Information characterizes the process, which transfers GNG from one system to another, like as the process of work or heat transfers energy from one system to another. Now researching the information they make just the same mistake as in researching the heat long befor (theory of phlogistone). Information as process and negentropy as function of state are not distinguished yet.

Physical reality is considered in expanded context in ID. Often only those phenomena and processes that can be investigated and measured by today’s physical methods are considered physical systems. However, many phenomena that are not yet characterized because of their insignificant mass, energy or field potential are revealed in microcosm. Their existence is either proved or supposed theoretically or the basis of on indirect experimental data. Therefore they are also considered physical phenomena in ID. Proceeding from the primary substances accepted in physics till now: mass (matter) and energy (field), it is impossible to explain all phenomena known, including orderliness of some structures.

The united or quantum field exists everywhere: in physical vacuum, in all world systems, in substances, and interacts with all elementary particles and atoms. All world phenomena (matter, energy, GNG, etc.) result from differentiation, vibration, fluctuation or condensation of the quantum field. It thrusts forward that many fields and elementary particles display properties that are opposite to the common tendency of entropy increase. For example, gravitation force (field, energy) influences the bodies at any distances and time intervals strictly in one direction of attraction. Energy is transferred in the form of quantum in all fields. Quantums are characterized not only by mass and energy, but also by strict orderliness. Energy quantity, fluctuation frequency, orientation and other properties are strictly constant in quantum. Electron is a quantum of electron-positron field. It has strictly constant electric charge, spin and magnetic moment.

Quantum and gravitational fields are the primary medium at GNG field occurrence. They interact with matter by the suggested mechanism:

Thus, GNG and GE are more common concepts than physical entropy and negentropy, as the first two exist in both physical systems and in all information systems and their models.

Basic differences between physical entropy and the generalized concepts of GE or GNG are the following:

Scheme 1. Scheme of GNG Calculation

GE_act balance is deduced from the second thermodynamics law: total GE_act cannot be below the sum of conditional entropies influencing a system of internal and external factors. total GE_act cannot decrease in isolated system. Equation of entropy inequality is the following for any system:

where: is total actual entropy of a system;
is conditional actual entropy of a system influenced by one factor or impact.

Different concepts, for example structure, orderliness, organization, complexity, controllability, stage of development, etc., are widely applied for system characterization. However, methods of GE_max, GE_act and GNG calculation are the only to enable quantitative estimation and comparison of such concepts. At that it is necessary to take into account that the constancy of particular GE_act and GNG values remains only with respect to specific purpose criterion. While drawing up GNG balance between systems all of them should be considered concerning the common purpose criterion. Purpose or expediency choice depends on higher-hierarchy system development tendency and on the place and functioning of the system under study in the higher-hierarchy one.

Having good imagination it is possible to picture existence of “consciousness” in physical world of matter and fields. A number of metal alloys or polymers restore their prior form after residual deformation, pressure removal and subsequent heating, in other words they have “memory”. The Sun’s beams “recollect” its high temperature and “inform” it to the Earth. In the course of crystallization molecules “organize themselves” into strict order “according to a foreseen plan”, etc. In all these memory attributes GNG participates, but control and modeling bodies being a source of a more advanced form of secondary reality, consciousnesses, are lacking.

More complex organization mechanisms with control bodies appeared in systems in the course of development. All living systems, the man, cybernetic systems and public organizations are of that kind. It is already impossible to do without models or action programs in control bodies and systems. Therefore evolving nature created both bodies of modeling, and products of their interaction: models and programs. A characteristic example of modeling is living organism genomes. Models and programs had been gradually improving and growing more complex: from unconditional and conditioned reflexes, through consciousness components (concepts, speech and knowledge) to creation of ideas, projects, theory, forecasts and other products of intellectual work. At that it is necessary to distinguish two types of systems. The first one is modeling sphere that works according to the above-stated mechanism of GNG development and its fields with participation of quantum field, matter and energy (e.g. brain). The second type is models themselves being independent systems (e.g. knowledge). Both system varieties differ by GNG, energy and mass, though in “pure” models GNG form prevails being the basic one.

Scheme 2. Negentropic model of consciousness

Full perception of really existing objects is impossible; their variety, dimension and E_max are approaching infinity. Consciousness can operate with infinitely indefinite values neither mentally nor mathematically. Therefore it has to create simplified models or metaphors for taking decisions, and IF processing and transferring. These models are to be similar (homomorphic) to real objects as far as possible and simultaneously to possess GNG, GE_act and GE_max with definite values. An essential task is developing optimum mathematical models, which would most precisely describe the effect of all factors on a system and at the same time would have quickly enough and reliable mathematical processing.

To ensure efficient control of such complex system as man GE_max entropy in his consciousness model should be as far as possible fully compensated by GNG introducing. A part of GE_max being out of reach of our knowledge can be compensated by belief only. Belief represents general principles accepted without sufficient proofs, as axioms (variety of GNG). We should aspires to our belief being most possibly closer to reality. A part of GE_max and GE_act in the consciousness is compensated by our knowledge. The man has to care this part of indemnification being as large as possible. Acquired knowledge (IF) can compensate entropy in consciousness in two directions: to reduce GE_act and to increase GE_max. Both directions are equally important for increase GNG and efficiency of the man’s decisions.

Full compensation of GE_act up to zero is impossible in real objects. At GE_act approaching zero uncertainty of dimension manifests itself with increasing intensity. Dimension of space of state is tremendous in real systems. A few several coordinates (factors) are usually enough in models. However, their selection causes additional uncertainty (GE). Very often, when GE_act  is approaching zero a great number of factors formerly either discounted or insignificant become actual for they cause additional uncertainty (GE) and demand for GNG input increase. To overcome the consequences of dimension uncertainty effective mechanism of subconsciousness (a variety of GNG) exists in the man and animals.

Thus, a consciousness model represents a complex system, in which processes of changing GE_max, GE_act and GNG connected with IF receiving and delivering proceed simultaneously. Generally ∆GNG = ∆GE_max – ∆GE_act. Deviations can arise only when investigating processes at separate stages of subconsciousness, knowledge and belief. Method of creating mental, conceptual and scientific models opens ample opportunities for deeper investigation of real world and drawing up forecasts for its changing.

Objects studied by philosophy or humanities are mainly related to processes of generalized information or GNG transfer and processing in the form of models. As such an essential coordinate as GNG is absent in so far used models, they do not reflect real public systems and sights with enough exactness. Products of creative activity: business plans, inventions, concepts, hypotheses, theories, forecasts, philosophical systems, works of art, literature and science, as well as other phenomena related to culture and spiritual life of man and society are also possible to consider more complex models. Such models also exist objectively and represent secondary reality.

Objective basis and criteria (GNG) are created for estimating of both positive and negative factors effecting results of labor. This allows more resourceful fighting against latent factors reducing efficiency of decisions, people labor and computer functioning. It is obvious, that intellectual, creative work is associated with data processing in information systems, in particular with transformation of GNG and information flows. The quantity of creative, mental work is equal to the amount of GNG, which an author enters into the system with respect to some definite purpose. According to the new strategy, cost of mental work can be estimated in monetary units too. If a profit planned at goal achievement is known, then using GE_act and ∆GNG probability of the profit realizing and its expected average probabilistic margins can be calculated.

Optimization of models is a decisive step of information processing. The step begins with determining distinctive features, limits and contents of a system, and then its purposes or assignment. Probability of purpose achievement is the basis for calculating GE_act or degree of model uncertainty. The developed formulas give opportunity to determine influence upon GE_act of all expected structural and functional factors. Using comparative analysis, essential factors influencing model efficiency and increasing GE_act or GNG mostly are found. Unimportant factors can be removed out of the model thus simplifying it. At optimization of any system the general rule is desire to maximum reduce GE_act and maximum increase GNG relative to purpose achieving. Method for technical and economic forecast at GE_act application and optimization is described below.

Generalized entropy of the project’s predetermined economic efficiency criterion (purpose) for the established period of time cannot be less than the sum of conditional entropies of analogous purpose calculated separately for all influencing factors. Of all probable technology variants the optimum one (giving minimum GE_act) is chosen. General criterion at estimating technological development and project efficiency is GNG increase with respect to whole of national economy.

Efficiency forecast for different variants of choice is especially important at realization of control processes. control elements are present in sufficiently organized systems only: in living organisms, man’s consciousness, organizations or machines. Ashby’s law of necessary diversity known in cybernetics is a special case of a befor mentioned more general infodynamics law of controllability. Usage of GE and GNG criteria also gives opportunities to define the dependence of controllability on each separate factor influencing the system as well as to ascertain the basic ones.

GNG criterion is of universal significance and can be applied for solving many complex problems. Among them:

1. Determination of speed (dynamics) of system development, e.g. changes of their complexity and efficiency, ageing or structuring.
2. Estimation of reason, intellect, creative thinking and results of brainwork degree.
3. Estimation of generalized properties and quality of consumer goods and services: material, power, informational and other ones.
4. Estimation of exploiting resources (including negentropic ones), durability, weather resistance of materials, mechanisms and machines.
5. Problems of avoiding and solving contradictions and conflicts between systems. For instance, contradictions between the purposes of subsystems and higher-hierarchy systems arise rather often. For example, the purpose of a firm is to receive maximum profit at the expense of intensive expenditure of environment resources. On the contrary, the society purpose is their optimum expenditure and preserving equilibrium between the society and natural environment for maintenance of steady development of the both. The contradiction is resolved by GE_act and GNG optimization at all hierarchy steps and acceptance of compromise variant between the purposes of different steps. The extreme case of conflicts is terrorism. Its negative consequences and GE_act are very large and struggle against it requires large GNG amounts. Noteworthy, that clarification of deep reasons and sources for many conflicts and terrorism danger is difficult quite often and GE_act and GNG criteria can be essentially effective in that case.
6. Estimation of universality and efficiency of system functioning. Universality, in other words, maximum number of theoretically possible states and dimensions (degrees of freedom), can be estimated by GE_max of a system. Efficiency, i.e. potency of purpose achievement, is related to GNG determined with respect to the given system or to the higher ones.

GNG and GE criteria can prove to be of great help in research and management of complicated objects’ development. Apparently, one of the most complicated systems is noosphere and its subsystems: reason, society and nature systems. Real conditions of all these four systems are extremely complicated (GE verges towards infinity) and their absolute knowledge is impossible. But it is possible to explore their models, that are tried to be composed possibly close to the real condition. Of course, it is impossible to define GE and GNG absolute values in these model-systems. But their comparative values also allow to make more sound decisions for optimization of direction of development, speeds and factors affecting them.

The biggest difficulty is the selection of right indices, that would characterize general development of human civilization. In some cases the total number of healthy (able-bodied) people can be an index. Sometimes annual gross product per person can be taken as an index. And gross product includes material and energetic, as well as mental product. The latter can be found through GNG criterion in equivalent units. Reliable outcomes can be received if complex indices, that consist of the sum of the most essential indices, are used for calculation of GE and GNG. Additive indices are multiplied by coefficient of transition and importance. The latter can be determined researching the development of component indices’ influence on general criterion and speed with pretesting. Number and selection of component indices depend on specific task (objective) and precision of required decision.

Thus, GE and GNG criteria are indispensable for optimization and management of development process of noosphere and its subsystems. Decreases danger of appearance of incorrect, harmful decisions and chaos. In case of multilevel and multifactor systems GE and GNG should be determined for each one separately and compromise values, that are balanced with criteria of general system, should be found. Growth of GNG is a quantitative index and a sign of permanent, efficient, harmonic, progressive and stable development. It is accompanied by the increase of controllability of noosphere development and GE reduction.

3. Лийв Э.Х. Инфодинамика как мировоззрение информационного общества (Liiv E. Infodynamics as Ideology of information Society). Проблемы информатизации (Problems of Informatization). 2001, No. 1, p. 31 (in Russian)
4. Лийв Э.Х. Обобщённая негэнтропия, её поле и информационная cреда (Liiv E. Generalized negentropy, Its Field and Information Sphere). Tallinn, Tallinn Technical University, 2001 (in Russian)

Received, May 24^th 2002