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Machines: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Machine-cog.jpg|alt=A poem about cogs in a machine.|thumb|Figure 1. A poem about cogs in a machine.]] | [[File:Machine-cog.jpg|alt=A poem about cogs in a machine.|thumb|Figure 1. A poem about cogs in a machine.]] | ||
'''A machine is a collection of enclosed parts that use energy to produce a desired function. This may be as simple as cogs in a drill press making holes in wood or employees working in a [[corporation]] to make profit.''' | '''A machine is a collection of enclosed parts that use energy to produce a desired function for an owner. This may be as simple as cogs in a drill press making holes in wood or employees working in a [[corporation]] to make profit.''' | ||
The majority of machines use a source of energy (such as electricity) to make two products: | The majority of machines use a source of energy (such as electricity) to make two products: | ||
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# A '''waste output''' called an ''[[Externalities|externality]]'' such as wood shavings or waste. | # A '''waste output''' called an ''[[Externalities|externality]]'' such as wood shavings or waste. | ||
When the first machines were created, their mechanisms were further refined as to increase their productive output. For instance, a drill press can have lubrication on its cogs to make it more efficient and easy to use. When a series of machines are placed into an enclosure this is called a ''factory''. | When the first machines were created, their mechanisms were further refined by their owners as to increase their productive output. For instance, a drill press can have lubrication on its cogs to make it more efficient and easy to use. When a series of machines are placed into an enclosure this is called a ''factory''. | ||
[[File:Difference engine.jpg|alt=Difference engine|thumb|Figure 2. The first computer. Babbage's 1882 Difference Engine.]] | [[File:Difference engine.jpg|alt=Difference engine|thumb|Figure 2. The first computer. Babbage's 1882 Difference Engine.]] | ||
This stepping up of complex systems is also comparable to the world of computers. The first computers took their energy from manual cranking, which processed information into other kinds of information (productive output) via a function with cogs (Figure 2) with the externality being the CO2 in the crankers breath. Computer mechanisms were further refined in being powered by electricity and the cogs being replaced with virtual parts called algorithms. Many different algorithms came together to make the modern operating system which is the equivalent to a virtual factory. | This stepping up of complex systems is also comparable to the world of computers. The first computers took their energy from manual cranking, which processed information into other kinds of information (productive output) via a function with cogs (Figure 2) with the externality being the CO2 in the crankers breath. Computer mechanisms were further refined in being powered by electricity and the cogs being replaced with virtual parts called algorithms. Many different algorithms came together to make the modern operating system which is the equivalent to a virtual factory. | ||
The last hurdle for the owner to improve the factory, computer or the corporation is for it to run itself. | |||
== Machine Intelligence == | == Machine Intelligence == | ||