A SEMIOTIC MODEL OF INTERACTING SYSTEMS

Abstract

A fundamental notion in taking a systems view of the world is that systems interact. This paper considers the question of how systems interact and what the general features of system-system interaction are. A semiotic model of system-system interaction is developed which focuses on the essential aspects of interaction and leads to the formation of a typology of systems. The functional architecture presented by the model highlights the type of knowledge and functions required in order to achieve certain levels of communication. This reveals three broad categories of system--the syntactic system, the information processing system and the intentional system--with various levels of sophistication in each, depending on the system's ability to manipulate, transfer and store signs.