Input

Information about Input

Input is the term denoting either an entrance or changes which are inserted into a system and which activate/modify a process. It is an abstract concept, used in the modeling, system(s) design and system(s) exploitation. It is usually connected with other terms, e.g., input field, input variable, input parameter, input value, input signal, input device and input file.

Overview

From the most general systemics perspective, input is a subjective concept and depends on how the system is used. In such sense, the same system can have different inputs in different applications.

In the case of a process description/model, the concept input is closely connected with the concept output. Here, what enters is called input and what exits is called output.

Example: For an abstract system A(x,y,p), where x,y are variables and p is a parameter, x may denote input (variable) and y may denote the output for a process: y = f(p,x), but, for another goal/(system application), the system A can be the carrier of a process x = g(p,y), where y is an input and x is an output.

Usually, in the modeling of a problem/process, input are these variables which are known and output are those unknown to us yet.

In recognition that the quality of the input can be crucial to the value of the output, a famous saying teaches us "Garbage IN, Garbage OUT" (GIGO).

Specific meanings

In different contexts, input has several more concrete domain-dependent meanings.

Information processing

In information processing, input refers to either information received or the process of receiving it;

In human-computer interaction, input is the information produced by the user with the purpose of controlling the computer program. The user interface determines what kinds of input the program accepts (for example, control strings or text typed with keyboard and mouse clicks).
Input also comes from networks and storage devices such as disk drives.

Control theory

In control theory, the inputs of a system are the signals that can be observed or affected that feed into the system. Specifically, inputs are differentiated from states.

In equity theory

In equity theory, inputs are the skills, time, effort, expertise, experience or qualifications that an employee brings to his job.

Economic theory

In economics, inputs refer to priced or unpriced resources used in a production process, and outputs refer to the priced or unpriced results of that process. Normally, inputs are regarded as costs, and outputs as products. Outputs may be valued gross (before deduction of costs from sales) or net (after deduction of costs from sales). Input-output economics was popularised by the economist Wassily Leontief who devised an ingenious system of input and output accounts and matrices to analyse the flows of goods and services between different sectors of a national economy. In national accounts an attempt is made to value national inputs and outputs according to consistent valuation principles, to measure the creation and distribution of wealth.

References

External links

Definitions of input by the freedictionary.

In semiotics, denotation is the surface or literal meaning encoded to a signifier, and the definition most likely to appear in a dictionary.

Discussion

Drawing from the original definition proposed by Saussure (1857-1913), a sign has two parts:

as a

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System (from Latin systēma, in turn from Greek σύστημα systēma) is a set of entities, real or abstract, where each entity interacts with, or is related to, at least one other
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Process (lat. processus - movement) is a naturally occurring or designed sequence of changes of properties or attributes of an object or system^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6]^[7].
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For other uses, see Model.

An abstract model (or conceptual model) is a theoretical construct that represents something, with a set of variables and a set of logical and quantitative relationships between them.
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An input device is a hardware mechanism that transforms information in the external world for consumption by a computer. Often, input devices are under direct control by a human user, who uses them to communicate commands or other information to be processed by the computer, which
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A file format is a particular way to encode information for storage in a computer file.

Since a disk drive, or indeed any computer storage, can store only bits, the computer must have some way of converting information to 0s and 1s and vice-versa.
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Systemics is the emerging branch of science that studies holistic systems. It tries to develop logical, mathematical, engineering and philosophical paradigms and frameworks in which physical, technological, biological, social, cognitive and metaphysical systems can be studied and
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For the British independent record label, see Output Recordings

Output is the term denoting either an exit or changes which exits a system and which activate/modify a process.
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An objective or goal is a personal or organizational desired end point in development. It is usually endeavoured to be reached in finite time by setting deadlines.

Goal setting

Goal Setting involves setting specific, measurable and time targeted objectives.
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For people named Carrier, see .

Carrier has several very different meanings:

in Science (physics, electronics, biology, mathematics, chemistry and other sciences)

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Information processing is the change (processing) of information in any manner detectable by an observer. As such, it is a process which describes everything which happens (changes) in the universe, from the falling of a rock (a change in position) to the printing of a
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Human–computer interaction (HCI), alternatively man–machine interaction (MMI) or computer–human interaction (CHI) is the study of interaction between people (users) and computers.
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User in a computing context refers to one who uses a computer system. Users may need to identify themselves for the purposes of accounting, security, logging and resource management.
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A computer program is one or more instructions that are intended for execution by a computer. Specifically, it is a symbol or combination of symbols forming an algorithm that may or may not terminate, and that algorithm is written in a programming language.
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The user interface (or Human Machine Interface) is the aggregate of means by which people (the users) interact with a particular machine, device, computer program or other complex tool (the system).
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In computing, a command is a directive to a computer program acting as an interpreter of some kind, in order to perform a specific task. Most commonly a command is a directive to some kind of command line interface, such as a shell.
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as a college campus, industrial complex, or a military base. A CAN, may be considered a type of MAN (metropolitan area network), but is generally limited to an area that is smaller than a typical MAN.
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Disk storage is a general category of a computer storage mechanisms, in which data is recorded on planar, round and rotating surfaces (disks, discs, or platters). A disk drive is a peripheral device used to collect information from.
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For control theory in psychology and sociology, see .

Control theory is an interdisciplinary branch of engineering and mathematics, that deals with the behavior of dynamical systems. The desired output of a system is called the reference.
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In control theory, states are what characterize a system. With linear systems states are not unique, but can be transformed into equivalent states using certain linear transformations.

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