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The Semiotics of Cybernetic Percept-Action Systems

The Semiotics of Cybernetic Percept-Action Systems

Peter Cariani
Copyright: © 2011 |Volume: 1 |Issue: 1 |Pages: 17
ISSN: 2155-5028|EISSN: 2155-5036|EISBN13: 9781613509036|DOI: 10.4018/ijsss.2011010101
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MLA

Cariani, Peter. "The Semiotics of Cybernetic Percept-Action Systems." IJSSS vol.1, no.1 2011: pp.1-17. http://doi.org/10.4018/ijsss.2011010101

APA

Cariani, P. (2011). The Semiotics of Cybernetic Percept-Action Systems. International Journal of Signs and Semiotic Systems (IJSSS), 1(1), 1-17. http://doi.org/10.4018/ijsss.2011010101

Chicago

Cariani, Peter. "The Semiotics of Cybernetic Percept-Action Systems," International Journal of Signs and Semiotic Systems (IJSSS) 1, no.1: 1-17. http://doi.org/10.4018/ijsss.2011010101

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Abstract

In this paper, a semiotic framework for natural and artificial adaptive percept-action systems is presented. The functional organizations and operational structures of percept-action systems with different degrees of adaptivity and self-construction are considered in terms of syntactic, semantic, and pragmatic relations. Operational systems-theoretic criteria for distinguishing semiotic, sign-systems from nonsemiotic physical systems are proposed. A system is semiotic if a set of functional sign-states can be identified, such that the system’s behavior can be effectively described in terms of operations on sign-types. Semiotic relations involved in the operational structure of the observer are outlined and illustrated using the Hertzian commutation diagram. Percept-action systems are observers endowed with effectors that permit them to act on their surrounds. Percept-action systems consist of sensors, effectors, and a coordinative part that determines which actions will be taken. Cybernetic systems adaptively steer behavior by altering percept-action mappings contingent on evaluated performance measures via embedded goals. Self-constructing cybernetic systems use signs to direct the physical construction of all parts of the system to create new syntactic, semantic, and pragmatic relations. When a system gains the ability to construct its material hardware and choose its semiotic relations, it achieves a degree of epistemic autonomy, semantic closure, and pragmatic self-direction.

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