Interesting People mailing list archives
: how does one define "capacity"
From: David Farber <dave () farber net>
Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2008 08:30:31 -0700
________________________________________ From: Joe Touch [touch () ISI EDU] Sent: Monday, April 21, 2008 9:39 AM To: David Farber Cc: ip Subject: Re: [IP] Re: how does one define "capacity" Hi, Dave,
From: Bob Frankston [Bob19-0501 () bobf frankston com] Sent: Saturday, April 19, 2008 5:39 PM To: 'Craig Partridge'; David Farber Subject: RE: how does one define "capacity"
...
Information is a complex concept.
Shannon (and I) would disagree.
What is the measure we are using for capacity? Are bits the correct measure or is the measure something as vague as "entertainment value".
This confuses information with semantics, which Shannon took pains to decouple for a reason. ...
When I hear someone tell me what is possible – what the capacity is – I want to be able to say “let me try”. Today I have to limit myself to a choice of offerings from those who are afraid to try lest their business model collapses.
Perhaps what is being asked is "what is utility of a given capacity", i.e., "what can you do with a bit"? Granted, that direction may be more interesting for some, but it's also - like meaning - relative and arguable for any definition. Information capacity is, fortunately, not. Joe ------------------------------------------- Archives: http://www.listbox.com/member/archive/247/=now RSS Feed: http://www.listbox.com/member/archive/rss/247/ Powered by Listbox: http://www.listbox.com
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- : how does one define "capacity" David Farber (Apr 21)