OVERLOAD (Information input)

Charles François (2004). OVERLOAD (Information input), International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics, 2(2): 2455.

Collection	International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics
Year	2004
Vol. (num.)	2(2)
ID	◀ 2455 ▶
Object type	Human sciences, Methodology or model

A cross-level study on this subject was published in 1960 by J. MILLER, who extracted from it an “Information input overload” concept that he states as follow:

“As the information input to a single channel of a living system — measured in bits per second — increases, the information output — measured similarly — increases almost identically at first but gradually falls behind as it approaches a certain output rate, the channel capacity, which cannot be exceeded in the channel. The output then levels off at that rate, and finally, as the information input rate continues to go up, the output decreases gradually toward zero as breakdown or the confusional state occurs under overload” (1986, p.77).

Experiences were pursued at five differents levels: the cell, organ, organism, group and organization. As a result: “Data from the five biological and social levels yielded information input-output curves, the similar shape of which — a cross-level formal identity — confirmed the hypothesis.” (Ibid).

See also