Models and Theories in Human-Computer Interaction/Wiener’s Cybernetics: Life Through the Cybernetic Lens

Life Through the Cybernetic Lens (Eric Andren)
Due to similarity in functionality of all intelligent systems we can look at life through a Cybernetic lens. The world (physical world humans experience) is a complex web of intelligent systems being influenced by each other and directed by deterministic or probabilistic changes. Each of these systems has a desired “state” or goal it wishes to assume, steering itself in a direction to reach its desired state of existence. The analogy of steering is known as regulation. Each time one of these systems is interrupted it will counter these interruptions (whether singular or complex) by reacting in a manner that allows it to regain or maintain its desired state through correction.

The act of wanting, analyzing, understanding, and adapting to reach a goal can be explained through the Cybernetic Model. This is the model defining the method all intelligent systems use to steer, guide, and correct their existence to reach or maintain a desired state of being. It offers a meta view of the world we inhabit seen as complexity thinking or complexity systems. The Cybernetics model can be applied to a wide variety of systems including organic, inorganic, mechanical, biological, technological, and social systems making it a very powerful and comprehensive language to understand the world.