In fact, it characterizes a significant difference between biological and material systems. Living systems, as information digesters, are constantly digesting data streams with subjective dimensions to create the perception of an objective external reality. This transformational process from subjective to objective occurs via, what we choose to call, redundancy logic. Cross checking results from myriad data streams creates redundancy loops that throw out ‘false’ information and pass on ‘true’ information.
Space, Time, and Mass are the foundation for the Architecture of Dynamics
The three fundamental constructs of both universes are space, time, and mass. They provide the foundations for the stunning architecture of dynamics. This architecture applies to the dynamics of both matter and information. Changes in time and space combine to create the 1st floor - Velocity. Changes in velocity over time create the 2nd floor – Acceleration. Mass is required to build the 3rd floor – Force.
Mass of Attention & Matter provides Substance for Velocity & Acceleration
Physical mass is well understood as the number of protons and neutrons an object consists of. But the crucial function of mass, in this context, is that it gives meaning to the otherwise abstract concepts of velocity and acceleration. Velocity and acceleration both need agents to exist. Standing alone, they are mere abstractions. Matter serves that function in material systems. Attention provides that function in the Living Algorithm’s Info System. Without the perception of Attention, a data stream is meaningless. Attention provides substance to data streams. Without Attention a data stream is a mere abstraction without any pragmatic purpose to serve.
Mass transforms Velocity into Momentum, Acceleration into Force
Mass has great significance in Dynamics. Mass transforms Velocity into Momentum. Mass also transforms Acceleration into the Force that is required to do Work. These relationships apply equally to the dynamics of matter and information. The union of Mass with Acceleration gives birth to Force, the fourth floor of our Dynamics Building. Data Stream Force is the topic of our next article. Read on, if you dare.