Machine
A Machine is a artificial physical system that can perform tasks (using energy transformation to achieve intended function).
- AKA: Physical Machine, Mechanical Device, Functional Apparatus, Engineered System, Practical Mechanism.
- Context:
- It can typically transform Energy through machine conversion mechanism for machine operational purpose.
- It can typically contain Component Part with machine structural element for machine functional integration.
- It can typically follow Operational Principle through machine design implementation for machine consistent performance.
- It can typically serve Human Need via machine practical application.
- It can typically respond to Control Input with machine predictable behavior.
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- It can often reduce Human Effort through machine mechanical advantage.
- It can often produce Standardized Output via machine consistent process.
- It can often require Maintenance for machine continued operation.
- It can often evolve through Design Iteration with machine improvement cycle.
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- It can range from being an Organic Machine to being a Mechanical Machine, depending on its machine compositional nature.
- It can range from being a Self-Organizing Machine to being a Designed Machine, depending on its machine origin type.
- It can range from being a General Machine to being a Task-Specific Machine, depending on its machine functional scope.
- It can range from being a Simple Machine to being a Complex Machine, depending on its machine complexity level.
- It can range from being a Manual Machine to being an Automated Machine, depending on its machine operational control.
- It can range from being a Stationary Machine to being a Mobile Machine, depending on its machine mobility capability.
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- It can harness Natural Force through machine physical principle.
- It can extend Human Capability via machine functional amplification.
- It can enable Industrial Process with machine production capability.
- It can embody Technological Knowledge through machine practical implementation.
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- Examples:
- Machine Compositional Types, such as:
- Biological Machines utilizing machine organic components, such as:
- Human Organism Machine with machine neural control system.
- Animal Body Machine performing machine biological functions.
- Plant System Machine implementing machine photosynthetic process.
- Mechanical Machines composed of machine physical components, such as:
- Electronic Machines incorporating machine electrical components, such as:
- Computer Machine processing machine information.
- Telecommunication Machine transmitting machine signal.
- Sensor-Based Machine detecting machine environmental condition.
- Biological Machines utilizing machine organic components, such as:
- Machine Historical Evolutions, such as:
- Ancient Machines, such as:
- Industrial Revolution Machines, such as:
- Modern Era Machines, such as:
- Machine Application Domains, such as:
- Industrial Machines supporting machine manufacturing process, such as:
- Transportation Machines enabling machine movement capability, such as:
- Domestic Machines assisting with machine household task, such as:
- Information Machines processing machine data, such as:
- Tool Machines extending machine human capability, such as:
- Power Tool Machine amplifying machine human effort.
- Precision Tool Machine increasing machine human accuracy.
- Specialized Tool Machine enabling machine specific task completion.
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- Machine Compositional Types, such as:
- Counter-Examples:
- Natural Object, such as a star, which undergoes physical processes but does not perform machine intended tasks.
- Abstract Machine, such as a perpetual machine or a Turing machine, which exists as theoretical construct rather than machine physical implementation.
- Passive Structure, such as a building or bridge, which supports load but lacks machine active components for energy transformation.
- Simple Tool, such as a hammer or screwdriver, which requires direct human manipulation rather than containing machine independent operational components.
- Chemical Substance, which may react or transform but lacks machine integrated system characteristic.
- See: Machine Processable Artifact, Machine Created Artifact, Human Birth, Tool, Energy, Work (Physics), Thermal, Electronics, Vehicle.
References
2015
- (Wikipedia, 2015) ⇒ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/machine Retrieved:2015-11-29.
- A machine is a tool containing one or more parts that uses energy to perform an intended action. Machines are usually powered by mechanical, chemical, thermal, or electrical means, and are often motorized. Historically, a power tool also required moving parts to classify as a machine. However, the advent of electronics has led to the development of power tools without moving parts that are considered machines.
A simple machine is a device that simply transforms the direction or magnitude of a force, but a large number of more complex machines exist. Examples include vehicles, electronic systems, molecular machines, computers, television, and radio.
- A machine is a tool containing one or more parts that uses energy to perform an intended action. Machines are usually powered by mechanical, chemical, thermal, or electrical means, and are often motorized. Historically, a power tool also required moving parts to classify as a machine. However, the advent of electronics has led to the development of power tools without moving parts that are considered machines.
- http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/machine#Noun
- A device that directs and controls energy, often in the form of movement or electricity, to produce a certain effect.
1990
- (Searle, 1990) ⇒ John R. Searle. (1990). “Is the Brain’s Mind a Computer Program." Scientific American 262, no. 1
- QUOTE: Can a machine think? Can a machine have conscious thoughts in exactly the same sense that you and I have? If by “machine” one means a physical system capable of performing certain functions (and what else can one mean?), then humans are machines of a special...
1983
- (Miller, 1983) ⇒ Harlan B. Miller. (1983). “' Platonists’ and ‘Aristotelians'.” In: Ethics and Animals, pp. 1-14 . Humana Press,
- QUOTE: … that tradition in Western thought most sympathetic to the claims and to the standing of nonhuman animals. For Aristotle, as for Darwin, man is one animal among the others, different surely, primary perhaps, but animal certainly. … It was only a century from Descartes' 'demonstration' that animals are machines to La Mettrie's corollary that humans are machines in exactly the same way (1748). The Darwinian revolution consists in large part of stressing an 'aristotelian' view of nonhumans. ...
1748
- (Mettrie, 1748) ⇒ Julien Offray de La Mettrie. (1748). “L'Homme Machine (Man a Machine)."
- QUOTE: Man is so complicated a machine that it is impossible to get a clear idea of the machine beforehand, and hence impossible to define it.