Measuring Information

According to Ralph Hartly, the amount of uncertainty associated with a set of alternatives is measured bt the amount of information needed to remove the uncertainty. However, Claude Shannon takes it even further and finds about what the symbol is and how many yes-no questions need to be asked to establish what the symbol turns out to be.

Data Analysis

Data analysis is a great tool dealing with statistics and probability. It can help us better understand the world that we live in. For example, since we know when the temperature changes drastically the probability of having a tornado goes up we can better inform people of dangers that are coming.
In lab 9, I learned all about data analysis and linear regression. Linear regression allows one to plot a best fit line showing trends in data. This enables people to understand the specific data being analyzed.

Statistical Analysis Using Microsoft Excel

Using Microsoft Excel to analize certain statistics makes it not only easier to make decisions, but also gives insight to certain information that many people can use to better understand our world. In this case, one can see the amount of cars traveled on certain streets around the IU campus. This can better help the University to keep the roads safer during bad weather or sporting events.

Simple Circuits

Binary Vs. Decimals

In order to convert binary numbers to decimals you must start from the end and multiply where there is a 1 by an exponent of 2. For the number 110010101 for example:
2^8 + 2^7 + 2^6 + 2^5 + 2^4 + 2^3 + 2^2 + 2^1 + 2^0=
1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 1
256 + 128 + 0 + 0 + 16 + 0 + 4 + 0 + 1 = 405

So the answer is 405.

Converting decimals to binary is similar, but not the same. In order to do this, u must divide your starting number by two, recording if there is a remainder or not as a 1 or a 0 until you divide all the way through the number. For the number 529 for example:
(529/2) (264/2) (132/2) (66/2) (33/2) (16/2) (8/2) (4/2) (2/2) (1/2)
(264 R. 1) (132) (66) ( 33) (16 R. 1) (8) (4) (2) (1) (0 R. 1)
1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1

So the answer is 1000010001.

Positional vs. Non- Positional
Positional and Non-Positional number systems are very simple to understand. A positional number system consists of numbers where each position is related to the next by a constant multiplier. A non-positional number system does not have a constant multiplier for each position. Rather, in a non-positional number system, the numbers are represented as symbols to convey their purpose. For example, writing numbers in roman numerals is a specific way to write using a non-positional numbering system.

Modelling the World (part deux)

Modelling funds our knowledge in so many ways. It has so many uses in mathematics, physics, and many other of the sciences. It makes remembering infomation and computing information much easier by allowing our thoughts to correspond to some observable entity in the world. A model breaks down and reduces an apparent complexity into ideas that we can better understand. Such models as the Fibonacci sequence and different branching systems have made understanding and remembering information a much simpler task.

DOS vs. Unix

The Dos and Unix operating systems have very similar workings. The reference manual page (man man) in the steel directory, allows you to better understand how to get around the directory itself. It gives you commands that allow you to access different things in the database. The Dos counterpart could possibly be their directory or dir. In order to delete files in Unix, one must type in rm and the file that needs to be removed. However, the much easier to remember prefix for Dos is DEL and then the file needed to be removed. So far, Dos seems a much easier operating system to work with. But, once one gets into the much easier commands such as those that make and remove directories, Dos and Unix are exactly the same, mkdir in order to make the directory and rmdir to remove the directory. In Dos however, there is a different command besides rmdir and mkdir in order to perform these actions. One could also utilize the RD (remove directory) and MD (make directory). So personally, I find that the Dos operating system is much more user friendly and much easier to use.

Modeling the World

Pretty much everything around us can be modeled in order to understand things better. In the natural sciences, models are used as tools for dealing with reality. They can be formal and quantitative, allowing us to gain a better understanding of reality. According to the lecture notes, "to understand the World in scientific terms it is necessary to build models." In this way, it is possible to elucidate new concepts and describe phenomena through the use of mathematics or computational rules. Basically, models make it possible to understand information. Models are created to test unknown knowledge and help make theories into fact. We work with information to create models in order to create more information.

The Nature of Information

When one thinks of information, one usually thinks of books, encyclopedias, and internet websites that one might use to write a paper. But when one reads this article about the nature of information, one can conclude that information is everywhere. It is probably harder to think of what is not information rather than what actually is information. Signs, colors, and sounds are all types of information that most use everyday, especially to drive. Mostly everything around us can be, in one way or another, an entity used to derive information from. Analog or digital, signs and semiotics, all of these things are ways to control, collect, store, and better understand information. But since we know so much about information, why is it so hard to understand some information? Information is forever changing and forever growing. Information is infinite. So then, how could one possibly fully understand something that is infinite?

http://infoport.blogspot.com/

The Library of Babel

This Universe, or as the author would put it "Library", houses all people, with many dialects and languages, on different continents, and in different countries. But all these people with their many differences, since no one person on earth is alike, all have trouble seeing the beginning and the end. Because human minds can only think in time and space, meaning that everything really has to have a beginning and an end, we cannot therefore understand who constructed this magnificent library. Where did it come from? We are all searching, not for the librarian, but for the architect. How can something appear from nothing? Does that something, created from God knows what, therefore have an ending? Will this Library be standing for an infinite amount of time? These are questions that human minds cannot comprehend. Our minds have been evolving since the first human on earth. We have gained information, put that information to work, and learned new things. Our minds are forever evolving. Therefore, these questions might only be answered in the distant future when our minds are evolved enough to comprehend the true identity of the architect.
http://infoport.com/

A Beary Good Superbowl?

It's easy to say that the Bears will not surpass the New Orleans Saints this weekend. Coming off of a well played game last week, Rex Grossman will have to step up to play just as well if not better to beat the Saint's defense. The Bears defense on the other hand, might have a little more trouble on the field having to deal with offensive superstars such as Reggie Bush, Deuce McAllister, and Marques Colston. But seeing as the basic weakness of the Bears defense appears to be their secondary, cornerbacks Charles Tillman and Devin Hester will need to step up their games. Coming off of a 3-13 season last year and having to deal with the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, the New Orleans Saints seem to be this years Cinderella Story. However, can Brian Urlacher and the Bears defense shatter their glass slipper? I guess we'll just have to wait and see...