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This is a phenomenon. It is a sensation in
world of data compression. Never before was there a system that thrives on abundant data, and consumes it with exponentially improving efficiency.
Or perhaps Nature got there first. Perhaps that is how we store our lives in such tiny brains.
However,
compression system is unstable. A tiny change to
data, and a flood of output occurs. It is exactly like
"THETA STORM" of
roused human or animal mind.
On my new page, you can see it all:
http://wehner.org/compress
Bear in mind that patent negotiations are in hand. This information is for academic use only.
Awareness is
awareness of TIME. We can only be aware of time if we have
OPPOSITE to compare it with.
But what is
opposite of time? My studies show that it is STORAGE.
Data that is slipping into
past must be stored. If it is not, it is lost. Data that is flowing in must be compared with stored data.
Thus
conscious mind is
point of analysis -
incoming data in
time domain.
The subconscious is
stored data.
There is a term "heuristic", from
Greek "Heureka, I've found it". The new calculus of sets is
ultimate "heuristic algorithm" because it finds difference generically - without being told what to seek.
Eventually,
machine will become too full to preserve its raw data. It will be forced to "TURN INWARDS UPON ITSELF". It will be obliged to collect again (to "recollect") its memories from
compressed data.
That is
moment when
"ME" is programmed.
I AM
totality of my life. The data in silicon is its sum-total. In
new jargon, future compression must achieve "DIFFERATION BY PARTIAL SUMMARATION", when
machine deciphers its stored data piecemeal for comparison.
But that is elaboration.
For now,
demonstration of "awareness" is just about all that
average audience can fathom.
On that page - http://wehner.org/compress - you see
actress POLLY. Her acting is rather wooden, but she is a wooden horse.
She enters
image "Stage Left", and
"differals" appear. They can be seen to be diminishing in number as she moves. The system is becoming "familiar" with her. However, on
left-hand edge there are always some grey dots of raw data showing that new "EVENTS" are arriving from
left.
Then she stands still, and
number of "differals" shrinks by half, half and half again.
Then she approaches
camera (or does
camera approach her - or does
camera zoom)? The change in scale causes problems for
compression system - which "wakes up" to her presence.
When she has become so close that her face fills
screen,
system again grows "bored". It only wakes up when she starts moving away again.
This is - as stated on that page -
BEDROCK level of awareness. It does not get any more fundamental.
A silicon chip has no feelings. It has no needs - for food, shelter, companionship. It has no philosophy. As stated at
outset, it is an idiot.
So what is
machine "philosophising" about? It is saying "NEW". It is saying "OLD". It is saying that about pictures. It is saying that about sound.
It does not know anything about pictures. It does not know anything about sound. In fact, it does not know anything. However, when fed with bytes it can tell which groups of bytes are new - in
domain of time - and which are not.
What we do with
numbers we receive from
machine is OUR decision. Perhaps, we program a database to recognise faces or sounds. We would call this a RELATIONAL database, because we relate a picture of a horse to
name "Polly". But
system is open-ended.
Because it is so fundamental, it reaches out across
whole world of information technology, offering exciting new advances.
Charles Douglas Wehner

Charles Wehner was born in the Isle of Man in 1944. He became a technical author in radar, nucleonics and electronics instrumentation, also a factory manager and design engineer.