Negentropy and information in telecommunications, writing, and reading

Abstract

The negentropy principle of information was discussed in a previous paper and applied to a variety of problems of scientific observation. The present paper considers the technical problems of telecommunication. Using a thermodynamical discussion one obtains the Shannon formula for the capacity of a channel with noise. This example proves again the connection between information and negentropy. The problem of writing and reading is examined. Here we have a type of "dead information" which must be re-energized for reading: The source of light needed for reading provides the negentropy which is changed into information by the reader. The negentropy connected with "organization" is also discussed. All these examples show the connection between information and negentropy. They are of great importance for a theory of information, although the entropy amounts involved may be completely negligible.