MARKER
| Collection | International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Vol. (num.) | 2(1) |
| ID | ◀ 2006 ▶ |
| Object type | Methodology or model |
A non-ambiguous sign, used in a model to represent a specific element.
J.von NEUMANN states: “A marker which can appear in ten different forms suffices by itself to represent a decimal digit” (1958, p.6). Of course, such a marker is really a collection of ten markers.
In case of using digital markers (0, 1) if one wants to represent a decimal digit: “A group of three two-valued markers allows 8 combinations; this is inadequate. A group of four such markers allows 16 combinations: this is more than adequate. Hence, groups of at least four markers must be used per decimal digit” (Ibid).
A coherent collection of markers, when given stable and precise values, constitutes a base for a code. The dots and dashes Morse code was one of the first systems using combinations of digital markers.