Finally let us consider an example in which the possibility of
Amplification is obvious and of practical use. Suppose twenty men
Are given the task of keeping two thousand rooms constant in tem-
Perature and humidity. If some means of control exists in each
Room, the twenty may yet find the task beyond their capacity if
They try to compensate for all the atmospheric variations by
Manipulation of the controls directly. It may happen, however,
That machines are available such that if the men become mechan-
Ics and act as regulators to the machines, the machines can be
Made into air-conditioners and maintained as such. And it may
Further happen that the amount of regulation that the mechanics
269
A N I N T R O D UC T I O N T O C Y B E R NE T I C S
A MPLI FY IN G R EG U LA TI ON
Can supply to the conditioners is sufficient to keep the condition-
Ers effectively in control of the two thousand rooms. Thus the reg-
Ulation that could not be done in one stage may, if the conditions
Are suitable, be possible in two.
The quantities of communication (the channel capacities)
Involved in these regulations could be measured to any desired
Accuracy, and the exact degree of any amplification ascertained.
Thus if amplification had actually occurred, the reality of the fact
Could be demonstrated beyond dispute.
Whence (in the last example) comes the supplementation? In
General, from whatever supplies the other inputs. In the example
Just given, these include the other factors that contributed to the
Machines’ design and manufacture, and also the environment
Itself, which communicates to the conditioner, and not to the
Mechanic, what is the temperature and humidity at each moment.
As a result, these sources of information play a part in the total
Regulation, without using the mechanic as a channel.
The example just given shows two levels of regulation, but there
Is no reason why the number should stop at two. A doctor who
Looks after the set of mechanics and keeps them healthy and able
To work might claim, so far as the rooms were concerned, to be a
Regulator at the third level. The matter need not be pursued further
|
|
|
Once the principle is clear, especially since many cases will proba-
Bly not show the various regulators arranged in a simple hierarchy.
Amplification in the brain. We can now understand quanti-
Tatively why this indirect method has proved superior— why it is
The method used by those organisms that have the most powerful
Resources for regulation— it allows amplification.
The gene-pattern, as a store or channel for variety, has limited
Capacity. Survival goes especially to those species that use the
Capacity efficiently. It can be used directly or indirectly.
The direct use occurs when the gene-pattern is used directly to
Specify the regulator. The regulator is made (in the embryo) and
The organism passes its life responding to each disturbance as the
Gene-pattern has determined. Amplification does not occur (from
Our present point of view, though some advantage is gained (S.13/
If the disturbances recur frequently in the organism’s lifetime).
The indirect use occurs when the gene-pattern builds a regulator
(R1) whose action is to build the main regulator (R2), especially if
This process is raised through several orders or levels. By achiev-
Ing the ultimate regulation through stages, the possibility of
Large-scale supplementation occurs, and thus the possibility of an
270
Ultimate regulation far greater than could be achieved by the
Gene-pattern directly.
A clear example of how one regulator can act so as to cause the
Development of another occurred in S.12/15. Part B of the home-
Ostat was built and thus became the primary regulator Rl. Coupled
To Part A, it acts so as to cause A to become stable with its needles
At the centre. When this is achieved, A acts as a regulator (R2)
Towards disturbances coming to it that would make the needles
Diverge. Though the R2 of this particular example is extremely
|
|
|
Simple, nothing in principle separates this case from those in
Which the regulator R2 is of any degree of complexity.
Дата добавления: 2019-11-16; просмотров: 202; Мы поможем в написании вашей работы! |
Мы поможем в написании ваших работ!