The application of algorithmic information theory to noisy patterned strings

Abstract

Although algorithmic information theory provides a measure of the information content of string of characters, problems of noise and noncomputability emerge. However, if pattern in a noisy string is recognized by reference to a set of similar strings, this article shows that a compressed algorithmic description of a noisy string is possible and illustrates this with some simple examples. The article also shows that algorithmic information theory can quantify the information in complex organized systems where pattern is nested within pattern. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 12: 52–58, 2006