Information and Existence

We hear the term information everywhere these days. I myself have used that term quite often in my previous blogs.? Now, let’s see why information is so important. Information technologists say “It’s all about information”. Let’s see how.

Let’s start from what we have in front of us. Look at your desktop for example. The system you are using is the hardware. What runs inside it is the software, or in other words programs. What do these programs use? That’s what’s information. Programs manipulate, generate and transfer information. It’s not just with the desktop. Look at any system in our common-life. Look at yourself; Your body is the hardware. You have a genetic code, blood group, blood pressure level, body temperature etc, these all are the information needed to run you. Information is not just the numbers, it’s not just the code, information is what there is.

Every system in the universe has three levels associated to it. Hardware, program (code) and the bottom level- information. Let’s look at another simple example to understand the concept completely. I have this book on C# here. The book is the hardware, it is written in English, so English or the words used are the code, so what is the information? What you understand when you read the book is the information. You are not paying for the hardware while you pay say $50 for a book, you are not paying for the words in it either, You are paying for the information lying between the words. What Information Technology does is to find ways to improve organizing, reproducing, generating, manipulating and transferring the information.

Is it just information technology that does all these stuff with information? No, all sciences, arts, and everything we do everyday is manipulation of the information in one way or another. What do physicists do? They use mathematics as a tool and find out the laws of nature. From a physicist’s perspective, the universe is the hardware, mathematical equations are the codes, and the assumptions he reach are the information. So normally we will start thinking, what is the use of information? Is that just to cure our curiosity? Information is valuable. We already know that. So if someone can generate or manipulate information in a better way than someone else he has the power. So the more information you have the more powerful you are.

In the world of Information, each and every information produced(revealed) has a comparative value. There, the value of truth need not always be greater than a lie. A well coded lie will have better value than a weakly coded truth. So if the information is accompanied with a code, that is better. If you can provide the hardware too, the value becomes even better.

In this social networking era , information is everywhere. We get information about everyone and everything over the internet. Unlike the early days, survival has larger dimensions now. According to the Darwinian evolution , only the fittest survives. These days, survival is not just about food and shelter, it’s about satisfaction and freedom. Only those who possess better information survive in a society. Others are just too insignificant creatures.

Googling on facebook.

"Google it." Nobody used to use this phrase eight or ten years ago. Google and Facebook have become a part of our everyday life. . There are websites like twitter, myspace and a many other search engines and social networking sites but, google and facebook are the sites approved by the mass of the present era, so i choose to talk about them. What do these two applications do to us? They provide us information. Someone posts on their wall about the drastic climate they have in the particular area they reside and everyone connected to them are getting information about the climate in that particular region. On your Facebook wall, more and more information is appearing each and every minute. The amount of information you accumulate is directly proportional to the frequency of your visit on your news-feed and the number of people/applications you are connected to.
Those who work in I T field has classified web applications into two categories, push and pull. Google is an example for pull application while facebook uses push technology. As the names imply users pull information from Google while facebook pushes information to users. The information that facebook pushes need not always be relevent to the needs of the user. If search engines try to give the users what they ask for, social networking sites give them what the users want to share. In many of the cases people just blurt on their walls. So, the users get what others in the network want to share. Users are constrained to think, express and form relations in certain ways. This has serious effects on the culture which forms outside computer monitor.
So, if search engines were providing everything user "wanted", why do we have webtechnologies which use pull approach? The reason is that people don't want to use that extra energy in searching if everything they want could be accessed just by opening their facebook page. Latest news about everything and everyone they know, people's personal information, flight timings, entertainment etc etc. Then, what is wrong with facebook? No, I'm not going to talk about the privacy issues. Facebook provides us the information we don't want to know. And many of the useful information get lost in the piles of junk data that fall everywhere around us.
What can we do to make facebook a better place? How can we integrate push and pull approaches to make information gathering or entertainment more effective? One possible solution will be a better and effective customization. People should be able to find their interests make the posts available more easily. Secondly they should be able to manage the information more effectively, by marking them or saving under different categories. If this is made possible, users will be able to scroll through the information which has been there for ages as well as which is getting updated every minute.

Intelligent agents, aren't we?

We are living in an era in which we have intelligent agents to handle many things we do or wanna do. There will be a lot more things possible in the near future from talking to your doctor to umpiring a cricket match. By definition an intelligent agent, in its simplest definition, is software that is given and executes a particular task and reports back to the user. They have been employed to execute tasks on behalf of a business process, computer application or an individual(1). If you thought this is gonna be a passage about those softwares, programs or robots you are wrong. It's about us.

Looking in the mirror.

At one stage or another we all might have asked ourselves the question "what are we?" . Well, some of us define our existence in philosophical terms, some others rely on spirituality, some patient ones are ready to seek it rationally and some others just give it up. The laws of nature seem to be too complicated and randomness seems to be a universal attribute of all objects. Even though physicists have been trying to find out the laws behind the universe they find it difficult to come up with a "theory of everything". Now, you must be thinking, "wait a minute, what bullshit are you gonna talk about?". This is not a theory, these are just some random thoughts popped up in my head.

Some queries.

Are we just some Intelligent agents walking on a planet which is a mere network created just for some properties like sensing, gathering or producing information? Isn't this universe a web of information just like what we are? We find information everywhere we look. We gather it, analyse it and organize it. We even create new information from what we have got. We communicate to each other. Isn't it what we get or expect to get Intelligent agents to do for us? Every other things we do are just to support our existence. The human minds are connected via telephone cables, wireless networks and satellites. That's where terms like collective mind as found by C.G Jung start making sense. We hear people saying, everything is for a purpose. If that's true, what purpose? People believe in supernatural existences like Gods and demons which they were never able to explain in physical terms. Neurologists say God is just another thought induced in the brain(2). And experiments like Langton's ants show very interesting patterns can arise from very simple rules. If we are following rules, what kinda rules are they? Who compiled those rules?

The Super-programmers

If there exist another bunch of beings who use us, what would they look like? How do they interact with us to control information? The possible answer is , 'Exactly like we interact with intelligent agents.' The intelligent agents we have created interact with each other as well. We have agents to predict weather, talk to us about the weather, etc etc. We can be doing the same. We interact with them without knowing we are interacting with them. We respond to our situations. We get chemical reactions going inside our brains every time a stimuli from what we sense from outside our bodies. And we react correspondingly according to what we have known from previous experiences or as per what is programmed as reflex actions. Agents do the same. They interact with their situations, including our queries and responses from other agents according to what is stored in their knowledge base or as per the codes in their program. A doubt can arise in us now, why are we not able to sense our programmers?(if there is any). Are the softwares aware of the programmer sitting in front of the computer? Softwares interact only with instructions, not with the programmer or user. Similarly, they(even they can be some agents/programs) can be interacting with our brain waves at the programming level and with our universe at an application level.

The Protocols

What kind of rules are governing our minds? Let's just think about what kind of thoughts let us do things or not let do things. Our actions are directed or restricted by some factors called morality, rationality, desire, fear etc. These factors are likely to be the protocols that govern the way we behave. For different type of agents, different set of rules. Plants, animals, micro-organisms , etc all have their set of behavioral patterns.

The Conclusion

This is not a subject that can be concluded in five or six paragraphs, but as I've said earlier just some random signals generated in my brain. I'm not stating a theory here. This is more like a comparative study between what we create and what we are. I'm looking forward for responses from other agents.

References used:

(1)www.it-architects.co.uk/a_-_z_glossary_index/Data_Warehousing___BI_Glossary/data_warehousing___bi_glossary.html

(2)http://neuropolitics.org/Conservative-Left-Brain-Liberal-Right-Brain.htm

Tools of Information.

Recently I heard someone saying "Saying Computer science is like calling astronomy, telescope science. Computer is just a tool, Information is what matters." Though it looks like true, it is completely not. Let's see how. At first, what is information? The definition for the word 'information' is that it is a message that's received and understood. So, there needs to be two components to make it a complete process , a message and a mind that understands the message. Some may argue that there is a sender too, but if we look around we can see minds gathering information that's not sent by anyone. If there is no sender, where does the message come from? The perceiving mind collect it from any information source. So to finalize, information has three major components: a message, a source(where the message is situated/ comes from), and a perceiving mind.

What are the roles of computers in Information science? The purpose of computers (in this context) are to reduce the work of mind. So, in the process of information gathering, which of the three components is computer? Computer stands as a part of the mind which analyses the message. That's how the message becomes an information. If that was the only role of computers, the quote in the beginning of this passage would be completely true, but sometimes computer itself is what is analysed. Then, computer is the source where information resides. That process of getting the information about computers is what is called computer science. So in conclusion, Computer science is just a part of Information science, not the other way around.

My colour, Your colour.

Asia and Africa together constitute approaximately 75% of world population. Which means, white people are the minority. Then, why is it still a "white man's world"? What do they possess that others don't? Is it power, intelligense, beauty or something else? Why the western culture is considered as the better while others are seen as barbarians or undeveloped? Is it just because the western culture as a whole is comparatively new? Or, are they ready to accept changes more often? Are they more straight forward and simple? We may not reach a final conclusion but, let's look at the facts.

The 250,000 years old history of our species has been so dramatic. Historians and Anthropologists fight each other about many parts of this long story. Whether there existed an ancestor known as Homo erectus or not, we can't change the past. Now, in this twentyfirst century geographical and cultural differences between nations are more obvious than mere racial distinctions. Let's have a look at our world's recent past.

Religions: The west and the east

Nature had a significant importance in all ancient religions despite the national and cultural distinctions. Powers of nature were always seen with respect and sometimes fear. Pagan Gods were the characters who controlled those powers of nature or personified powers themselves. They too had feelings, weaknesses, thoughts, etc just like the humans. They existed in between us, and they were so familiar to everyone. The world was too big for us to understand or even try to explore it. Even then in every corners of world people had their own stuffs going on.

In the west: Monotheism was a kind of revolution in common-man's thoughts. A new style, a new way to look at things, so many people who found it more convenient than, remembering names of thousands of Gods and confusing themselves by thinking which God to side in hard times, found the concept very attractive. The theories put forward by the advocates of Monotheism must have been sufficient enough to satisfy the doubting Thomas' of those days. Another possible reason can be, Even in ancient religions, there existed a hierarchy of heaven which was assumed to be controlled by a top most position which was occupied by a super god. Someone might have found it just simple to approach the God of Gods directly rather than taking a complicated route to reach the ultimate. The simplification always had an unavoidable part, omission of complex beliefs. It made the religious belief simple enough to understand and follow. The monarchy, which was so common in those days found monotheism more suiting to the system going on than having a lot of heavenly or earthly rulers. Sometimes the things were easier when the earthly rulers took another step and appointed themselves as the Gods. Even though Christianity was formed from a system which supported Kings and the upper class, it always had a philosophy which (at least pretended) stood with the sufferers.

The East: Common man had a lot of people above their heads so were Gods. On the other side, high quality philosophical theories and assumptions were being formed. As there were so many Gods and so many theories, no one was compelled to follow any particular belief. One could even be an atheist(remember charvaka) as there were equal number of theist and atheist theories. Belief systems had almost nothing in common other than 'belief'. The Eastern philosophies were not much bothered about the concept of sin. They just reminded people to do their duties.

Knowledge accumulation: Sciences and Arts

The western science and technology has started its pioneering only some four or five centuries back. In this short term, it has made such a dramatical progress in comforting and bettering human lives. Even though it is argued by some people that there existed civilizations which were more or equally advanced as the present day humans, it could not be proved. Though in ancient India and China Mathematics, astronomy, philosophy, and technology was good enough to compete with present day's higher secondary school curriculum(Vedic mathematics, Upanishads, Vedas, discovery of gun powder, paper, silk etc).

Where did we lose the momentum? Even though wars boosted some discoveries, invasions destroyed what was characteristic for many societies. Same was the case with different art forms. When civilizations were disappeared or made insignificant, their characteristic art forms also vanished. Threat of a war is good, but war is not.

Mutual influences

For the Europeans Europe was the only 'world' and Europeans were the only 'people'. So, when ever they found a new place, they neglected the fact that there exist some other people and pretended that that place didn't exist before they found it. But, some of those continents were so massive and populated well that they couldn't just ignore. Where ever fights couldn't assure victory, they used tactics. Invasion included not just aggression, some times it was Christian missionaries. These approaches had more influence on the people who were ruled or invaded than those rulers or invaders. Their cultures were spoiled, minds were poisoned and pride was robbed. It was the first part. Now, countries no more fight each other. Europeans have gone back after completing the missions. In the modern era, it is Globalization. Technology, Science, the new art forms like films and albums, and the media are no more owned by just the Europeans. Eastern minds were infected by the easy and strict rules of Christian morality while those who contributed it never followed nine out of the ten commandments.

Aftermath

Easterners lost belief in thier own abilities. They needed Gods more than anyone else. That thirst was not out of any spiritual quest. It was the insecurity transformed. They did everything that was western to become like them. They did everything with a fear in the corner of their minds, "what will the westerners think of us if we do this!" Western clothing, western music, western everything. Even the concept of beauty was changed according to the new world. In the new world, the distinctions between west and the east is becoming less significant. Migrations triggered the birth of mixed cultures. The way people think became more similar than ever.

'I' was very important in the west. In the east, it was more about community life. For the westerners enjoyment in life was always the priority. Knowledge and nature was easterners' assets. Now, these distinctions have no significance. City life rules. Being a country man is a shame in the modern society. The world is unified not by merging the west and the east, but by vanishing the east.

Enough?

Is it what we need? Should we be satisfied with what we have got? Aren't we still aware of the ethnicity of the man who sits near us in the flight? Isn't individuals more important than the society now? Do we need a change? Think about.

Langton's ants and our Grids

Who has not wondered at least once in his/her life how things work! Science and religions feed us with many ideas over time and still aren't we hungry? Langton's ants is a miniature model of our universe(or at least what we think is our universe). It consists of a universe full of black grids. A virtual ant is situated on one of the grids. This ant is the only living being of that universe. The ant follows three rules of 'nature'.

1. Change the color of the square it is standing on- (if the square is black change it to red and if it is red change it to black)
   
2. Now Walks Forward to the square in front of it
3. If it is on a black square turn Left and if it is on red turn Right by 90 degrees.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeeJLrsC-MI&feature=related is a video demonstrating how it works.

The Ant initially followed a very random path and after making a big chaos it started making a 'highway' in a particular direction. That was continued indefinitely.

What can we learn from Langton's ants while making some comparisons to our universe? There are two things to notice. Langton didn't have an intension to create that ordered path. Secondly, All what the ant does is following the rules.

Whether the universe has a creator or not is not the problem we are going to discuss here. Let's have a few thoughts on how our world works. We do know that, in our universe objects, living beings and everything follow some rules. Those rules can be the rules of physics(physics is there because we have those rules), biology or you name it. They can be simple rules like "The survival of the fittest" or Freud's theory of Id, ego and super-ego. These rules may not be familiar to us and that's the main reason for which we are still trying to find them out by creating theories and trying to fill the gaps in our minds. So, we are just some Langton's ants who follow certain orders. If we are following those orders, it is so obvious from the example of the LAs that we will form some sort of patterns or chaos or even pattern from a chaos. So, what we are asked to do is to follow some orders and what we do is to try creating patterns. So, we can conclude two simple facts. 1. An intention to make this world as it is now is not necessary to make it in the way it is. 2. If we are following certain orders the world we live is possible.

If we assume that there are certain orders which governs all our actions, what is the significance of freewill? Do we possess freewill? The answer is 'need not'. Our universe can be a replica of a more complicated Langton's ant with much more complicated grids and many more rules and ants. At the same time it can be like a game of chess with no predicted ending and thousands of possible moves. In that case, freewill comes into play. Everything is depended on the patterns we see. Do there exist certain patterns or are they mere illusions? in both chess and LAs moves once done are done for ever. It can't be changed. So all we have to look for is to find out the patters we form, If there exist patters, we are just machines which can't control the destinies. Otherwise we are a group of small Gods.

Music, Mathematics and I

There is a reason for choosing the three terms in the title of this essay. I is undoubtedly the most celebrated word of all times. Nothing exists without 'I'. Music and and Mathematics are what 'I' does or enjoys. Here the term I is used not as the first person singular. It is used to refer all 'I's in the world who has the ability to think and feel the meaning of the word 'I'.

Music is considered as an art form while Mathematics is a rational science even though both are considered as entities which include certain amount of creativity.

Long ago, people used to think that emotions come from heart and thoughts from head. Now, we know both emotions and thoughts are handled by the brain itself. Why do we think? Why do we have soft feelings? Are they both necessary for the survival of our species? Those who watched the movie ' A beautiful mind' may have noticed one quote by the character played by Russell Crowe (John Nash) "Adam smith said, the best result comes when everyone in the group does what's best for himself. Incomplete,because, the best result comes when everyone in the group does what's best for himself and the group." This quote had significant importance in the movie which was based on the biography of Prof. John Nash, a Nobel laureate. The point is, while we think for ourselves, we feel for our group.

"Human being is a Social animal" You must be sick of hearing this sentence for ages, but we are. We are bound by number of communities everyday. Family, friends, school, church, cricket team, fan club, social networking sites, work mates, the list doesn't end. We create a circle around us and those who comes inside that circle are considered to be close to us. And we consider ourselves to be part of that community. In every community, members create certain kind of relation between them according to the nature of the community.

Why do people do crime? why do we work hard? Why do we do things? And who makes more out of life? In my opinion, those who think more effectively makes more out of everyday life. According to Darwinian evolution the fittest survives. So, the more effectively we can think, the more solutions for everyday problems can also be found. Buddhist philosophy says all troubles come from desire. But, as we know, everything good also come from desire. When we have desire, we use our intelligence accordingly to attain what we desired.

Then, why do we need emotional feelings? Aren't they pulling our thoughts back? Here is the significance of that Russell Crowe quotation. If the best result was produced when the best individuals alone survive, human emotions would have had no significance in our lives. But, we need to do what's best for the group as well. That is, neither 100% capitalism nor 100% socialism. Emotions create this bond between individuals to create the sense of community. Thus, the best result is obtained while we use our thoughts and emotions equally balanced. Arts and science, yin and yang, only a harmony can bring the best so there is no point in criticizing one another because of the path chosen.