ZONE of ACTIVITY
| Collection | International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Vol. (num.) | 2(2) |
| ID | ◀ 3805 ▶ |
| Object type | General information, Human sciences |
Part of the environment where a system is capable to exert some action (A. LOTKA, 1956, p.344-5).
This concept, can be applied to all living and meta-living systems, if one understands by action the product of a correlation device between the system and its environment.
For some physical systems, as for example planetary systems or stellar ones, the correlation exists and also defines a zone of activity. However, this zone is a field, more or less diffuse and it could be spoken of receptors, elaborators and effectors without semantic misuse.
LOTKA emits some interesting comments:
1. The systems behavior can be deeply modified and eventually polarized if a new element or factor is introduced in its zone of activity;
2. The dimensions of this zone may be modified if the system increases or reduces somehow its perception or action's ability;
3. There is an important difference, within the zone of activity between merely reactive behaviors and duly planned ones;
4. The zones of activity of two or more interactive systems are not necessarily symmetrical, nor fully superposed.
LOTKA distinguishes a “zone of influence” and a “zone of mobility”. The second one does not necessarily includes the whole of the former one. LOTKA gives the interesting example of the constellations used by a seafarer to orient himself, but on which he has no power whatsoever. Or, in human societies, the influences that an individual receives are.generally quite more important than those he is himself capable to exert.