Re: [humanmarkup-comment] Base Schema - signal

[James Landrum <James.Landrum@ndsu.nodak.edu>]

Hmmmm,  How deep should we delve here?
A signal is an action or event, a stimulus that precipitates one or more 
reactions, inclusive of observance without outwardly visible response. 
E.G., (1) the events of 9/11 signaled a major change in US security 
policy. (2) Igor observed the monster crush Dr. Frankenstein's head to a 
glutinous, mottle of red-gray pulp, as though it were an overripe melon. 
 The action an inescapable product of the monster's rage, the message 
(signal) clear enough for even the simplest of minds to comprehend, the 
monster had had enough of the mad doctor's genius. Despite the 
terrifying circumstance, Igor stood there immobile, in an intractable 
stupor, doing nothing but knowing all the while, even as the monster 
continued bashing the unfortunate doctor into an unrecognizable mash of 
blood, flesh, and bones, that he was next in line. Deep within Igor's 
mind a synapse flickered, sending a message (signal) to his conscience 
that despite the brutality the monster was capable of and would soon 
direct upon him, that in no small way it was righteous anger on the 
monster's part, for Igor had helped Frankenstein create this monster, 
and the monster , now self-aware, would not allow such insanity to be 
perpertrated further upon himself or others, and his impending doom, was 
therefore, both just and sorely deserved.

Perhaps a bit long-winded (and perhaps too graphically violent as well) 
bvut the piont of the above points (1 and 2) are that signals are not 
mere actions, they are events of themselves and can be both objectively 
as well as subjectively observed and interpreted, but perhaps just as 
important, a signal is, in the human context at least, more often an 
intentional action to of a transmitter to communicate, to transmit 
information in a salient (meaningful) way, so as to evoke one or more 
anticipated reactions from the receiver.  This, of course, is inclusive 
of that often-observed miscommunitation, the :missed signal.

Bullard, Claude L (Len) wrote:

>I'll go with the simpler explanation.  
>
>Some further questions.  Another example 
>often given is a tapping, eg, someone tapping 
>a pencil on a desk.  Now, does this have to 
>be purposeful to be a signal?  IOW, does bored 
>reflexive tapping make it as a signal, or does 
>it have to be purposeful.  Another example 
>is "PSSST!"  This doesn't qualify as an energy 
>disruption.  It is the purposeful pursing of 
>the lips and blowing air to get someone's attention.
>
>So to be a signal, does the sign have to be:
>
>1.  Purposeful
>2.  Directed toward a receiver(s)
>
>len
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Rex Brooks [mailto:rexb@starbourne.com]
>Sent: Wednesday, October 02, 2002 10:10 AM
>To: humanmarkup@lists.oasis-open.org;
>humanmarkup-comment@lists.oasis-open.org
>Subject: [humanmarkup-comment] Base Schema - signal
>
>
>Hi Everyone,
>
>We're baaack!
>
>This element is a ComplexType, abstract, does not reference other 
>elements. I'm not sure, as I am not sure with many other elements, 
>whether we want to stipulate that it is not used by other elements, 
>although for these three semiotics elements, we may want to give it 
>more thought.
>
>It is described/defined as: Human Signal An interruption in a field 
>of constant energy transfer. An example is the the dots and dashes 
>that pen and close the electromagnetic field of a telegraph circuit. 
>The basic function of such signals is to provide the change of a 
>single environmental factor to attract attention and to transfer 
>meaning.
>
>I will defer to the final determination of the group, but I think we 
>may want to refine this a bit. Oddly enough, I think that could 
>result is a shorter description to something like: a perceptible 
>change in an environmental factor that can be used to transfer 
>meaning.
>
>In any event, it is also a member of the group of elements that 
>shares the attribute group: humlIdentifierAtts.
>
>My trepidation with the concept of use by other elements is that of 
>finding a way to specify that while atomistic in the Primary Base 
>Schema, all elements in this schema are meant to be used by child 
>elements in the succeeding schemata. We might want to say that the 
>elements in this schema are intended to be used to derive the 
>elements of the Secondary Base Schema, which in turn are meant to be 
>referenced by the Application Area-Specific Schemata member elements.
>
>Ciao,
>Rex
>

-- 
From the Desk of James E. Landrum III
Database Manager
Archaeology Technologies Laboratory (ATL; http://atl.ndsu.edu)
Digital Archive Network for Anthropology (DANA; http://atl.ndsu.edu/archive)
North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota 58105
Ph: 701-231-7115 (my desk) and ATL 701-231-6434
FAX: 701-231-1047
email: james.landrum@ndsu.nodak.edu