Computation as Information Transformation

Gordana Dodig Crnkovic,Mark Burgin

doi:10.3390/isis-summit-vienna-2015-t9.2005

Abstract

Future progress of new information processing devices capable of dealing with problems such as big data, Internet of things, semantic web, cognitive robotics, neuroinformatics and similar, depends on the adequate and efficient models of computation. We argue that defining computation as information transformation, and given that there is no information without representation, the dynamics of information on the fundamental level is physical/ intrinsic/ natural computation (Dodig-Crnkovic, 2011) (Dodig-Crnkovic, 2014). Intrinsic natural computation occurs on variety of levels of physical processes, such as the levels of computation of living organisms as well as designed computational devices. The present article is building on our typology of models of computation as information processing (Burgin & Dodig-Crnkovic, 2013). It is indicating future paths for the advancement of the field, expected both as a result of the development of new computational models and learning from nature how to better compute using information transformation mechanisms of intrinsic computation.

Highlights

In a variety of fields, researchers have been searching for a common definition of computation, from (Turing, 1936)(Kolmogorov, 1953)(Copeland, 1996)(Burgin, 2005) to (Denning, 2010)(Denning, 2014)(Burgin & Dodig-Crnkovic, 2011) and (Hector Zenil, 2012)(Dodig-Crnkovic & Giovagnoli, 2013)
In much of contemporary computing, the situation is reversed: the purpose of the computing system is to exhibit certain behaviour. (...) We need a theory of the dynamics of informatic processes, of interaction, and information flow, as a basis for answering such fundamental questions as: What is computed? What is a process? What are the analogues to Turing completeness and universality when we are concerned with processes and their behaviours, rather than the functions which they compute? (Abramsky, 2008)
We presented the structural framework of information processing and computation with triadic relationships between (information processing, algorithm and device/agent);;;, etc

Summary

Introduction

In a variety of fields, researchers have been searching for a common definition of computation, from (Turing, 1936)(Kolmogorov, 1953)(Copeland, 1996)(Burgin, 2005) to (Denning, 2010)(Denning, 2014)(Burgin & Dodig-Crnkovic, 2011) and (Hector Zenil, 2012)(Dodig-Crnkovic & Giovagnoli, 2013). The absolute nature of the Turing machine was questioned by contemporary research (Cooper, 2012) (Cooper & Leeuwen, 2013) and challenged by adopting a more general formal definition of algorithm (Burgin, 2005). (...) We need a theory of the dynamics of informatic processes, of interaction, and information flow, as a basis for answering such fundamental questions as: What is computed?

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Conclusion