Exam 2 (Weiner)

Question 1

What tradition in Weiner’s theory connected to?

Answer 1

Cybernetic Tradition

Question 2

What is entropy according to Wiener?

Answer 2

The amount of randomness or disorganization in a system.

Question 3

How is Entropy and feedback related?

Answer 3

Feedback is used to give less Entropy

Question 4

What are “Simple” machines? according to Wiener?

Answer 4

(clockwork/music Box) - Have no way to counteract entropy.

Question 5

What are Cybernetic (Complex) machines according to wiener?

Answer 5

(Automatic elevators, Cats, People,) - use information to counteract entropy.

Question 6

How is human communication related to complex machine functioning?

Answer 6

• Sense organs - Track changes in the environment

- Adaptive Responses - Maintain control.

Question 7

What is feedback?

Answer 7

Information about changes in its internal or external environment that courses a system to adjust its outputs so it can counteract or amplify changes. (negative/positive) feedback.

Question 8

What Is Negative feedback?

Answer 8

Counter reacts change in the environment (ex- “I don’t like this, please change it back to the old one”)

Question 9

What is positive feedback?

Answer 9

Amplifies change in the environment, when there is a change in the environment, when there is a change in the environment it is encouraged to keep that change.

Question 10

How can negative and positive feedback work together?

Answer 10

Positive feedback can destroy a system unless negative feedback is applied.

• Examples
  - A party gets louder and louder until….
  - I run more and more until…
  - I eat more and more until…

Question 11

What model of communication is Weiner’s theory connected to?

Answer 11

The linear model