Again, in a ship, if a man were at liberty to do what he chose, but were devoid of mind and excellence in navigation (αρετης κυβερνητικης), do you perceive what must happen to him and his fellow sailors? (Plato, Alcibiades, 135A).

Cybernetics is the study of communication and control, typically involving regulatory feedback, in living organisms, in machines and organisations and their combinations, for example, in sociotechnical systems, computer controlled machines such as automata and robots. The term cybernetics stems from the Greek Κυβερνήτης (kybernetes, steersman, governor, pilot, or rudder — the same root as government). It is an earlier but still-used generic term for many of the subject matters that are increasingly subject to specialization under the headings of adaptive systems, artificial intelligence, complex systems, complexity theory, control systems, decision support systems, dynamical systems, information theory, learning organizations, mathematical systems theory, operations research, simulation, and systems engineering.

A more philosophical definition, suggested in 1956 by Louis Couffignal, one of the pioneers of cybernetics, characterizes cybernetics as "the art of ensuring the efficiency of action".

More on [ Cybernetics ]

NYT > Technology

Industry Rethinks Moneymaking Software Practice
Thu, 28 Aug 2008 05:00:32 -0000
Before they ship PCs to retailers like Best Buy, computer makers get paid hundreds of millions of dollars to load them up with lots of free software. For $30, Best Buy will get rid of it for you.
Basics: For the Advanced in Age, Easy-to-Use Technology
Thu, 28 Aug 2008 05:17:29 -0000
The companies that are successfully marketing new technologies to older people are the ones that have learned to create products that span generations, providing style and utility to a range of age groups.
Phone Smart: Freeing Those Snapshots Trapped Inside the Cellphone
Thu, 28 Aug 2008 05:18:19 -0000
Carriers and device manufacturers have only lately figured out that users need a single button that says, “Send my new photo now.”
A U.S.B. Cable for Splitting Screens and Sharing Files Between Two Computers
Thu, 28 Aug 2008 05:24:58 -0000
Iogear’s new U.S.B. Laptop K.V.M. Switch, a double-ended cable that connects two Windows PCs or laptops together, lets you use one PC to control the other and even drag files between the machines.
A Mouse to Aid Warriors in Their Arena of Choice
Thu, 28 Aug 2008 05:23:21 -0000
Made with the needs of videogame fans in mind, the Avatar mouse from NZXT comes with seven programmable buttons that can be custom-configured for different types of games.
Give Yourself or Others a New Look, Digitally
Thu, 28 Aug 2008 04:47:47 -0000
Combining a graphics tablet with a built-in camera and a computer-based set of creativity tools, Stylin’ Studio is the latest thing in face-editing technology.

NerdTV | PBS

NerdTV #13: Judy Estrin
Mon, 10 Apr 2006 12:00:00 -0700
Judy Estrin's career ranges from founder of Bridge Communications to CTO of Cisco to running Packet Design LLC. Quite the girl geek, eh?Download video:Entire Show:MPEG-4 | TorrentNerdy Bit:MPEG-4 | TorrentJuicy Bit:MPEG-4 | TorrentDownload subtitled video:Entire Show:With Subtitles | Torrent w/ SubtitlesNerdy Bit:With Subtitles | Torrent w/ SubtitlesJuicy Bit:With Subtitles | Torrent w/ SubtitlesDownload audio:Entire Show:MP3 | TorrentAAC | TorrentOgg Vorbis | Torrent
NerdTV #13: Judy Estrin - Transcript
Mon, 10 Apr 2006 12:00:00 -0700
For those who would rather read than watch or listen.
NerdTV Archives
Mon, 10 Apr 2006 12:00:00 -0700
Miss a past show? Check out our archives.Past guests include:#12: Bob KahnInventor of TCP/IP.#11: Doug EngelbartComputer mouse inventor.#10: Dan BricklinInventor of the Spreadsheet#9: AninaHigh Fashion Meets High Tech#8: Avram MillerCo-founder of Intel Capital#7: Dan DrakeCo-founder of Autodesk#6: Dave WinerFather of RSS and Web Logging#5: Tim O'ReillyOpen Source pioneer#4: Brewster KahleInternet Archive founder#3: Bill JoyCo-founder of Sun#2: Max LevchinCo-founder of PayPal#1: Andy HertzfeldThe first Macintosh programmer...ever

Reuters: Technology News

Sony CEO thinking over Ericsson joint venture: report
Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:35:46 -0400
FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Sony's joint venture with cell phone maker Ericsson must do better, Sony's chief executive was quoted as saying by a German newspaper on Wednesday.
Mystery Chinese iPhone worker becomes Internet star
Thu, 28 Aug 2008 01:40:56 -0400
CANBERRA, (Reuters) - A Chinese factory worker has become an Internet sensation after a picture of her smiling and flashing a peace sign to a co-worker testing an Apple iPhone stayed on the phone that was sold to a man in Britain.
Microsoft releases beta 2 of Internet Explorer 8
Thu, 28 Aug 2008 01:21:03 -0400
SEATTLE (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp released on Wednesday a second test version of Internet Explorer 8, delivering a feature-complete upgrade to the world's most widely used Web browser.

AP Top Technology News At 7:17 p.m. EDT

One small hitch for FAA, one giant mess for fliers
By MICHAEL TARM Wed, 27 Aug 2008 21:26:28 -0000
CHICAGO (AP) -- When a computer system that distributes flight plans nationwide came rolling to a halt this week because of a software glitch, so did airplanes on tarmacs from Orlando to Chicago. The ensuing delays drove home just how easily an apparently isolated problem can trigger network-wide disarray in the country's aging air traffic control system....
Consumers picked to test hydrogen car prototypes
By KEN THOMAS Wed, 27 Aug 2008 21:23:06 -0000
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Tom Albert drove his loaner Chevrolet Equinox like any other car....
Microsoft's newest browser may block ads
By JESSICA MINTZ Thu, 28 Aug 2008 06:13:37 -0000
SEATTLE (AP) -- The next version of Microsoft Corp.'s Web browser makes it easier for people to surf the Internet without leaving a trace....

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