Blackwell Reference Online

Extract

A ‘communication system’ is defined as the interaction between a source and a destination, exchanging a message transformed into a signal by a coding system through a channel which may possibly be disturbed by noise. The definition proposed by Weaver and Shannon (1949) covers transmission without interaction. A general communication system of this kind is based on: Schematic diagram of a general communication system after Weaver and Shannon, 1949: S1, information source; S2, destination; E, sender; R, receiver; B, noise; σe, signal; σr, received signal. 1  The exchanging of a message transformed into a signal by way of a channel. 2  The signal, via the channel, makes possible the connection between a source and a destination. 3  The source transforms the message into a signal by way of a sender. 4  The destination transforms the message into a signal by way of a receiver. 5  The transmission of the signal in the channel is more or less modified by noise. This description is of interest in studying the quantitative aspects of information, but it very soon appears inadequate for describing the slightest effective and qualitative communication process between several persons. Even if one looks at living organisms that are low on the evolutionary scale, this definition does not enable us to understand the way two or more homo-or hetero-specific populations interact when confronted ... log in or subscribe to read full text