Cell Language Theory, The: Connecting Mind And Matter

438 The Cell Language Theory: Connecting Mind and Matter

b2861 The Cell Language Theory: Connecting Mind and Matter “6x9”

Uncertainty-based information can be defined as any signal that

reduces uncertainty. If the signal reduces the uncertainty measured in

terms of Shannon’s entropy function, H = –KSpi log 2 pi, then Shannon

information is involved. If the uncertainty is measured in terms of Hartley

function, U(X) = log 2 |X|, where X is a set of elements and |X| is the num-

ber of the elements in X (i.e., the cardinality of set X), then Hartley infor-

mation is involved.

The relation between uncertainty-based information and uncer-

tainty (alternatively called “entropy” or “disorder”) can be represented

as follows:

Information = Uncertaintybefore – Uncertaintyafter (10.36)

where “before” and “after” are relative to the time of the action of a selec-

tion process universally involved in information production (or “measure-

ment”) or utilization (or “control” [91]). That is, according to equation

(10.36), information is equivalent to “uncertainty reduction” resulting

from some selecting action. We can also represent equation (10.36) dia-

grammatically as shown in Figure 10.24.

The simple model shown in Figure 10.24 represents the fundamental

relation among the three primary ingredients (two of which having alter-

native labels) that are involved in any transactions of uncertainty-based

information:

1. uncertainty,


2. information, and


3. action (including selection, measurement, and control, all supported
   by free energy dissipation).

In view of the universal applicability of the model in Figure 10.24 to

all discourses on information, I have taken the liberty of referring to it as

the “NewJerseyator” to acknowledge the contributions made by Shannon

who developed his information/communication theory while working at

IBM and by von Neumann who was at the Institute for Advanced Studies,

both institutions being located in the State of New Jersey, which also sup-

ported my research at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey,

University directly or indirectly for the past three and a half decades.

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